#RIP #OTD in 1831 Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century, “tragedy personified”, Sarah Siddons died in London, aged 75. Saint Mary’s Gardens at Paddington Green (Joshua Reynolds’ portrait, Sarah Siddons as The Tragic Muse)
On this day in 1845, Old Hickory, politician, army general, United States Senator from Tennessee, Military Governor of Florida, the seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson died at The Hermitage, his home near Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 78, of chronic tuberculosis, dropsy, and heart failure. Born on 15 March 1767 in the Waxhaws region on the border of North and South Carolina. His parents were Presbyterian Scotch-Irish colonists. Jackson had red hair and blue eyes and was about six feet, one inch, tall.
Jackson defeated the British at the Battle of New Orleans (1815) and the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend (1814). His enthusiastic followers created the modern Democratic Party, and the 1830-1850 period later became known as the era of Jacksonian democracy. Jackson was nicknamed “Old Hickory” because of his toughness and aggressive personality that produced numerous duels, some fatal. He was a rich slave owner who appealed to the masses of Americans and fought against what he denounced as a closed undemocratic aristocracy. As president, he supported a small and limited federal government but strengthened the power of the presidency. Jackson was strongly against the national bank, and vetoed the renewal of its charter and ensured its collapse. Whigs and moralists denounced his aggressive enforcement of the Indian Removal Act, which resulted in the forced relocation of Native American tribes to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). Jackson served as POTUS from 4 March 1829 to 4 March 1837. His legacy is now seen as mixed by historians. Jackson is praised as a protector of popular democracy and individual liberty for American citizens, but criticized for his support for slavery and Indian removal. Jackson married Rachel Donelson (1794-1828 her death).
The Final Footprint – Jackson was entombed next to Rachel at The Hermitage. There are many memorials dedicated to Jackson and many streets, counties, cities, parks and schools are named after him. I have been to Washington DC and seen the huge bronze equestrian statue of Jackson that was cast from a bronze cannon captured in his last campaign against the Spanish and has graced Lafayette Park since 1853. I have spent some time enjoying Jackson Square in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
#RIP #OTD in 1874 leader of the Chihuicahui local group of the Chokonen, principal nantan of the Chokonen band of the Chiricahua Apache, Cochise died in the Cochise Stronghold, Dragoon Mountains, Arizona, aged 68-69. Cochise Stronghold
#RIP #OTD in 1876 novelist (Valentine, Mauprat, Consuelo, La Mare au Diable, La Petite Fadette), memoirist, journalist, Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, George Sand died at Nohant, near Châteauroux, France, aged 71. Chapel at Nohant-Vic
On this day in 1889, poet and Jesuit priest Gerard Manley Hopkins SJ died of typhoid fever in Dublin at the age of 44. Born on 28 July 1844 in Stratford, Essex, England. His posthumous fame established him among the leading Victorian poets. His manipulation of prosody – particularly his concept of sprung rhythm – established him as an innovative writer of verse, as did his technique of praising God through vivid use of imagery and nature. Only after his death did Robert Bridges begin to publish a few of Hopkins’s mature poems in anthologies, hoping to prepare the way for wider acceptance of his style. In my opinion, his work is one of the most original literary accomplishments of his century.
The Final Footprint
His funeral was held in Saint Francis Xavier Church on Gardiner Street, located in Georgian Dublin. On his death bed, his last words were, “I am so happy, I am so happy. I loved my life.” He is interred at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin. Other notable final footprints at Glasnevin include; Brendan Behan, Michael Collins, Maude Gonne, and Seán MacBride.
#RIP #OTD in 1956 painter and printmaker, important figure in the Parisian avant-garde as a member of the Cubists associated with the Section d’Or, Marie Laurencin died in Paris, aged 72. Père Lachaise Cimetière, Paris
#RIP #OTD in 1982 professional baseball pitcher, 2× MLB All-Star, 6× Negro league All-Star, World Series champion, Negro World Series champion, Satchel Paige died of a heart attack at his home in Kansas City, aged 75. Forest Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Kansas City.
On this day in 2018, celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain died from an apparent suicide by hanging in his room at Le Chambard hotel in Kaysersberg near Colmar, France, at the age of 61. Born Anthony Michael Bourdain on June 25, 1956 in New York City. He starred in programs focusing on the exploration of international culture, cuisine, and the human condition. Bourdain was a 1978 graduate of The Culinary Institute of America and a veteran of a number of professional kitchens in his long career, which included many years spent as executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in Manhattan. He first became known for his bestselling book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (2000).
His first food and world-travel television show A Cook’s Tour ran for 35 episodes on the Food Network in 2002 and 2003. In 2005, he began hosting the Travel Channel’s culinary and cultural adventure programs Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012) and The Layover (2011–2013). In 2013, he began a three-season run as a judge on The Taste, and concurrently switched his travelogue programming to CNN to host Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. Bourdain also wrote both fiction and historical nonfiction. On June 8, 2018, Bourdain died by suicide while on location in France for Parts Unknown.
Bourdain married his high school girlfriend, Nancy Putkoski, in 1985, and they remained together for two decades, divorcing in 2005. On April 20, 2007, he married Ottavia Busia, a mixed martial artist. Bourdain said having to be away from his family for 250 days a year working on his television shows was a strain. The couple separated in 2016. In 2017, Bourdain began dating the Italian actress Asia Argento, whom he met when she appeared on the Rome episode of Parts Unknown.
Bourdain practiced the martial art Brazilian jiu-jitsu, earning a blue belt in August 2015. He won gold at the IBJJF New York Spring International Open Championship in 2016, in the Middleweight Master 5 (age 51 and older) division.
The Final Footprint
Bourdain’s body was cremated in France on June 13, 2018.
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