British History – Page 69

On this day in history….4th November 1922

On this day in history : 4th November 1922 – The tomb of boy-king Tutankhamun is discovered by English archaeologist Howard Carter….

Howard Carter – Chicago Daily News Inc. photographer – Public doman

Pharaoh Tutankhamun died in 1323 BC at around 18-years-old…. His tomb was discovered in the Valley of the Kings, across the Nile from Luxor – where Pharaohs had been buried from the 16th-11th Centuries BC…. Most tombs had long been plundered and stripped of their riches – however, this time the tomb had been left undisturbed….

Tutankhamun’s golden mask – Roland Unger CC BY-SA 3.0

Many believed in the curse of the Pharaohs – anybody who disturbed the mummy of an Ancient Egyptian, especially a Pharaoh, would receive bad luck in the form of illness or death…. And it didn’t take long for the rumours of a curse to start circulating after the discovery of Tutankhamun…. Famous Egyptologist of the day, James Henry Breasted, who was part of the team that first entered the tomb, allegedly arrived home one day to find a cobra in the cage of his pet canary….the bird still hanging from its jaws…. The cobra is the symbol of the Egyptian monarchy – kings bore its symbol upon their headdresses to represent protection…. Not a good omen finding one has eaten your canary then….

James Henry Breasted, 1928 – Chicago Daily News Inc. photographer – Public domain

Whether or not you believe in curses – it has to be said a surprisingly large number of deaths occurred over the following decade….all directly or indirectly connected with either Howard Carter himself of the tomb of Tutankhamun….

The ‘curse’ first struck in April 1923…. Lord Carnarvon, a keen amateur Egyptologist and who had financed the project, was part of the team to first enter the burial chambers…. On the 5th of April he died from blood poisoning – having nicked a mosquito bite whilst shaving which subsequently became infected….

Lord Carnarvon, his daughter Lady Evelyn Herbert and Howard Carter on the steps leading to the tomb of Tutankhamun, November 1922 – Harry Burton, photographer – Public domain

The following month, on the 16th of May, George Jay Gould, aa financier who had visited the tomb, developed a fever and died in the French Riviera….

Sir Bruce Ingram was given a paperweight by his friend Howard Carter, which contained a mummified hand wearing a bracelet – supposedly inscribed with the words ‘Cursed be he who moves my body’…. Soon after Ingham’s house burned down….and when he rebuilt it – a flood destroyed it….

Prince Ali Kamel Fahmy Bey, an Egyptian aristocrat who visited the tomb, was shot by his wife on the 10th of July 1923…. The couple were holidaying in London and had been to see the opera ‘The Merry Widow’ one evening before returning to their suite at the Savoy…. They got into an argument – as they frequently did – and she shot him several times….he died in Charing Cross Hospital…. By claiming to be a victim of brutality and sadism she was acquitted on all charges….

Colonel The Right Hon. Aubrey Herbert MP had never visited the tomb – but was related to Carnarvon as his younger half brother…. Having suffered with poor eyesight all his life he was almost blind by his early 40s…. Bad medical advice resulted in him having all his teeth extracted in an attempt to restore his eyesight…. He got blood poisoning and died on the 26th of September 1923….

The Right Hon. Aubrey Herbert – Public domain

Some six years later Herbert’s brother (and another half brother to Carnarvon caught malaria which in turn led to pneumonia – from which he died on the 26th of May 1929….

On the 15th of January 1924 Sir Archibald Douglas Reid, a radiologist who x-rayed Tutankhamun’s mummy, died from a mysterious illness three days after doing so….

Governor-General of Anglo Egyptian Sudan, Sir Lee Stack, was being driven from the Egyptian War Office in Cairo to his residence, when his car had to halt in traffic…. A group of students fired a volley of shots into the car….Stack was hit three times and died the following day….on the 19th of November 1924…. Seven men were convicted of the assassination and were hanged….

American Egyptologist, Aaron Ember, was associated with many of those present when the tomb was opened…. In 1926 his house in Baltimore burned down…. He rushed to save a manuscript he had been working on…. He, his wife, son and maid all perished in the fire…. The title of his manuscript – “The Egyptian Book of the Dead’….

Captain The Right Hon. Richard Bethell was personal secretary to Howard Carter and was the first person behind him as he entered the tomb…. Bethell was found dead in his bed at his distinguished May Fair gentlemen’s club on the 15th of November 1929…. Cause of death – suspected smothering…. Three months later, on the 20th of February 1930, his father, Richard Luttrell Pilkington Bethell, 3rd Baron of Westbury, allegedly committed suicide by throwing himself from his 7th floor apartment….

Howard Carter claimed the rumours of the curse to be a load of ‘tommy rot’…. He himself died on the 2nd of March 1939 from Hodgkin’s disease…. He was 64-years-old, desperately unhappy and had suffered a long and lingering illness…. He died alone in his London flat….

So, do you believe in the curse of Tutankhamun….?

Carter’s grave at Putney Vale Cemetery, London – Image : Deeday-uk CC BY-SA 4.0

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On this day in history….3rd November 1534

On this day in history : 3rd November 1534 – The Act of Supremacy is passed by Parliament, making King Henry VIII head of the newly formed Church of England….

Image credit : Ann Longmore-Etheridge via Flickr

The Act of Supremacy officially confirmed the split from Rome….leading to the seizure of Church property…. With a need to remove the power of the Catholic Church – and also to raise money for the continuous wars with Scotland and France – over 800 monasteries and convents were dissolved….being either demolished, reclaimed as Anglican Churches – or sold off….

King Henry VIII famously married six times….in search not only of marital happiness but also for political gain – and the desire for a male heir….

Henry was the second son of Henry VII; his older brother, Arthur, was destined for the throne – whilst Henry was being prepared for a life in the Church…. He was educated in music, poetry, languages, theology and sports…. Arthur married Catherine of Aragon (to whom he had been betrothed since the age of 2) in November 1501 – the pair were just teenagers – but tragically Arthur died of a sudden illness a few months later…. Henry became next in line to the throne and was betrothed to his dead brother’s widow….

Catherine of Aragon – attributed to Joannes Corvus – Public domain

Henry became King when he was 17-years-old and married Catherine of Aragon six weeks later…. Over the following 15 years she gave birth to 3 sons and 3 daughters….all died in infancy – except one daughter, Mary (later to become Queen Mary I)….

Henry – although he had fathered an illegitimate healthy son, Henry Fitzroy, in 1519 – wanted a son who could become his heir…. He was convinced his marriage to Catherine was cursed – because of an old myth about marrying a brother’s widow…. On becoming infatuated with one of his wife’s attendants, Anne Boleyn, he decided to seek an annulment – so that he could remarry…. Of course, his intentions were denied by the Pope – Henry’s response was to put himself in charge of the Church and effectively change the rule book….

In 1533 Henry and Anne Boleyn were married and they had a daughter, Elizabeth…. Mary was declared illegitimate and Elizabeth made heir to the throne in her place…. In January 1536 Henry had an accident whilst taking part in a jousting tournament…. On hearing the news a pregnant Anne miscarried a son…. Henry turned his attentions to another woman in his Court, Jane Seymour…. Within six months he had Anne executed for incest and treason….and he married Jane…. To his joy she gave him his son and heir, the future Edward IV – but at the cost of her own life – Jane died two weeks later….

Jane Seymour – Hans Holbein – Public domain

Henry then married Anne of Cleves – a political union – to strengthen an alliance with Anne’s brother, who was the ruler of a Protestant Duchy in Germany…. After only a few days Henry had the marriage annulled….

Catherine Howard was to become his next wife….but after two years he had her beheaded for adultery and treason….

Catherine Howard – Hans Holbein – Public domain

Henry’s final marriage was to Catherine Parr in 1543 – and it was she who managed to reconcile his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth…. Henry died on the 28th of January 1547, his 56th birthday…. His 9-year-old son, Edward VI came to the throne – but died six years later…. Catherine Parr remarried and at the age of 35 gave birth for the first time, to a daughter, Mary Seymour – only for Catherine to die from complications of childbirth 8 days later….

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On this day in history….2nd November 1954

On this day in history : 2nd November 1954 – BBC radio comedy ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’ makes its debut….

The very first episode ‘The First Night Party’ – with special guest appearances from Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Moria Lister and Bill Kerr – sees Hancock throw a party to celebrate his new radio show….having hired a venue from Sid…. Of course, things don’t go according to plan….

Approximately 100 episodes of Hancock’s Half Hour were made for radio broadcast….following Hancock’s adventures as an actor and comedian finding it hard to make his way in his chosen career…. In 1956 it made its first appearance on television, paving the way for the traditional sitcom….

Tony Hancock (right) and Sid James – Fair use

Writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson had met in 1948 whilst both in a sanatorium recovering from TB…. Later Hancock, Galton and Simpson went on to create Steptoe and Son for the BBC….

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On this day in history….31st October 1955

On this day in history : 31st October 1955 – Princess Margaret announces that she will not be marrying Group Captain Peter Townsend….

A brief statement from the Princess was broadcast on the radio during the evening – read by the BBC’s John Snagge – it came as an interruption to the normal programme schedule….

Princess Margaret in 1965 – Eric Koch / Anefo CCO

Princess Margaret and Group Captain Townsend had first met when she was just 14-years-old…. He was Equerry to her father, King George VI – and twice her age, married, with two children….

Townsend filed for divorce in November 1952 after his wife had an affair…. It was also around this time that Princess Margaret and Peter Townsend fell in love…. The relationship became known to the public after Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation in June 1953; a newspaper reporter noticed Princess Margaret flick a piece of fluff from Townsend’s uniform jacket – an intimate gesture between two people who are obviously close to one another…. The story broke in newspapers all around the world….

In an effort to dampen the Press interest, in what was viewed as a scandal, Group Captain Townsend was sent to Brussels on a two year posting as an air attaché at the British Embassy…. Princess Margaret, being under the age of 25, had to have the consent of the Queen to marry a divorced man…. The Queen, being the Head of the Church of England, was in a difficult position – the Church was firmly against a union between the pair…. If Princess Margaret had been over the age of 25, she would need the approval of the Government…. Prime Minister Winston Churchill advised this would be highly unlikely…. Amongst the general public there was much support for the couple….

Flight Lieutenant Townsend in 1940 – daventry B J (Mr) Royal Air Force Official Photographer – Public domain

Even with Townsend away in Brussels speculation surrounding their relationship continued…. The couple reunited in 1955, at the end of his posting…. Princess Margaret was now over the age of 25…. Anthony Eden was now Prime Minister – and under his direction it was decided that if she were to insist on marrying Group Captain Townsend she would be stripped of all her royal privileges; this included her home and her income….

It had always been assumed Princess Margaret, torn between royal duty and the man she loved, had bowed to pressure from the Church, Parliament and her sister, the Queen…. However, in 2009 a handwritten letter from Princess Margaret to Prime Minister Anthony Eden was discovered….which shed a somewhat different light…. The letter, dated 15th August 1955, suggests that she was uncertain of her love for Townsend – and that she needed time to decide what to do…. She told the Prime Minister she hoped to be in a position to inform him and other Commonwealth Prime Ministers of her intentions at the end of October or early November….

“Mindful of the Church’s teachings that Christian marriage is indissoluble, and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put the considerations before others”….

But actually, regardless of the wording of her statement, it seems the decision was hers – and hers alone….

In May 1960 Princess Margaret married photographer Anthony Armstrong-Jones (to become Lord Snowdon) – but they divorced in 1978….(the first royal divorce since King Henry VIII)….

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, Amsterdam, May 1965 – Jack de Nijs / Anefo CCO

Princess Margaret died in February 2002 – she was 71…. Group Captain Townsend had died seven years earlier, aged 80….

Margaret seated in the music room of Buckingham Palace, August 21, 1951 – Kristine via Flickr

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On this day in history….30th October 1981

On this day in history : 30th October 1981 – Secretary to the pro-euthanasia group ‘EXIT’, Nicholas Reed, is jailed for two and a half years on three counts of aiding and abetting suicide….

He was also found guilty of a further count of conspiracy to aid and abet…. His co-accused, Mark Lyons, who provided the pills and alcohol to those wishing to end their lives, received a two year suspended sentence…. Judge, Mr. Justice Lawson, stated that on account of his age (70) a suspended sentence be appropriate as Lyons had already served 325 days in prison whilst awaiting trial….

Voluntary Euthanasia Society poster – Image credit : The Wellcome Collection Cc BY-SA 4.0

‘EXIT’ : ‘The Society for the Right to Die with Dignity’ started in 1935 as the ‘Voluntary Euthanasia Society’…. It had been a relatively quiet, low-key organisation, conscious of staying on the right side of the law…. The name change to ‘EXIT’ was made to give more of an impact…. When Nicholas Reed, a dynamic young man in his early thirties, became Secretary of the group he transformed it….enabling it to give a loud, aggressive and controversial voice for the incurably ill and disabled…. He courted the media, held seminars, gave talks and interviews on radio and television…. He increased the membership of the London based group five fold; by the early 1980s it had more than 10,000 members…. The group’s activities spawned similar groups in many other countries, including the United States….

In 1979 EXIT had decided to publish a booklet entitled ‘Guide to Self-Deliverance’ – in which various methods of suicide were described…. The booklet was outlawed and so distribution was suspended in 1983…. Reed had already come to the attention of the police in 1980 when a raid on EXIT’s offices resulted in documents being seized and Reed being questioned…. However, it was after the death of a female multiple sclerosis sufferer that a case was finally brought…. A routine post mortem had revealed that she had taken barbiturates with alcohol…. Two women who had been at her house the day before she died told the inquest Mark Lyons had visited whilst they were there…. Police searched the flat where Lyons lived and found thousands of pills and tablets…. They also discovered diaries, full of appointments with people who wanted to end their lives…. Nicholas Reed denied he knew what Lyons was up to….saying he thought the appointments were for ‘comfort’ visits to those in need….

According to the prosecution, in one particular case Lyons had drugged a woman into an unconscious state and then tried to speed up the process of death by placing a polythene bag over her head…. The attempt was unsuccessful…. The prosecution also accused Lyons of gaining pleasure from his actions….

Reed for his part, refused to talk to the Press…. After an appeal his sentence was reduced to 18 months…. The Society changed its name to ‘VES’ – ‘Voluntary Euthanasia Society’….and later, in 2006, it became ‘Dignity in Dying’…. Holland was the first country to legalise euthanasia in 2002…. Of course, it continues to be a controversial subject here in the UK….