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Urbain Le Verrier died on this day 146 years ago, aged 66. - Le Verrier was initially interested in chemistry before becoming an astronomer, and would be the director of the Paris Observatory from 1854 to 1870, and from 1873 to his death in 1877. - Le Verrier would study the orbits of comets, and was able to prove that some of their orbits were slightly altered after getting too close to Jupiter's gravitational field. - Le Verrier's most famous discovery was being one of the co-discoverers of Neptune, and he was able to pinpoint its location by using mathematics to explain perturbations in Uranus' orbit. Neptune was found within one astronomical degree of Le Verrier's predicted location. - Le Verrier would attempt to use the same mathematic formula to find a planet closer to the Sun than Mercury- it is now known that there are no planets closer, and Mercury's orbital aberrations were proven through the theory of general relativity. - Le Verrier's tombstone features a large sphere featuring the Zodiac atop it:

Jason Alexander is 64.

9/22/2023 46 A-Ha — Take On Me 35 Eurythmics — Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) 29 Tears For Fears — Everybody Wants To Rule The World 27 Queen — Radio Ga Ga +4 25 Prince — 1999 / Little Red Corvette 23 Bangles — Manic Monday 23 The Stranglers — Golden Brown 22 INXS — Need You Tonight 21 Kim Wilde — Kids In America 20 Alice Cooper — Poison 19 Ultravox — Vienna 18 Phil Collins — In The Air Tonight 17 Diana Ross — Upside Down 16 Duran Duran — A View To A Kill 15 Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield — What Have I Done To Deserve This 14 Erasure — Sometimes 12 Duran Duran — Save A Prayer 0 Kim Wilde — Can't Hang On Anymore -6

9/22/2023 84 Lady Gaga - Bad Romance 80 Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl 52 La Roux - Bulletproof 41 Estelle ft. Kanye West - American Boy +1 36 Lily Allen - The Fear 33 Girls Aloud - The Promise 31 Lady Gaga - Poker Face +1 21 Pink - So What +2 20 Duffy - Mercy -6

Sultan Selim I died on this day 503 years ago, aged 49. - Selim was the son of Sultan Bayezid II (then a prince) and his Greek concubine. - When Selim was 16, he was made the governor of Trebizond in what is now northern Turkey. This was right on the border with Safavid Iran, and Selim would defeat the Iranians several times between 1507 and 1510 when their soldiers incurred on Ottoman lands. - Selim led a coup against his father in 1512 after his brother Ahmed was named his heir, and would successfully oust him (Bayezid died of natural causes a month after his abdication). - During his reign, Selim would secretly publish poetry under the pseudonym Mahlas Selimi. - In 1514, Selim declared war against Iran to curtail the spread of Shia Islam (the Ottoman Empire was a majority Sunni Islam nation). He would manage to march to their capital of Tabriz, but did not conquer the Iranians, simply just flexing his military might as a warning to their shah, Ismail I- whom he described as a drunk. - Selim would expand Ottoman territory by defeating and annexing Mamluk Egypt in 1517. Over the next few years, he planned a conquest of the Hafsids in Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, but died before this could happen. His cause of death is debated, with theories ranging from cancer to poisoning to the plague to an infected carbuncle. He was succeeded as sultan by his son Suleiman- later known by his epithet "the Magnificent". - Selim's epithets include "the Resolute" due to his determination of expanding the Ottoman Empire, and "the Grim" as he was known for executing several of his viziers.

Toni Basil is 80.

9/21/2023 35 A-Ha — Take On Me 35 Tears For Fears — Everybody Wants To Rule The World 30 Eurythmics — Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) +1 29 The Stranglers — Golden Brown 25 Queen — Radio Ga Ga +3 24 Bangles — Manic Monday 21 Prince — 1999 / Little Red Corvette 21 Ultravox — Vienna 21 Kim Wilde — Kids In America 20 Phil Collins — In The Air Tonight 20 INXS — Need You Tonight 19 Alice Cooper — Poison 19 Diana Ross — Upside Down 18 Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield — What Have I Done To Deserve This 18 Kim Wilde — You Keep Me Hangin' On 14 Erasure — Sometimes 14 Eddy Grant — Electric Avenue 14 Duran Duran — A View To A Kill 13 Duran Duran — Save A Prayer 12 David Bowie — Modern Love 0 Lipps Inc — Funkytown -6

9/21/2023 84 Lady Gaga - Bad Romance 80 Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl 50 Estelle ft. Kanye West - American Boy  50 La Roux - Bulletproof 38 Girls Aloud - The Promise 31 Duffy - Mercy 31 Lady Gaga - Poker Face +2 30 Pink - So What +2 17 The Ting Tings - That’s Not My Name -4 16 Lily Allen - The Fear 13 Calvin Harris - I’m Not Alone -2

King Edward II of England died on this day 696 years ago, aged 43. - Edward was born at Caernarfon Castle in Wales, less than a year after his father Edward I conquered it. The senior Edward and his wife Eleanor likely went there to impose English power over the Welsh. - Initially second in line to the throne upon birth, Edward became the heir to the throne when his 10-year old brother Alphonso died when he was four months old. Edward would act as regent to his father in 1297 when he fought against king Philip IV of France. - Edward's reign, which began in 1307, is known for the Scottish War of Independence (which lasted his entire reign), the Ordinances of 1311 (in which parliament limited royal power), a famine which lasted from 1315 to 1317, a civil war which broke out in 1321, and the War of Saint-Sardos against France, beginning in 1324. - Edward was known for his relationship with Piers Gaveston, whom he effectively left as regent in 1308 when he went to France to marry. Edward's detractors often claimed that the two were gay for each other, but considering both had regular sexual relationships with their wives, it was more likely just a bromance. - Edward married 12-year old Isabella of France (when he was 24... yikes), and during the War of Saint-Sardos, her lands back home were seized by the English. This enraged her, and she cheated on him with Roger Mortimer, who invaded England in 1326. Edward was captured by Mortimer's troops, and was forced to abdicate in January of 1327 in favor of his son Edward III. Edward died in captivity- a rumor persists he was murdered via someone putting a burning fire iron up his butt, but historians usually dismiss this as propaganda invented by Mortimer's supporters.

Jason Derulo is 34.

Dick Clark, Iowa senator from 1973 to 1979, has died at 95. Was the second-oldest living US senator after the death of Lauch Faircloth earlier this week.

9/20/2023 25 Tears For Fears — Everybody Wants To Rule The World 24 Bangles — Manic Monday 24 The Stranglers — Golden Brown 24 Ultravox — Vienna 24 Kim Wilde — Kids In America 23 Queen — Radio Ga Ga +3 22 Eurythmics — Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) +1 21 Duran Duran — A View To A Kill 20 Erasure — Sometimes 20 Pet Shop Boys & Dusty Springfield — What Have I Done To Deserve This 20 Phil Collins — In The Air Tonight 20 A-Ha — Take On Me 20 Alice Cooper — Poison 20 Duran Duran — Save A Prayer 20 Diana Ross — Upside Down 20 Eddy Grant — Electric Avenue 20 Kim Wilde — You Keep Me Hangin' On 20 Simply Red — Holding Back The Years 20 Lipps Inc — Funkytown 19 INXS — Need You Tonight -1 18 Prince — 1999 / Little Red Corvette 14 David Bowie — Modern Love 14 Salt-N-Pepa — Push It / Tramp 6 Technotronic Ft. Felly — Pump Up The Jam -3 6 Terence Trent D’arby — Sign Your Name -2

9/20/2023 80 Lady Gaga - Bad Romance 80 Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl 50 La Roux - Bulletproof 46 Lily Allen - The Fear 44 Estelle ft. Kanye West - American Boy +2 35 Lady Gaga - Poker Face +2 34 The Ting Tings - That’s Not My Name -4 32 Pink - So What 30 Duffy - Mercy 20 Calvin Harris - I’m Not Alone  17 Girls Aloud - The Promise -2 16 Rihanna - Take a Bow

John Cunliffe died on this day 5 years ago, aged 85. - When Cunliffe was a child, he would be bullied by his classmates for being tall. - Cunliffe ended up becoming a librarian, elementary school teacher, and childrens' author, most known for his Farmer Barnes series of books. - In 1981, Cunliffe would be commissioned by the BBC to create a show for kids- he started off basing the setting off of his home town, and from there, he created Postman Pat (and his black-and-white cat): The show would have several incarnations that ran between 1981 and 2017, and a theatrically-released film made in 2014. - Cunliffe had to give up the Postman Pat IP to the BBC, but would have full creative control over his next show- that being ITV's Rosie and Jim, which first aired in 1990. Cunliffe would star in the show as Fizzgog, the first owner of the puppets' houseboat, the Ragdoll, for the show's first two seasons. - Among Cunliffe's last works was a 2010 childrens' e-book called Ghosts, released exclusively on Apple's App Store.

Sophia Loren is 89.

9/19/2023 66 INXS — Need You Tonight 60 Alice Cooper — Poison 53 Salt-N-Pepa — Push It / Tramp 41 Technotronic Ft. Felly — Pump Up The Jam 29 Rick Astley — Together Forever +4 29 Terence Trent D'arby — Sign Your Name -6 21 Kylie Minogue — Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi  18 Mike + The Mechanics — The Living Years 14 Climie Fisher — Love Changes Everything

9/19/2023 76 Lady Gaga - Bad Romance 76 Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl 52 La Roux - Bulletproof 43 Girls Aloud - The Promise 42 Lily Allen - The Fear 39 Pink - So What +1 39 The Ting Tings - That’s Not My Name 31 Estelle ft. Kanye West - American Boy +1 27 Lady Gaga - Poker Face +1 26 Duffy - Mercy 24 Calvin Harris - I’m Not Alone 23 Lady Gaga ft. Colby O’Donis - Just Dance +1 21 Rihanna - Take a Bow 13 Cheryl Cole - Fight for This Love 0 David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over -6

James Garfield died on this day 142 years ago, aged 49. - Garfield's first job was on a canal boat, which ended after six weeks when he got malaria. Other careers Garfield got into before politics included teaching, law, and ministerial work. - Garfield was a Civil War veteran, and rose through the Union army ranks to become a brigadier general. He would be elected to Congress in 1862, and left combat in December of 1863. - During his time in the House of Representatives, Garfield advocated for Blacks receiving the right to vote, which president Andrew Johnson opposed. The two of them were once friends, but Garfield stopped considering him one, perceiving Johnson as an opium addict. - Garfield was chosen to replace Ohio senator John Sherman after his resignation in 1880- however, Garfield was elected president, and never became a US senator. - Garfield barely won the popular vote in the 1880 election- he got just under 2,000 more votes than the Democratic nominee, Winfield Hancock. - One of the things Garfield managed to do was appoint Stanley Matthews (NOT the soccer player) to the Supreme Court as an Associate Justice. - In July of 1881, Garfield would be shot by a man who believed he owed him a diplomatic position. For the last 79 days of his life, he was bedridden, while his doctors worsened his situation- they didn't wash their hands, and one punctured his liver. If modern medical practices were used, Garfield likely would have lived. - One of Garfield's great-great-grandchildren is Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: The Gathering. (He's not related to Andrew Garfield, however- Andrew's last name was anglicized from "Garfinkel".)

Paul Williams is 83.

9/18/2023 58 Technotronic Ft. Felly — Pump Up The Jam 57 INXS — Need You Tonight 56 Alice Cooper — Poison 50 Salt-N-Pepa — Push It / Tramp 38 Rick Astley — Together Forever +4 28 Climie Fisher — Love Changes Everything -4 25 Terence Trent D'arby — Sign Your Name -2 25 Mike + The Mechanics — The Living Years 20 Kylie Minogue — Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi 18 Natalie Cole — Miss You Like Crazy

9/18/2023 74 Lady Gaga - Bad Romance 72 Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl 50 La Roux - Bulletproof 42 Lily Allen - The Fear 41 Girls Aloud - The Promise 34 Pink - So What 33 The Ting Tings - That’s Not My Name -2 30 Duffy - Mercy 22 Lady Gaga- Poker Face 22 Rihanna - Take a Bow 22 Calvin Harris - I’m Not Alone 22 Estelle ft. Kanye West - American Boy +1 22 Lady Gaga ft. Colby O’Donis - Just Dance +1 20 David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over 19 Cheryl Cole - Fight for This Love 15 Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart +2 15 JLS - Beat Again -1 13 Leona Lewis - Run 6 Dizzee Rascal ft. Armand Van Helden - Bonkers -3

King Louis VII of France died on this day 843 years ago, aged 60. - Louis was the son of King Louis VI, and became the heir apparent upon the death of his older brother Philip in 1131; afterwards he was made a junior king. - Louis' father died in 1137, and he became the solo king. In that same year, he would marry Eleanor of Aquitaine- the two of them would participate in the Second Crusade from 1147, spending two years away from home. They would have two daughters together, but their marriage was annulled in 1152; Eleanor soon married the future king Henry II of England. - Louis and Henry soon became rivals, and after having two more daughters with Constance of Castile, Henry would soon reconcile by betrothing his son Henry with Louis' daughter Margaret- the two were married in 1172. - In 1165, Louis would finally get his male heir with his third wife Adela of Champagne- the future king Philip II, whom he crowned as junior king in 1179. - Louis died after a 43-year reign; by the time of Philip's crowning, he was paralyzed- some historians believe this was caused by a stroke.

Frankie Avalon is 83.

9/17/2023 57 INXS — Need You Tonight 54  Alice Cooper — Poison +2 50 Salt-N-Pepa — Push It / Tramp +1 47 Rick Astley — Together Forever +1 35 Terence Trent D'arby — Sign Your Name 35 Mike + The Mechanics — The Living Years 35 Climie Fisher — Love Changes Everything 33 Technotronic Ft. Felly — Pump Up The Jam 27 Linda Ronstadt Ft. Aaron Neville — Don't Know Much 20 Natalie Cole — Miss You Like Crazy 20 Kylie Minogue — Je Ne Sais Pas Pourquoi 0 Kylie Minogue — The Loco-Motion -6

9/17/2023 70 Lady Gaga - Bad Romance 68 Katy Perry - I Kissed a Girl 46 La Roux - Bulletproof +1 43 Lily Allen - The Fear 40 Girls Aloud - The Promise 37 Pink - So What 36 Duffy - Mercy 28 Rihanna - Take a Bow 25 The Ting Tings - That’s Not My Name -3 22 Leona Lewis - Run 23 Lady Gaga ft. Colby O’Donis - Just Dance +1 22 David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland - When Love Takes Over 21 Taio Cruz - Break Your Heart +1 20 Calvin Harris - I’m Not Alone 19 Coldplay - Viva la Vida +1 19 Lady Gaga - Poker Face 19 Estelle ft. Kanye West - American Boy 19 Dizzee Rascal ft. Armand Van Helden - Bonkers 16 JLS - Beat Again -3 13 Cheryl Cole - Fight for This Love 12 Dizzee Rascal ft. Calvin Harris - Holiday