BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S BIRTHDAY

Benjamin Franklin, born on January 17, 1706, not only was a world-renowned statesman, inventor, and scientist, but also was fascinated by agriculture. To demonstrate the value of gypsum as fertilizer, he applied it to a field in a pattern that spelled out, “This land has been plastered.” Sure enough, clover in the fertilized area exhibited more vigorous growth.

Every Year

• BENJAMIN FRANKLIN’S BIRTHDAY

1700s

• BORN 1706: BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (STATESMAN)

1800s

• BORN 1806: JAMES MADISON RANDOLPH (GRANDSON OF THOMAS JEFFERSON; FIRST BABY BORN IN THE WHITE HOUSE)

1820s

• BORN 1820: ANNE BRONTË (NOVELIST)

1850s

• DIED 1851: THOMAS LINCOLN (FATHER OF U.S. PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN)

1870s

• 1871: ANDREW S. HALLIDIE RECEIVED A PATENT FOR A CABLE CAR SYSTEM150 Years Ago
• DIED 1871: JOHN BAKER (CANADA’S LAST EX-SLAVE)
• DIED 1874: CHANG AND ENG BUNKER (SIAMESE TWINS)

1890s

• DIED 1893: RUTHERFORD B. HAYES (19TH U.S. PRESIDENT)
• BORN 1899: AL CAPONE (GANGSTER)

1910s

• 1916: MEETING HELD TO FORM THE PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS ASSOCIATION

1920s

• BORN 1922: BETTY WHITE (ACTRESS)

1930s

• BORN 1931: JAMES EARL JONES (ACTOR)
• BORN 1933: SHARI LEWIS (ACTRESS AND PUPPETEER, BEST KNOW FOR LAMB CHOP)
• BORN 1939: MAURY POVICH (TALK SHOW HOST)

1940s

• BORN 1942: MUHAMMAD ALI (BOXER)
• BORN 1948: MICK TAYLOR (MUSICIAN)
• BORN 1949: ANDY KAUFMAN (COMEDIAN & ACTOR)
• 1949: THE FIRST VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES FROM GERMANY

1960s

• 1961: PRESIDENT DWIGHT EISENHOWER DELIVERED HIS FAREWELL ADDRESS ON TELEVISION
• BORN 1962: JIM CARREY (ACTOR)
• BORN 1964: MICHELLE OBAMA (U.S. FIRST LADY)
• 1966: SIMON AND GARFUNKEL RELEASED THEIR ALBUM, “SOUNDS OF SILENCE”

1970s

• 1977: GARY GILMORE WAS THE FIRST PERSON LEGALLY EXECUTED IN THE U.S. AFTER THE DEATH PENALTY WAS REINSTATED

1980s

• 1985: BRITISH TELECOM ANNOUNCED THE RETIREMENT OF BRITAIN’S RED TELEPHONE BOXES

1990s

• 1994: 6.7 EARTHQUAKE OCCURRED IN NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA

2000s

• DIED 2002: NORMAN KAY (DUBBED “THE BABE RUTH OF BRIDGE”)
• DIED 2002: CAMILO JOSE CELA (WON THE 1989 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE FOR WORKS SUCH AS THE FAMILY OF PASCUAL DUARTE)
• DIED 2002: HARVEY MATUSOW (FORMER AIDE TO SEN. MCCARTHY WHO WAS IMPRISONED FOR LYING BEFORE THE HOUSE OF UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES)
• DIED 2003: GERTRUDE JANEWAY (THE LAST WIDOW OF A UNION VETERAN FROM THE CIVIL WAR)
• DIED 2004: NOBLE WILLINGHAM (ACTOR)
• DIED 2005: VIRGINIA MAYO (ACTRESS)
• DIED 2007: ART BUCHWALD (HUMORIST)
• DIED 2008: BOBBY FISCHER (CHAMPION CHESS PLAYER)

2010s

• DIED 2012: JOHNNY OTIS (MUSICIAN; KNOWN AS THE GODFATHER OF R&B)

COURTESY www.almanac.com