Death Anniversary Thread

[Sinbabad 1,116]

51 minutes ago, Toast said:

Thought that was late-period George Michael for a moment.

Had he ever been that fat ?

[diego 1,984]

George Neville, Duke of Bedford died in 1483, 540 years ago, was an English nobleman, descendant of the House of Neville. At birth he was likely the heir to great wealth, but due to the political failure of his father and uncle he inherited very little, however his father and uncle Warwick rebelled against King Edward IV the following year and were dead. An act of attainment was never passed against them, but George did not receive any inheritance from them or his maternal ancestors. An Act of Parliament in 1475 gave Neville's inheritance in the north of England to Richard, Duke of Gloucester, husband of one of Warwick's daughters. George owned half of the estates of his maternal grandfather, Sir Edmund Ingoldsthorpe, and his maternal grandmother, Joan Tiptoft.

Shortly before coming of age in 1478, he was denied the title of Duke by Act of Parliament, apparently for lack of money to maintain the Duke style. The title was later given to the Infante George of York, the King's third son. Edward IV.

 

France Štiglic died 30 years ago was a Slovenian film director and screenwriter. His 1948 film On Our Own Land was entered into the 1949 Cannes Film Festival. His film The Ninth Circle (1960) was Yugoslavia's entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 33rd Academy Awards, where it was nominated for the award.

Christian de Duve, died 10 years ago, was a Belgian Nobel Prize-winning cytologist and biochemist. He made serendipitous discoveries of two cellular organelles, the peroxisome and the lysosome, for which he shared the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Albert Claude and George E. Palade ("for their discoveries concerning the structural and functional organization of the cell"). In addition to peroxisome and lysosome, he invented scientific names such as autophagy, endocytosis and exocytosis on a single occasion, at the age of 95 he decided to end his life by legal euthanasia, performed by two doctors and in the presence of his four children. He had long suffered from cancer and atrial fibrillation, and his health problems were compounded by a recent fall at his home.

[Toast 16,140]

2 hours ago, Sinbabad said:

Had he ever been that fat ?

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/747281/george-michael-wham-dead-celebrity-final-photos-last-oxfordshire-faith

[Sinbabad 1,116]

On this day 80 years ago, French Olympian Georges ‘Géo’ André died aged 53 killed by German soldiers.

 

He won a silver medal in high jump at the 1908 Olympics. This is the best performance for a French person ever, as France has only won so far 3 other medals, all in bronze.

He won a bronze medal in 4x400 metres relay at the 1920 Olympics. He was the flag bearer for France in the 1924 games.

 

He was 25 times (!) French champion in 4 different athletics categories, and was also capped in the French national rugby team !

He also had 5 French national records in 5 athletics sports, the 2 longest lasting 10 and 14 years !

 

A lot of stadiums or gymnasiums were named after him.

[lilham 752]

MCA/Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys died of cancer 11 years ago. Wish I had seen them live.

 

[Hell 1,334]

English actress and singer Diana Dors died on this day 39 years ago, aged 52.

 

 

American comedian and actor Moe Howard died on this day 48 years ago, aged 77.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,739]

Claude Choules died on this day 12 years ago, aged 110.

- Choules was born in England, but his family moved to Australia in 1911.

- Choules was 13 when World War I broke out, and his older brothers Douglas and Leslie enlisted. Claude attempted to join the army as a bugle boy, but was rejected for being too young.

- His father Harry vouched for him, and he would join the navy in 1915. He would join the battleship Revenge in 1917, participating in a battle against a German blimp.

- At the war's end, he witnessed the German fleet's surrender at Scotland.

- Choules was also a veteran of World War II, working on the HMAS Leeuwin- his duties were to sabotage Freemantle Harbour in case of a Japanese invasion, and to deal with sea mines that washed up on Australian beaches.

- Choules retired from the Australian navy in 1956. He would then live for another 55 years- he became Australia's oldest living man in June of 2009 following the death of 110-year-old John Campbell Ross, and held the title for nearly two years (though he never became the country's oldest living person- Miriam Schmierer was older and outlived him).

- Choules became the last surviving combat veteran of World War I following the death of American soldier Frank Buckles in February 2011. He was the second-to-last surviving veteran of the war, and after he died, Englishwoman Florence Green became the war's final living veteran.

- In December 2011, the Australian navy named a landing ship after him- the HMAS Choules.

[Hell 1,334]

American engineer and physicist who is widely credited with the invention of the laser Theodore Harold Maiman died on this day 16 years ago, aged 79.

 

 

Corsican-born French military commander and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led successful campaigns during the Revolutionary Wars Napoleon Bonaparte died on this day 202 years ago, aged 51.

 

[Sinbabad 1,116]

1 hour ago, Hell said:

Corsican-born French military commander and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led successful campaigns during the Revolutionary Wars Napoleon Bonaparte died on this day 202 years ago, aged 51.

 

And then he became emperor of the French in 1804, but hey that’s a small detail !

[Drewsky1211 4,739]

King Edward VII died on this day 113 years ago, aged 68.

- Considering what today is... Edward's coronation took place on August 9, 1902, over a year and a half after the death of his mother Queen Victoria. It was originally planned for June 26, but he was diagnosed with appendicitis two days prior, and had to undergo surgery to remove an abscess from his appendix.

- Edward's mother blamed him for the death of his father (Prince Albert)- Edward had an affair with a woman named Nellie Clifden, and Albert went to his house to scold him- while it was raining. Albert would be diagnosed with typhoid fever and die not long after this, and Victoria wrote that "I never can, or shall, look at [Edward] again without a shudder".

- Clifden was not the only woman Edward had an affair with- historians believe that he had over 50 mistresses, and several of these occurred while he was wed to Alexandra of Denmark. This earned him the nickname "Dirty Bertie".

- Edward was known for his progressive views on race- he stated that just because Indians have "a black face and a different religion from our own, there is no reason why he should be treated as a brute", and he would also socialize with Jewish financiers during a time when anti-Semitism was everywhere.

- Edward was known to eat five meals a day (ten courses each), and he had a waistline that had a circumference of 48 inches (122 cm).

- Edward's favorite pet was his Wire Fox Terrier, Caesar, who was present at his funeral.

- One of Edward's mistresses was a woman named Alice Keppel- she was the great-grandmother of Queen Consort Camilla (Camilla's grandmother was a legitimate child, so only Charles is a descendent of Edward).

- Only one of Edward's subjects is still alive- 113-year-old Ethel Caterham.

[diego 1,984]

Giulio Andreotti died 10 years ago, Leader of the Italian Christian-Democratic Party, he was Prime Minister in the periods of 1972-1973, 1976-1979 and 1989-1992, he died aged 94 and his years in power were treated in the film Il Divo ( 2008), by Paolo Sorrentino.

[Hell 1,334]

German and American actress and singer whose career spanned from the 1910s to the 1980s Marlene Dietrich died on this day 31 years ago, aged 90.

 

 

Major League Baseball starting pitcher who pitched primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies Robin Roberts died on this day 13 years ago, aged 83.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,739]

William Petty, better known as Lord Shelburne, died on this day 218 years ago, aged 68.

- Shelburne was a veteran of the Seven Years' War, seeing combat in France and Germany, and became a colonel.

- Shelburne was elected to Parliament in 1760 while still serving. The following year, his father died, and he was elevated to the House of Lords.

- Shelburne founded the Boodle's Club in 1762- it is still active, and its members have included William Wilberforce, John Profumo, and Winston Churchill.

- Shelburne would serve in several ministerial positions, including the secretary of state for the Southern Department from 1766 to 1768.

- In 1768, the town of Shelburne, Massachusetts was named after him. He sent a church bell to show appreciation, but it never arrived.

- Shelburne was opposed to fighting the American Revolution, and was critical of Lord North's government. Shelburne called for total withdrawal following the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.

- Shelburne was appointed Prime Minister in July of 1782 following the death of Lord Rockingham. His ministry was best known for drafting the peace treaty that would officially end the American Revolution (though combat had largely subsided following General Cornwallis' surrender).

- Shelburne was forced out of his position by the opposition parties, and was succeeded by the Duke of Portland (William Cavendish-Bentinck).

- Shelburne would be made an honorary foreign member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1803.

- Shelburne was worth £50,000 at the time of his death- this is worth over 5 and a half million pounds in 2023 money.

[time 8,599]

Its 12 years since the death of arranger, composer, performer and presenter George Webley, better known as Big George.

He's remembered particularly for his TV theme tunes for example Room 101, and his most recognisable tune Have I got News For You.

 

He was 53 and died after a heart attack (reportedly after taking mephedrone).

[diego 1,984]

Otto I of the Holy Roman Empire died 1050 years ago, in 973, Otto the Great was the first Holy Roman Emperor from 962 until his death, as well as King of Italy, King of Germany and Duke of Saxony.

[Hell 1,334]

American actor, producer, and decorated naval officer of World War II Douglas Fairbanks Jr. died on this day 23 years ago, aged 90.

 

 

Spanish professional golfer, a World No. 1 who was one of the sport's leading figures from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s Seve Ballesteros died on this day 12 years ago, aged 54.

 

[Sinbabad 1,116]

On this day 120 years ago, French painter Paul Gauguin died aged 54

[Drewsky1211 4,739]

Pope Boniface IV died on this day 1408 years ago, aged 65.

- As a deacon, Boniface was mentored by Pope Gregory I (r. 590-604).

- Boniface became pope in 608 following the death of Boniface III the previous year- the gap was due to waiting for Emperor Phocas to recognize him as the new pope.

- Boniface converted the Pantheon in Rome into a church, rededicating it from Jupiter, Venus, and Mars, to Mother Mary and Christian martyrs.

- Boniface was known for his monasticism, and he converted his house into a monastery.

- During his reign as pope, Muhammad founded Islam- the two religions would soon clash with each other, beginning in the 630s.

- Boniface died after a six-and-a-half year reign, and was succeeded by Adeodatus I.

[diego 1,984]

Vincent Alsop died 320 years ago, became Presbyterian Bishop of Westminster in 1677, and had some privileges during the reign of James II

John Stuart Mill died 150 years ago, considered by many to be the most influential English-speaking philosopher of the 19th century.[1]

 

[Hell 1,334]

American actress and influential teen idol of the late 1970s and early 1980s Dana Plato died on this day 24 years ago, aged 34.

 

 

English actor and singer Dennis Waterman died on this day a year ago, aged 74.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,739]

King Magnus VI of Norway died on this day 743 years ago, aged 42.

- Magnus became the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne after the death of his brother Haakon in 1257, and became king in 1263 after his father Haakon IV died fighting King Alexander III of Scotland over the Hebride Islands.

- In 1266, Magnus agreed to allow Scotland to keep the Hebrides and the Isle of Man, in exchange for a vast amount of silver and paying Norway yearly (kind of like rent).

- In 1274, Magnus introduced a national law code to supersede regional ones, somewhat revolutionary for the time. Among the laws introduced included that crime was an offense against the state and not the individual, increased his judicial powers, and established how the line of succession would go.

- Magnus was the first Norwegian king to officially number themselves- he called himself "Magnus IV", but did not count Magnus II (r. 1066-1069) nor Magnus IV (r. 1130-1135, 1137-1139).

- Magnus became ill in the spring of 1280 and planned to crown his son Eric II as co-king during the summer, but died before he could do so.

[diego 1,984]

Niccolò Albergati died 580 years ago at the age of 70, he was an Italian cardinal. He is currently venerated as a Blessed, he died of a serious kidney stone crisis, in the convent of the Augustinians in Siena

 

[Hell 1,334]

Nepali-Indian Sherpa mountaineer Tensing Norgay died on this day 37 years ago, aged 71/72.

 

 

American singer, musician, and songwriter Little Richard died on this day 3 years ago, aged 87.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,739]

King Louis XV of France died on this day 249 years ago, aged 64.

- Louis became king in 1715 following the death of his great-grandfather Louis XIV. As he was only five years old, his great-uncle Philippe (the Duke of Orleans) acted as regent until he turned 13 in 1723.

- In 1725, he married Marie, the daughter of king Stanislaus I of Poland- one of 99 princesses on a longlist of wife candidates. They "got busy" seven times on their wedding night (how people got this information I do not know).

- Louis would have affairs following a miscarriage Marie had in 1738, which the doctor ordered her not to have sex with him for a while. One relationship led to the birth of an illegitimate son, Charles de Vintimille, nicknamed "Demi-Louis" for his resemblance to his father.

- Louis is best known for his role in the Seven Years' War, with Great Britain beginning hostilities in North America in 1754 (the French and Indian War)- the French lost, and Louis had to give up French Canada to the UK (Quebec still views itself as such).

- On January 5, 1757, Louis survived an assassination attempt where he was stabbed.

- After Marie's death in 1768, Louis would have an affair with Madame du Barry. His granddaughter-in-law Marie Antoinette was known to have disliked her.

- Louis acquired Corsica for France in 1770 after fighting Corsican rebels for two years.

- Louis died after a two-week bout of smallpox. His reign of 58 years is the second-longest in French history.

[Sinbabad 1,116]

3 hours ago, Drewsky1211 said:

 His reign of 58 years is the second-longest in French history.

The longest being his predecessor’s, Louis XIV, who reigned 72 years. Which means that during 131 years, from 1643 to 1774, France only knew 2 kings/head of states. During the next 100 years, France knew 4 kings, 2 emperors, 1 President of the Republic and 10 changes of government’s form !

At the beginning of his reign, Louis XV was nicknamed the « beloved one » (« le bien aimé). But at the end, he was rather beloathed.

He was the first king to be borned at Versailles Castle and the only king to die there.