April 17
Franklin, Benjaminb. January 17, 1706 d. April 17, 1790
Declaration of Independence Signer, Continental Congressman, US Diplomat, Printer and Inventor. Published the "Pennsylvania Gazette" and "Poor Richard's Almanac". Famous for his confirming lightning is electricity by flying a kite in a thunderstorm. Invented bifocals, Franklin Stove and other inventions. Served as a Delegate from PA to the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1776. Signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Hart, Kitty Carlisle
b. September 3, 1910 d. April 17, 2007
Actress, Singer. Born Catherine Conn, in New Orlearns, Louisiana. She appeared on stage, in films and television from the 1930s to 2006. She is best remembered as a regular panelist in various versions of the television game show "To Tell The Truth", from the 1950s to the 1990s. She studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London prior to starting her career on the Broadway stage. One of her most memorable movies was the in 1935 film "A Night at the Opera" with the Marx Brothers. Cause of death: Complications of pneumonia.
Porter, Samuel
d. April 17, 1920
Indian Wars Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. Served during the Plains Indian Wars as a Farrier in Company L, 6th United States Cavalry. He was awarded the CMOH for his bravery at the Battle of Wichita River, Texas on July 12, 1870. His citation reads simply "Gallantry in action". His Medal was issued on August 25, 1870. The 6th US Cavalry's Corporal John Connor, Sergeant George H. Eldridge, Corporal John J. Given, 1st Sergeant John J. Kirk, Sergeant John May, Private Solon D. Neal.
Hamilton, Charles
b. November 16, 1822 d. April 17, 1891
Civil War Union Major General. He graduated from the US Military Academy in 1843, served in the Mexican War and remained in the Army until 1853. In 1861, he was commissioned Colonel of the 3rd Wisconsin Infantry Regiment and in the same year was promoted to Brigadier General. He was transferred to the Department of the Mississippi, where he participated in the battles at Iuka and Corinth.
Sutton, Glenn
b. September 28, 1937 d. April 17, 2007
Country Singer, Songwriter and Music Producer. Born Royce Glenn Sutton. A native of Hodge, Louisiana, he is best known for writing such notable classic country songs such as, "Almost Persuaded," for David Houston, "I Don't Wanna Play House," for Tammy Wynette, "What Made Milwaukee Famous (Made a Loser Out of Me)," for Jerry Lee Lewis, and "Rose Garden," for Lynn Anderson. The song was Lynn Anderson's biggest hit. Sutton also wrote, "What A Man My Man Is," "She Still Comes Around,"
Shipman, William
b. 1831 d. April 17, 1894
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was a Coxswain in the Union Navy. His citation reads "On board the USS Ticonderoga in the attack upon Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. As captain of No. 2 gun, stationed near the 100-pound Parrott rifle when it burst into fragments, killing eight men and wounding 12 more, Shipman promptly recognized the effect produced by the explosion and, despite the carnage surrounding them and the enemy's fire, encouraged the men at their guns by exclaiming.
McCartney, Linda
b. September 24, 1941 d. April 17, 1998
Photographer. Born Linda Eastman in New York City, New York; one of four children of Louise and show-business lawyer Lee Eastman. She attended the University of Arizona where she was a Fine Arts major. She met her first husband John Melvin See, Jr. while at school. They had one daughter, Heather. Linda divorced See when he made plans to move to Africa. She initially gained employment as a photographer for ‘Town and Country' magazine, she later worked for ‘Rolling Stone' magazine. Cause of death: Cancer.
Foxen, William Aloysius 'Bill'
b. May 31, 1884 d. April 17, 1937
Major League Baseball Player. The left-hander pitched for the Chicago Cubs from 1908 until July 1910, when he was traded to Philadelphia for Fred Luderus. He won only one game for the Cubs, that coming in 1911, his last season. Luderus, on the other hand, was the Phillies' regular first baseman for nine years, including when he hit .438 in their five-game loss to Boston in the 1915 World Series. Foxen's best season was 1908, when he was 7-7 with a 1.95 earned run average.
Cochran, Eddie
b. October 3, 1938 d. April 17, 1960
Musician. Popular Rockabilly guitarist, singer and songwriter. His most famous song is "Summertime Blues". Cause of death: Auto accident.
Wheeler, Henry W.
b. September 23, 1841 d. April 17, 1904
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He was serving as a Private in Company A, 2nd Maine Infantry, when he earned the CMOH. His citation reads: Voluntarily accompanied his commanding officer and assisted in removing the dead and wounded from the field under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry. The CMOH was awarded on April 5, 1898. He was one of three Maine soldiers to earned the CMOH at Bull Run on July 21, 1861. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant.
Clark, Mark Wayne
b. May 1, 1896 d. April 17, 1984
United States Army General. He was the son of a career infantry officer and was born in Madison Barracks, New York. Mark Wayne Clark grew up in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park, near Fort Sheridan where is father was stationed. His aunt, Zettie Marshall, used her influence to secure his appointment to the U.S. Military Academy. He was often sickly causing hospitalization which set him behind his classmates. Nevertheless, even though a poor scholar, he managed to graduate 110th in a class.
Kelly, Edward Harry
b. July 11, 1879 d. April 17, 1955
Composer, Band and Orchestra Leader. Edward Kelly was born on July 11, 1879 above a saloon in the West Bottoms near the old Union Depot. Kelly became a nationally recognized ragtime composer just as ragtime was becoming the most popular music in the country. He wrote a hit, "Peaceful Henry," in 1905 when he was 22 years old. Published in Kansas City, the rag became popular across the country and was recorded by bands and orchestras. Kelly would go on to write many popular rags.
Getty Jr., J. Paul
b. September 7, 1932 d. April 17, 2003
Philantropist. John Paul Getty Jr. was the third of five sons of J. Paul Getty, nicknamed "Oklahoma Crude," who built Getty Oil into a $6 billion fortune, making him the richest man in the world in his day. After attending the University of San Francisco and doing a brief stint in the army, Getty Jr. took charge of Getty Oil enterprises in Rome. But he resigned within six years. He then embarked on a freewheeling lifestyle of drugs and parties, growing his hair and adopting colorful velvet.
Atkins, Robert C.
b. October 17, 1930 d. April 17, 2003Medical Pioneer. He is the originator of the low carbohydrate, high protein "Atkins Diet," which he introduced in the 1972 book "Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution." His dietary theories were disputed for years until medically validated 30 years later. His "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" sold over 10 million copies. At his time of death it was estimated that millions of Americans had participated in the "Atkins Diet."
Chaput, Louis G.
b. 1845 d. April 17, 1916
Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient. He served in the Union Navy as a Landsman. He entered the service at New York, New York. His CMOH General Order Number was 45, dated December 31, 1864. He died in Montreal, Canada. His citation reads "On board the USS Lackawanna during the successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats, and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, on 5 August 1864.
Myers, John Twiggs
b. January 29, 1871 d. April 17, 1952
United States Marine Corps General. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1892, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1895. He participated in actions during the Spanish-American War (1898), the Philippine Insurrection (1899), and Boxer Rebellion (1900), and would later lead expeditions to the Philippines (1906-1907), Santo Domingo (1912), and Cuba (1913). Promoted to Brigadier General in 1929 and to Major General in 1931.
Leonard, Emil 'Dutch'
b. March 25, 1909 d. April 17, 1983
Major League Baseball Player. The right-hander had a 20-year pitching career with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1933 to 1936), the Washington Senators (1938 to 1946), the Philadelphia Phillies (1947 to 1948) and the Chicago Cubs (1949 to 1953). Best known for his knuckleball, he compiled a lifetime record of 190-182 with a 3.25 earned run average, 192 complete games, 3,218 innings pitched and 44 saves. He was the winning pitcher for the American League in the 1943 All-Star Game.
No comments:
Post a Comment