Category: The Calendar

#OTD 21 January – The passing of power

On 21 January 1924, Vladimir Lenin died at 53. Thirteen years later, Orwell recalled in The Road to Wigan Pier: One day the master who taught us English set us a kind of general knowledge paper of which one of the questions was, ‘Whom do you consider the ten greatest men now living?’ Of sixteen… Continue reading #OTD 21 January – The passing of power

#OTD 20 January – The kings come 3 by 3

On 20 January 1936, King George V died. Since 1986, it has been widely known that his physician Lord Dawson conducted, depending on one’s view, either involuntary euthanasia or murder. The death occurred at 11.55pm so that the report could appear in The Times and not the plebs’ evening tabloids. The effort is said to… Continue reading #OTD 20 January – The kings come 3 by 3

#OTD 19 January – “I am not a person to be pressured”

The East India Company received its charter from Queen Elizabeth I in 1600 and went on to gain great wealth from India; indeed, it was the effective government from 1757 to 1858. It may be irony, it may be progress, but when BBC News Online held a vote in 1999 for the greatest woman of… Continue reading #OTD 19 January – “I am not a person to be pressured”

#OTD 18 January – Democracy’s endgame

A tripod is stable because its three legs are always on the same plane. In other words, it won’t wobble, even if its legs are uneven. 18 January 1689 is the day that Montesquieu was born. His influence on the authors of the US constitution cannot be understated. From him, the US constitution was embedded… Continue reading #OTD 18 January – Democracy’s endgame

#OTD 17 January – Blowing hot and cold

On 17 January 1773, Captain Cook and HMS Resolution were cold but proud: we cross’d the Antarctic Circle for at Noon we were by observation four Miles and a half South of it and are undoubtedly the first and only Ship that ever cross’d that line. Johann Forster, the Banks of the voyage, had little… Continue reading #OTD 17 January – Blowing hot and cold

#OTD 16 January – The imperium speaks

The fact of “empire” does not always sit well with the legality of “emperor”. It’s tricky with neighbours, who may not like you telling them you are king of kings. And it’s tricky with locals, who may not like being reminded that your power is total. 16 January is a day to look at emperors… Continue reading #OTD 16 January – The imperium speaks

#OTD 15 January – Knowledge, text or context?

The relationship between power and trust is fraught. As we digitise ourselves, the relationship has become more fraught than ever. History has always been written by the victor, but where the war is one of immediacy, history’s advantage of reflection is constantly under fire from the reality of reaction. The best-known campaigner in these digital… Continue reading #OTD 15 January – Knowledge, text or context?

#OTD 13 January – Black is beautiful

On 13 January 1864, Stephen Foster died. Called the Father of American Music, Foster wrote “Camptown Races”, “Swanee River” and many others. His songs were written for the minstrel show and the lyrics showed it. 13 January is Stephen Foster Memorial Day, a US Federal Observance Day. In the same year President Lincoln appointed as… Continue reading #OTD 13 January – Black is beautiful