1st January
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The Iron Bridge (opened 01/01/1781) – Abraham Darby III The Iron Bridge was the first arch bridge in the world to be made of cast iron. It crosses the River Severn in Shropshire, England, the area where Abraham Darby developed a method of producing affordable high quality iron on a large scale. Without iron there could have been no meaningful industrialisation – it was needed everywhere, so Darby’s contribution to the Industrial Revolution was incredibly important. It was Darby’s grandson who built the Iron Bridge; it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is regarded as an icon of the Industrial Revolution. On this day … 1919 American writer J. D. Salinger was born – he is best known for The Catcher in the Rye. 1962 The Beatles failed an audition with Decca Records. An executive at Decca said: ‘We don't like their sound and guitar music is on the way out' and ‘The Beatles have no future in show business.’ Quote of the day Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, "We've always done it this way." I try to fight that. Grace Hopper, computer scientist and US Navy Rear Admiral who died 01/01/1992. Did you know …? The BBC banned the Beatles’ song I Am The Walrus for the use of the word ‘knickers’. |
2nd January
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How Do You Like Your Eggs? (2009) - Banksy Banksy is the pseudonym of an unknown graffiti artist from Bristol in the south-west of England. This acrylic on canvas work has provoked plenty of conversation and debate on its meaning - the burqa symbolizes the repression of women in Muslim societies, but the sexually provocative apron with lingerie represents the objectification of women in Western society. On this day … 1872 Brigham Young, the 71-year-old leader of the Mormon Church, was arrested on a charge of bigamy. He had 25 wives. Quote of the day Strategy is buying a bottle of fine wine when you take a lady out for dinner. Tactics is getting her to drink it. Frank Muir, English comedy writer who died 02/01/1998 Did you know …? The Great Pyramids used to be as white as snow because they were encased in a bright limestone that has worn off over the years. |
3rd January
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Day and Night (1938) woodcut - M. C. Escher Maurits Cornelis Escher was a Dutch graphic artist born in 1898. He is known for his often mathematically inspired pictures. These feature impossible constructions, explorations of infinity, architecture, and tessellations (patterns using one or more geometric shapes with no gaps). On this day … 1882 Irish writer and playwright Oscar Wilde arrived in America. 1892 English novelist J. R. R. Tolkien was born in South Africa. He is best known as the author of the classic fantasy works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. 1924 English explorer Howard Carter discovered the sarcophagus of Tutankhamen in the Valley of the Kings, near Luxor, Egypt. Quote of the day I have nothing to declare but my genius. Oscar Wilde, at US Customs & Immigration Did you know …? Honey does not spoil; some found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs has been tasted. been tasted. |
4th January
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Burj Khalifa, Dubai (opened 04/01/2010) - Adrian Smith (chief architect), Bill Baker (chief structural engineer) Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is the tallest man-made structure in the world, standing at 829.8 m. Construction began on 6 January 2004 and the building officially opened on 4 January 2010. A 304-room Armani Hotel, occupies 15 of the lower 39 floors. Floors through to 108 have 900 private residential apartments which, according to the developer, sold out within eight hours of being on the market. On this day … 1809 Louis Braille was born. He was the inventor of a system of reading and writing for use by the blind or visually impaired. 1986 Thin Lizzy lead singer Phil Lynott died at the age of 36 after a heroin overdose. 2011 Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Rafferty died. Listen to the classic Baker Street, his most famous song, here. Quote of the day An autobiography usually reveals nothing bad about its writer except his memory. Franklin P. Jones Did you know …? When doctors in Los Angeles, California went on strike in 1976, the daily number of deaths in the city dropped 18%. |
5th January
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Atheist bus campaign (2009) The Atheist Bus Campaign began in response to evangelical Christian adverts running on London buses. The campaign aimed to raise £5,500 but ended up raising over £150,000 – enough to support buses all across the UK, adverts on the London Underground and two animated screens in Oxford Street. The first buses started running on 6 January 2009. The word ‘probably’ is included because it makes it less likely to cause offence, and therefore avoids breaching the Advertising Code. On this day … 1941 Amy Johnson died. In 1930 Johnson became the first woman pilot to fly solo from England to Australia. In 1941 during the Second World War she went off course in adverse weather conditions. Reportedly out of fuel, she bailed out as her aircraft crashed into the Thames Estuary. However, in 1999 it claimed that her plane was shot down when she twice failed to give the correct identification code during the flight. 1950 Chris Stein, American musician, songwriter and guitarist in Blondie was born. Quote of the day An accountant is a man hired to explain that you didn’t make the money you did. Anon. Did you know …? Australia is the fifth largest country in the world but its population is smaller than that of Seoul, the capital of South Korea. |
6th January
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Hiding in the City (2005) - Liu Bolin, born 07/01/1973 Liu Bolin is an artist born in China’s Shandong province. He is famous for his series of photos Hiding in the City in which he paints himself to blend in with the city background behind him. He began the project after the government evicted him from his Beijing studio. By becoming invisible, he is a symbol of the forgotten people hidden within China’s developing capital city. It can sometimes take up to 10 hours to create a picture, with Liu having to stand perfectly still while an assistant paints him into the scene. On this day … 1681 The first recorded boxing match took place between the Duke of Albemarle's butler and his butcher. 1955 English comedian Rowan Atkinson was born. He is most famous for his role as Mr Bean. Quote of the day Minds are like parachutes; they only function when they are open. Thomas Robert Dewar, Scottish whisky distiller, born 06/01/1864 Did you know …? Each day the average person takes on board about 2.5 litres of fluid and loses the same amount through urine (1.5 litres), breathing (700ml), sweat (200ml) and faeces (100ml). This balance is maintained by the kidneys. |
7th January
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Three reactions from cartoonists to the Charlie Hebdo attack on 07/01/2016 Two brothers, Saïd and Chérif Kouachi, forced their way into the offices of the French satirical weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris. Armed with assault rifles and other weapons, they killed 11 people and injured 11 others in the building. After leaving, they killed a French National Police officer outside the building. On this day … 1558 Calais, the last English possession on the mainland of France, was regained by the French. 1973 Chinese artist Liu Bolin was born (see image for 6th January). 1985 English Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton was born. Quotes of the day The English language hasn't got where it is by being pure. Carl Sandburg American writer and poet, born 06/01/1878 The mirthless cretins of jihad. Christopher Hitchens, English journalist and debater Did you know …? Jellyfish can’t swim. They are carried along by the wind and by water currents. |
8th January
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Frigidarium from the series Jack Freak Pictures (2008) - Gilbert Prousch & George Passmore, who was born 08/01/1942 Gilbert Prousch and George Passmore are two artists who work together as a collaborative duo called Gilbert & George. Prousch is Italian and Passmore is English. They met at art school in 1967 and are known for their highly formal appearance and manner. They rarely appear in public without wearing a suit, and it is unusual for one of the pair to be seen without the other. They are known for their brightly coloured graphic-style photo-based artworks which often contain shocking imagery. Their entire body of work has been created in, and focused on, London's East End, which they see as a microcosm. On this day … 1935 American singer Elvis Presley was born. 1940 Food rationing began in Britain. 1947 English musician and songwriter David Bowie was born. Quote of the day Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change. Professor Stephen Hawking, English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, born 08/01/1942 Did you know …? The three best-known western names in China are Jesus Christ, Richard Nixon, and Elvis Presley. |
9th January
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Lithograph of a steam locomotive near Paddington Station (1863) The London Underground, the world's oldest underground railway, opened between Paddington and Farringdon station on 9th January 1863. The first trains were pulled by steam engines and the smoke in the tunnels made the journey very unpleasant. The first carriages had no windows, because people thought windows were unnecessary if the train was only travelling through an underground tunnel. The train guard called out the name of each station as the train arrived at it. The roundels with the names of the stations first appeared on underground platforms in 1908. The iconic colour-coded tube map was designed in 1931 by Harry Beck, an underground railway employee. He did it in his spare time and was only paid £5.25 for it. On this day … 1944 Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page was born. 1995 English comedian Peter Cook died. Did you know …? Louis XIV of France hated washing and took only three baths in his entire adult life. 
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10th January
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The Sinclair C5 (1985) – Sir Clive Sinclair The Sinclair C5 is a small one-person battery electric vehicle that was launched on this day in 1985. The vehicle's limitations – a short range, a maximum speed of only 15 miles per hour (24 km/h), a battery that ran down quickly and a lack of weatherproofing – made it impractical for most people's needs. Within three months of the launch production had been slashed by 90%, and ceased completely by August 1985. The C5 was described by one reviewer as ‘one of the great marketing bombs of post-war British industry’ and by another as a ‘notorious ... example of failure’. On this day … 1927 Fritz Lang’s silent science fiction film Metropolis was released. 2016 English singer, songwriter, musician and actor David Bowie died. Quote of the day A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future. Gabrielle Bonheur ‘Coco’ Chanel, French fashion designer who died 10/01/1971 Did you know …? The company Chanel claims that every 30 seconds, somewhere in the world, a bottle of Chanel No. 5 is sold. |
11th January
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Lunch With a Helmet On (1987) - Shigeo Fukuda, who died 11/01/2009 Shigeo Fukuda was a Japanese sculptor, graphic artist and poster designer who created optical illusions. His art pieces usually portray deception, such as Lunch With a Helmet On, a sculpture created entirely from forks, knives, and spoons, that casts a detailed shadow of a motorcycle. On this day … 1928 English novelist and poet Thomas Hardy died. 1963 The Beatles had their first nationwide television appearance on Thank Your Lucky Stars performing Please Please Me. Quote of the day The pen is mightier than the sword. Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton Did you know …? Chocolate contains the same chemical - phenylethylamine – that your brain produces when you fall in love. |
12th January
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Shigeo Fukuda In 1987, Fukuda was inducted into the Art Directors Club Hall of Fame in New York City, which described him as "Japan's consummate visual communicator", making him the first Japanese designer chosen for this recognition. On this day … 1944 American boxer Joe Frazier was born. 1976 English crime novelist Agatha Christie died. Quote of the day Democracy is a process by which the people are free to choose the man who will get the blame. Laurence J. Peter, Canadian educator and author of The Peter Principle, who died 12/01/1990 Did you know …? Agatha Christie has sold more books in France than any French author. |
13th January
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The Kiss (1889) – Auguste Rodin In 1880 Rodin was commissioned to create a portal for Paris' planned Museum of Decorative Arts. Although the museum was never built, Rodin worked throughout his life on the portal project, called The Gates of Hell, a monumental sculptural group depicting scenes from Dante's Inferno. The project comprised 186 figures in its final form. Many of Rodin's best-known sculptures started as designs of figures for this composition, such as The Thinker, and The Kiss, and were only later presented as separate and independent works. On this day … 1941 Irish novelist James Joyce died in Zurich, Switzerland, age 58. 2004 English serial killer Dr Harold Shipman hanged himself in his cell. He is believed to have killed more than 200 patients. 2013 The film Argo wins the Golden Globe awards for best drama and best director. Quote of the day Good advice is always certain to be ignored, but that's no reason not to give it. Agatha Christie, English crime novelist who died 12/01/1976 Did you know …? Koala bears sleep for 22 hours a day. |
14th January
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The orbit of Halley’s comet Edmond Halley was an English astronomer, mathematician, meteorologist, and physicist who is best known for computing the orbit of the eponymous Halley's Comet. In his 'A Synopsis of the Astronomy of Comets' published in 1705 he showed that the three historic comets of 1531, 1607, and 1682 were so similar in characteristics that they must have been successive returns of the same object - now known as Halley's Comet - and accurately predicted its return in 1758. On this day … 1742 English astronomer Edmund Halley died. 1898 English writer and mathematician Lewis Carroll died. 1957 American actor Humphrey Bogart died. Quote of the day When we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow. Anaïs Nin, French-Cuban author who died 14/01/1977 Did you know …? On Mercury a day is longer than a year. (This is because Mercury takes longer to spin on its axis than it does to orbit the Sun.) |
15th January
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Hiding in the City (2005) - Liu Bolin Liu Bolin is an artist born in China’s Shandong province. He is famous for his series of photos Hiding in the City in which he paints himself to blend in with the city background behind him. He began the project after the government evicted him from his Beijing studio. By becoming invisible, he is a symbol of the forgotten people hidden within China’s developing capital city. It can sometimes take up to 10 hours to create a picture, with Liu having to stand perfectly still while an assistant paints him into the scene. On this day … 1929 Martin Luther King was born. 2018 Irish musician, songwriter and lead singer of The Cranberries Dolores O'Riordan died at the age of 46. Quote of the day
The secret of success is to know something nobody else knows. Aristotle Onassis, Greek shipping magnate, born 15/01/1906 Did you know …? If the universe were to shrink until the Earth was the size and weight of a table tennis ball, the sun would still be 3.8 m in diameter and weigh three tonnes. |
16th January
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The Feast in the House of Levi (or The Last Supper) (1573) – Paolo Veronese This was a Last Supper painting for the wall of the refectory of a Dominican friary in Venice. However, the painting led to an investigation by the Roman Catholic Inquisition, which considered the content of the painting irreverent. The serious offence of heresy was mentioned, and Veronese was told to change the painting within three months. Instead, he simply changed the title to The Feast in the House of Levi, a lesser known episode from the Bible; after this, no more was said. On this day … 1902 Scottish athlete, rugby player and missionary Eric Liddell was born. 2003 The Space Shuttle Columbia takes off for mission STS-107 which would be its final one. Colombia disintegrated 16 days later on re-entry. Quote of the day Going to the gym wouldn't be on my list of favourite things to do. Kate Moss, English model, born 16/01/1974 Did you know …? At the 1924 Paris Olympics. Eric Liddell, a devout Christian, refused to run in a heat held on Sunday (the Christian Sabbath) and was forced to withdraw from the 100-metres race, his best event. He did, however, win gold in the 400m, setting a new world record. His story is told in the film Chariots of Fire. |
17th January
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Black Fire 1 (1961) – Barnett Newman American artist Barnett Newman is regarded as one of the major figures in abstract expressionism and one of the foremost of the colour field painters. Much of his work features areas of colour separated by thin vertical lines, or "zips" as Newman called them. In May 2014 an anonymous buyer bought Black Fire 1 at auction for $84.2 million. On this day … 1899 Italian-American gangster Al Capone was born in Brooklyn, New York. 1920 Prohibition in the United States began; this was a nationwide constitutional ban on the sale, production, importation, and transportation of alcoholic beverages. 1933 During the third test between England and Adelaide, the MCC at Lords received a telegram from the Australian Cricket Board stating that body-line bowling was endangering Australian batsmen and if continued might jeopardize relations between the two countries. 2008 American-born chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer died in Iceland. Quote of the day If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize. Muhammad Ali, American heavyweight boxer, born 17/01/1942 Did you know …? Al Capone’s business card said he was a used furniture dealer. |
18th January
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Insult to Injury (2003) - Chapman brothers’ rectified Goya etchings Disasters of War Jake and Dinos Chapman are English visual artists who work together as the Chapman Brothers. In 2001 they bought a complete set of Goya prints and then systematically changed all the visible victims' heads to clowns' heads and puppies' heads. On this day … 1788 The first elements of the First Fleet carrying 736 convicts from England to Australia arrived at Botany Bay. 1892 American actor Oliver Hardy was born. 1911 Captain Robert Scott and his team reached the South Pole; they were beaten by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen by 5 weeks. Scott and his team didn’t make it back alive. 2016 American singer-songwriter Glenn Frey died; Frey was a founding member of rock band the Eagles. Watch a classic performance here. Quotes of the day The pen is mightier than the sword. Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton, English novelist and politician who died 18/01/1873 Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind. If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten. Rudyard Kipling, English poet and author of The Jungle Book, died 18/01/1936 Did you know …? In his book The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology, Ray Kurzweil estimates the human brain's memory can hold about 1.25 TB of information. |
19th January
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The Card Players (1893) – French post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, born 19/01/1839 Cezanne was a French Post-Impressionist painter who formed the bridge between late 19th-century Impressionism and the Cubism of the early 20th century. Both Matisse and Picasso are said to have remarked that Cézanne ‘is the father of us all.’ The Card Players is a series of five paintings. This version was sold in 2011 to the Royal Family of Qatar for a price variously estimated at between $250 million and $300 million, making it the most expensive work of art ever sold at the time. On this day … 1809 American writer, editor and literary critic Edgar Allan Poe was born. Poe is generally considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre in the English-speaking world with the 1841 publication of The Murders in the Rue Morgue, featuring the eccentric and brilliant detective, C. Auguste Dupin. 1943 American singer Janis Joplin was born. Quote of the day We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. It takes a lot of money to look this cheap. Dolly Parton, American country music singer-songwriter, born 19/01/1946 Did you know …? Apples are more efficient than caffeine for waking you up in the morning. |
20th January
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Dive In (2015) - Belgian artist Sammy Slabbinck (born 1977) Slabbinck renders dynamic collage prints & original paper collages, combining found imagery with contemporary compositional styles. The images are cut up into pieces and redistributed, playing with exaggeration and proportions. Other times, the images are placed in a reverse context, juxtaposing modern ideals with traditional states of mind. His eye for muted tones and surreal compositions make his work engaging, memorable and sometimes humorous. On this day … 1920 Italian film director Federico Fellini was born. 1936 George V, King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, died. He was succeeded by his son Edward VIII, who abdicated just 11 months later. 1992 Nigel Hayward, who held up a bank in Bath with a banana, pretending it was a gun, was jailed for 6 years. Quote of the day Too bad all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving cabs and cutting hair. George Burns, American comedian and writer, born 20/01/1896 Did you know …? The word ‘paparazzi’ comes from the name of the journalist character Paparazzo in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita. |
21st January
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Big Brother is watching you - Image from Michael Radford's 1984 film version of Orwell's novel. In George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four Big Brother is the leader of the state of Oceania. In the society that Orwell describes every citizen is under constant surveillance by the authorities; the people are constantly reminded of this by the phrase ‘Big Brother is watching you’. The term "Big Brother" has entered the lexicon as a synonym for abuse of government power, particularly in respect to civil liberties, often specifically related to mass surveillance. On this day … 1924 Leader of the Russian revolution Lenin died. 1950 George Orwell, English journalist and writer died of tuberculosis, just after completing his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. 1976 Two Concordes took off simultaneously from London and Paris destined for Bahrain and Rio de Janeiro on the aircraft's first commercial flights. Did you know …? Three days after his death, Petrograd was renamed Leningrad in Lenin’s honour, so remaining until 1991, when the USSR broke up. |
22nd January
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A Bar at the Folies Bergère (1882) – French painter Édouard Manet, born 23/01/1832 This was Manet’s last major work. As the central character is standing before a mirror some critics accused Manet of ignorance of perspective and alleged various impossibilities in the painting. However, in 2000 a photograph taken from a suitable point of view of a reconstruction was shown to reproduce the scene as painted by Manet. On this day … 1788 English poet and leading figure in the Romantic movement Lord Byron was born. 1901 Queen Victoria of England died; her eldest son became Edward VII. Quote of the day Knowledge is power. Sir Francis Bacon, English philosopher and scientist, born 22/01/1561 Did you know …? On a royal hunting trip to Egypt Edward VII’s entourage took 7,000 bottles of wine. |
23rd January
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The Persistence of Memory (1931) - Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dalí, who died 23/01/1989 Dalí used extensive symbolism in his work. For example, the ‘melting watches’ that first appear in The Persistence of Memory suggest Einstein's theory that time is relative and not fixed. The idea came to Dalí when he was staring at a runny piece of Camembert cheese on a hot August day. The painting has been in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City since 1934 when it was received from an anonymous donor. On this day … 1832 French painter Edouard Manet was born. 1944 Norwegian painter Edvard Munch died. Quote of the day Don't worry, it's not loaded. Terry Kath, guitarist of the band Chicago. On 23/01/1978 Kath put a gun to his head after a party, said these words and pulled the trigger. Unfortunately it was loaded. Did you know …? Salvador Dalí was known to avoid paying restaurant bills by drawing on the cheques he wrote. His theory was that the restaurant would never want to cash such a valuable piece of art, and he was usually correct. |
24th January
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Victory, or something else? – Sir Winston Churchill In July 1941 British Prime Minister Winston Churchill started using the V hand sign for Victory. In the beginning he sometimes made the gesture with the palm inwards, being unaware that this was an offensive insult to other social classes in Britain and Australia. After aides explained this to him he made sure to make the sign with the palm facing out. On this day … 1949 John Belushi, American comedian, actor and musician, was born. 1989 Multiple murderer Theodore Bundy, who confessed to the murder of 22 women, was executed in Florida. Quote of the day The statesman who yields to war fever must realise that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events. Sir Winston Churchill, British politician who died 24/01/1965 Did you know …? In 1953 Churchill received the Nobel Prize in Literature for his numerous published works. |
25th January
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Jeanne Hébuterne (1918) - Amedeo Modigliani, who died 24/01/1920 Amedeo Modigliani was an Italian painter and sculptor who worked mainly in France. He is known for portraits and nudes in a modern style characterized by elongation of faces and figures. He suffered from tuberculosis, and was an alcoholic and drug addict. Jeanne Hébuterne, the subject of this painting, was a French artist and Modigliani’s common-law wife. The day after Modigliani died she threw herself out of a fifth-floor apartment window, killing herself and her unborn child. On this day … 1759 Scottish poet Robert Burns was born. 1882 English modernist writer Adeline Virginia Woolf (née Stephen) was born. 1971 My Sweet Lord by George Harrison hit #1 on the UK pop chart. 1980 Paul McCartney was released from jail in Tokyo and deported for drug offences. 1990 The first McDonald's in the Soviet Union opens in Moscow. 1993 17-year-old Natasha Scott from Kent, England, blew the roof off her parents' house when she left her hairspray near the fire. Quote of the day A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man. Kites rise against, not with the wind. Lewis Mumford, American sociologist and philosopher of technology. (died 26.02.90) Did you know …? Scots around the world celebrate Burns Night with a Burns supper on the poet’s birthday. A haggis is brought to the table accompanied by bagpipes and Burns’ poem ‘Address to a Haggis’ is read. If you want to know what haggis is, watch this video |
26th January
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The Raft of the Medusa (1819) - Théodore Géricault, who died age 32 on 26/01/1824. Géricault was a pioneer of French Romanticism. This painting depicts the aftermath of a contemporary French shipwreck, Méduse, in which the captain had left the crew and passengers to die. Only fifteen people survived, and they suffered starvation and dehydration and practised cannibalism. The incident became a national scandal, and Géricault's dramatic interpretation presented a contemporary tragedy on a monumental scale. On this day … 1797 The Bank of England issued its first one-pound note. 1926 Scottish inventor John Logie Baird gave the first public demonstration of television, to members of the Royal Institution, at his Soho workshop. 1945 American conceptual artist Barbara Kruger was born (see image of the day for 23 Dec). Quote of the day I buy everything low-cost. I buy cheap shirts. I buy cheap shoes. It’s a philosophy. I’m just cheap. Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair and one of Ireland’s wealthiest businessmen. Did you know …? Michael O’Leary became chief executive of low-cost airline Ryanair in January 1994. He copied the business model of Southwest Airlines in America, which ran its airline on four principles: (1) fly one type of plane to cut costs; (2) keep overheads down; (3) turn aircraft around quickly; and (4) abandon air miles schemes. |
27th January
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Children at Auschwitz (1945) On 27th January 1945 the Soviet army entered Auschwitz and liberated more than 7,000 remaining prisoners, who were mostly ill and dying. It is estimated that at minimum 1.3 million people were deported to Auschwitz between 1940 and 1945; of these, at least 1.1 million were murdered. On this day … 1756 Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born. At the time of his birth Salzburg was actually part of the Holy Roman Empire. Quote of the day We called him tortoise because he taught us. The Mock Turtle in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, who was born 27/01/1832 Did you know …? Even though he died when he was only 35, Mozart composed over 600 works. |
28th January
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Autumn Rhythm (No. 30) (1950) – Jackson Pollock, who was born on 28/01/1912 Jackson Pollock was an influential American painter and a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. He was well known for his unique style of drip painting. Regarded as reclusive, he had a volatile personality, and struggled with alcoholism for most of his life. This painting consists of chaotic black, white and brown paint patterns on an unpainted canvas background; in 1957 it was purchased for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where it remains on display. On this day … 1596 English sea captain, privateer and politician Sir Francis Drake died. 1813 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen was first published - anonymously. 1941 The modern formulation of the antiperspirant was patented in America, but the first commercial deodorant had been introduced and patented in 1888. 1986 The US space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after take-off from Cape Canaveral, killing the 5 men and 2 women on board, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe, the first private citizen ever selected to fly into space. Did you know …? In 1580 Francis Drake became the first Englishman to circumnavigate the Earth. Elizabeth I declared that all written accounts of Drake's voyages were to become the Queen's secrets of the Realm, and Drake and the other participants of his voyages were sworn to secrecy on the pain of death. 
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29th January
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The Mad Hatter's tea party, from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865) – Sir John Tenniel The familiar illustrations for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking-Glass were done by Sir John Tenniel who was the principal political cartoonist for Britain's Punch magazine for over 50 years. In that time he produced thousands of cartoons, but a measurable amount of his fame derives specifically from the ninety-two drawing he did for the Alice books. On this day … 1820 King of Great Britain and Ireland George III died. He ruled for almost sixty years, and during that time he was the last King of America – the thirteen colonies recognised his authority until 1776. 1905 American abstract painter Barnett Newman was born (see image of the day for 17th January). 1942 Desert Island Discs began on BBC Radio with Roy Plomley. 2009 British singer-songwriter and guitarist John Martyn died age 60. Did you know …? George III married a German duchess who he met for the first time on his wedding day; they had a happy marriage which produced fifteen children. 
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30th January
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The execution of King Charles I on 30th January 1649 – unknown artist Images commemorating Charles I's execution were suppressed in England but numerous prints were produced in continental Europe. The first recorded engraving was published in Amsterdam within weeks of the event. This German print is a close copy but reversed. The original death warrant for Charles I is still held in the parliamentary archives. When the monarchy was restored in 1660 more than half of the fifty-nine people who had signed Charles’ death warrant were still alive, but some had fled the country. Those who were still available were put on trial and at least nine were found guilty and suffered the fate of being hanged, drawn and quartered. On this day … 1951 English rock drummer and singer Phil Collins was born. 1969 The Beatles performed 'Get Back' on the roof of their Apple Records building in Savile Row for the Let It Be film. Police were called in by nearby office workers complaining about the noise. It was the last time the four performed together live. Watch/listen here. Did you know …? On this day in 1661 (the anniversary of the execution of Charles I) the body of Oliver Cromwell was exhumed and subjected to a posthumous execution. His severed head was displayed on a pole outside Westminster Hall until 1685. 31st January
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Family Guy, which was first broadcast on 31st January 1999. Family Guy is an American adult animated sitcom created by Seth MacFarlane, who at age 24 was television's youngest executive producer. MacFarlane voices Family Guy 's main male characters – Peter Griffin, Stewie Griffin, Brian Griffin, and Glenn Quagmire as well as other additional characters. A 2008 agreement with the Fox Broadcasting Company made him the world's highest paid television writer. It usually takes 10 months to produce an episode because the show uses hand-drawn animation, and for this reason the show rarely comments on current events. According to MacFarlane, in 2009, it cost about $2 million to make an episode of Family Guy. On this day … 1606 Guy Fawkes died. He was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered (see 3rd October for an explanation), but managed to avoid the agony of the latter part of his sentence by jumping from the scaffold to his death. 1905 A. G. MacDonald drove the first automobile to exceed 100mph (161kph) at Daytona Beach. 1956 English singer-songwriter Johnny Rotten was born. He was the lead singer of the punk band the Sex Pistols. Quote of the day If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner. Tallulah Bankhead, American actress, born 31/01/1902 Did you know …? Tallulah Bankhead’s last words were: ‘Codeine … bourbon.’ |