On this day in history – Page 27

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

British History, Uncategorized

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….

British History, Uncategorized

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….

British History

On this day in history….1st November 1887

On this day in history : 1st November 1887 – The birth of English artist L.S. Lowry – famous for his matchstick figures, mill scenes and industrial landscapes….

Millworkers by LS Lowry – Photo by Bruce Lamberton – own work – CC BY-SA 4.0

Laurence Stephen Lowry was born in Barrett Street, Stretford…. His father, Robert, was a clerk for a property company and his mother, Elizabeth, a teacher and talented pianist…. She was to suffer ill-health after the birth and had to give up work and all aspirations of becoming a concert pianist…. This made her resentful and added to the fact that she made it no secret that she had longed for another daughter and not the son she got – Lowry himself admitted that his childhood was not an overly happy one…. His father was introverted and meek, whereas his mother was domineering….

In 1898 the family moved to Victoria Park, a pleasant leafy suburb of South Manchester…. However, in 1909 financial difficulties forced a move to Pendlebury, the industrial area between Manchester and Bolton….

On leaving school Lowry took a couple of jobs working for chartered accountants but after being made redundant for a second time in 1910 he began to work as a rent collector for the Pall Mall Property Company…. He remained working for this firm until his retirement in 1952….

Lowry had always enjoyed drawing as a child and once he had started earning his own money he paid for private art lessons…. Then in 1905 he began evening classes at the Manchester Municipal College of Art, where he studied under French impressionist Pierre Adolfe Valette – a man he greatly admired….

To further his art training he joined Salford’s Royal Technical Institute in 1915 and remained studying here until 1925 – by which time he had now developed his own unique style of urban landscapes, matchstick men and deep, brooding portraits….

Coming Home from the Mill (1928) – Fair use

Lowry’s father died inn 1932, leaving the family in debt and financial difficulty…. Before long his mother had become bedridden and it was Lowry who had to care for her…. The only time he got to himself was late at night – he would often paint into the early hours…. His mother never appreciated his talent; he had his first solo exhibition at the Lefevre Gallery, London, in 1939 – which was hugely successful and many of his paintings sold…. His mother did not live long enough to see his success – she died in October 1939….

During World War 2 Lowry became an official war artist…. By now he was battling with depression; he stopped looking after his home – and in the end the neglect had become so bad that in 1948 he was evicted from the house by the landlord…. Fortunately Lowry was now financially secure and so he bought himself a house, ‘The Elms’, in a more rural area of Cheshire…. Although he claimed he didn’t much like the house or area he set up his studio here and remained until his death….

Lowry liked to holiday each year in the same seaside hotel in Sunderland…. Here he painted beach scenes, the nearby ports and coal mines…. If he saw something that interested his artist’s eye and had no sketch pad to hand he would utilise whatever was available, maybe the back of an envelope or perhaps a napkin…. He would give these sketches away to whoever was present and taking an interest in what he was doing…. These drawings are now highly desirable and fetch a small fortune….

Although regarded as a private person and a loner Lowry was a likeable character and made many long lasting friends in his lifetime…. He never married but did have lady friends…. He particularly befriended colleagues in the art world – and would go out of his way to encourage young artists, often by buying their work…. He would frequently act as a mentor…. Lowry was also football fan and a keen Manchester City supporter….

He retired from his job as a rent collector on his 65th birthday…. By now he was beginning to tire of painting industrial scenes and although he didn’t totally abandon his trademark theme he began to paint small groups of figures…. Influenced by his holidays in Sunderland he also started painting more and more empty landscapes….

Into his old age Lowry continued to paint and draw – it is perhaps evident he did so purely to please himself – and did not intend it for public display…. His work from this time has an intimate, private, even surreal quality to it…. ‘Mannequin’ drawings….young women in absurdly restrictive clothing; tight bodices they could hardly breathe in – or even dressed in men’s evening attire…. A large quantity of these pictures were found after his death….

Lowry was admitted to Woods Hospital, Glossop, following a stroke…. He died of pneumonia on the 23rd of February 1976…. He was buried at Southern Cemetery, Manchester, alongside his parents….

A major exhibition of his work was later held at the Royal Academy and attracted a record number of visitors for a British artist…. His works are often now sold for millions….

L S Lowry contemplating Stockport (a scan taken from a photograph by Crispin Eurich in 1962) – Image credit : Smabs Sputzer (1956 – 2017) via Flickr

British History, Uncategorized

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….