Death Anniversary Thread

[Hell 1,334]

Libyan revolutionary, politician and political theorist Muammar Gaddafi has been assassinated on this day 11 years ago, aged 68/69.

 

[Drewsky1211 4,731]

Horatio Nelson died on this day 217 years ago, aged 47.

Nelson joined the British navy in 1771, and following his service in the American Revolution, began to quickly rise through the ranks. In 1794, Nelson was one of the leaders of the invasion of Corsica, and was blinded in one eye during battle. Nelson would fight battles in the Mediterranean during the Anglo-Spanish War, which began in 1796.

 

Nelson was tasked with defeating Napoleon's army (the French sided with the Spanish) after he captured Malta, and fought him in the Battle of the Nile, defeating him there. After attacking Denmark, fearing they would side with France, Nelson returned to England, and then went back in service in 1803.

 

In 1805, Nelson fought Napoleon again at the Battle of Trafalgar. It was also a British victory- however, Nelson was fatally injured by a musket ball. Nelson's body was kept embalmed by being put in a barrel of brandy (his corpse absorbed some of the drink), and was given a state funeral after being sailed home. Nelson's Column, a 169 foot (51 and a half meter for those who don't use "freedom units") obelisk in London, was erected as a monument to him in 1843.

 

Nelson has been the subject of controversy in recent years due to his pro-slavery views.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

 

On this day in 1999 australian tennis player  John Bromwich died aged 80.

Although good playing  singles he was best known for his particular gift as a brilliant doubles player  who won 13 titles in mens doubles matches.

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American first baseman in Major League Baseball Dolph Camilli died on this day 25 years ago, aged 90.

 

[Hell 1,334]

American historian and South Dakota politician who eas a U.S. representative and three-term U.S. senator, and the Democratic Party presidential nominee in the 1972 presidential election George McGovern died on this day 10 years ago, aged 90.

 

 

21st prime minister of Australia, in office from 1972 to 1975 Gough Whitlam died on this day 8 years ago, aged 98.

 

[Summer in Transylvania 2,173]

1 hour ago, Hell said:

21st prime minister of Australia, in office from 1972 to 1975 Gough Whitlam died on this day 8 years ago, aged 98.

 

Gough drops, anyone?

[Drewsky1211 4,731]

Charles Martel died on this day 1281 years ago, aged ~53.

Charles was the son of Pepin of Herstal, the duke of the Franks. When his father died in 714, civil war broke out amongst Francia- by 718, Charles and has army gained the most power within the fighting factions- he had enough power to appoint the kings he once served, as he did with Theuderic IV in 721.

 

In October of 732, Charles led his army to battle Umayyad forces at the Battle of Tours. The Umayyads attempted to continue expanding their ever-growing caliphate into modern-day France after conquering the Iberian Peninsula, Charles won the battle due to gaining the high ground and being far more well-prepared than the Umayyads, and his victory prevented the spread of Islam into Europe. For his victories, he gained the epithet "Martel"- "The Hammer".

 

Charles is the paternal grandfather of Charlemagne, therefore making him an ancestor to virtually all living people of European descent.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

 

 

On this day 10 years ago in 2012 british television presenter  Mike Morris, who presented TVam Good Morning Britain  in the 1980s,  died aged 66.

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American stage, film and television actor Cleavon Little died on this day 30 years ago, aged 53.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

 

 

On this day two years ago in 2020 ,British guitarist  Derek Quinn who played with the band Freddie and the Dreamers died aged 78 of covid.

[Drewsky1211 4,731]

Pete Burns died on this day 6 years ago, aged 57.

In 1979, Burns formed the band Nightmares in Wax. After replacing some band members, the band was renamed to "Dead or Alive" the following year. Dead or Alive would achieve mainstream success in the mid-1980s with a cover of KC and the Sunshine Band's "That's The Way (I Like It)" in 1984, and in 1985, their signature song "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)". The latter peaked at number one on the British, Irish, and Canadian charts, and was later sampled in Flo Rida's "Right Round" in 2009.

 

Burns was known for sparking outrage during television appearances. In 2003, Burns cursed while giving his opinion on the Michael Jackson trial, which was live. The BBC apologized for this event. In 2006, Burns participated in the fourth season of the British version of Celebrity Big Brother, making it to the finale and finishing in fifth place of the six finalists. While on the show, Burns angered animal rights activists when he said that his fur coat was made of gorilla skin- police confiscated the coat, and found it was made with colobus monkey fur that was imported in the 1930s (before it became illegal to import in 1975).

 

In later years, Burns was known for having many plastic surgeries, leading to an androgynous and/or feminine look. Burns died of a sudden heart attack. One of his last public appearances was in May of that year, in which tabloids stated he looked "bloated" and "disheveled" (seen below).

[Summer in Transylvania 2,173]

Cricketer William Gilbert Grace died on this day, 107 years ago. 

 

 

Grace is still considered one of the most prolific players of his sport of all time. However, he also had a career as a qualified doctor, from age 31, and a ward in the Queen Elizabeth II Wing of St. Bartholomew's Hospital used to bear his name. He passed away from a Myocardial Infarction aged 67 on 23rd October 1915, a year after the outbreak of the First World War, with which he called for all First Class Cricketers to give up play and serve their country on the front line. His death "shook the nation almost as much as Winston Churchill's 50 years later". 

 

"W. G. Grace was by no conceivable standards a good man. He was a cheat on and off the cricket field." - C. P. Snow (1905-1980).

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American actor Frederick Burton died on this day 65 years ago, aged 86.

 

[Hell 1,334]

American professional wrestler Yokozuna died on this day 22 years ago, aged 34.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

 

 

On this day 72 years ago yesterday (October 23rd) in 1950   american comedian,  actor and vaudeville act Al Jolson died aged 64.

[Drewsky1211 4,731]

Don Messick died on this day 25 years ago, aged 71.

Messick started off as a radio host, and his first work as a voice actor was as Raggedy Andy on The Raggedy Ann Show (also on radio, contrary to the title). In 1949, Messick became the voice of Droopy Dog when fellow veteran voice actor Daws Butler suggested that Tex Avery hired him, when Droopy's voice actor Bill Thompson was not available.

 

Messick and Butler would soon provide their voices to Hanna-Barbera's first show, The Ruff and Ready Show, in which they voiced the title characters. Messick would also voice Boo Boo and Ranger Smith in The Yogi Bear Show, Barney's son Bamm-Bamm in The Flintstones, Astro in The Jetsons, and Muttley in Wacky Races. Messick took over the voices of Atom Ant and Mr. Peebles (the latter from Magilla Gorilla) when Howard Morris left the company.

 

In 1969, Messick was cast in his most well-known role- Scooby-Doo. He would voice him until the 1994 TV movie Scooby-Doo in Arabian Nights, and after his death, the role be passed to Frank Welker (who voiced Fred in the original series).

 

Later roles Messick would be known for were as Papa Smurf in The Smurfs and Hamton in Tiny Toon Adventures.

 

Messick retired in 1996 following a stroke, and many of his co-workers in the voice acting industry gave him a retirement party. Messick died from a second stroke the following year.

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

 

On this day five years ago in 2017 american pianist,  singer and songwriter   Fats Domino died aged 89.

[Death Impends 7,957]

4 hours ago, Gooseberry Crumble said:

 

On this day five years ago in 2017 american pianist,  singer and songwriter   Fats Domino died aged 89.

 

Five years and a few days ago, Fats Domino was looking great and sure to see 90

[Hell 1,334]

American lawyer and statesman who represented New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the U.S. Congress and served as the U.S. Secretary of State under Presidents William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and Millard Fillmore Daniel Webster died on this day 170 years ago, aged 70.

 

 

Native Irish and Naturalized American actress and singer, who became successful in Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s Maureen O’Hara died on this day 7 years ago, aged 95.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American character actor Lyle Latell died on this day 55 years ago, aged 63.

 

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

 

 

On this day 31 years ago in 1991 ,american screenwriter, producer and most importantly  creator of Star Trek Gene Roddenberry , died aged 70.

[Drewsky1211 4,731]

King George II died on this day 262 years ago, aged 76.

George was born in Germany, and is the most recent British monarch to have been born outside of British territory. When Queen Anne died in 1714, his father was declared the first Hanover king, and the two sailed to England. The two had a poor relationship with each other, and when George I died in Hanover in 1727, the new king did not attend his funeral- a move seen by the public as loyalty to Britain. Among the songs written for George II's coronation included Handel's "Zadok the Priest".

 

George II oversaw the War of Jenkins' Ear against Spain from 1739 to 1748, and participated in the War of the Austrian Succession as Spain also fought in it. In 1745, while his army was largely in Austria, Jacobite supporters led by Charles Stuart (the original "Charles III") attempted to regain the throne for the Stuart side of the royal family (his father, James, was a legitimate son of James II and VII). The army defeated the Jacobites, and no serious attempts were made by the Jacobites to reclaim the throne again.

 

In 1756, George began to oversee the Seven Years' (or French and Indian) War, and in 1759, captured Quebec in Canada, foiled a French plot to invade the British Isles, and won the Battle of Minden in Hanover- the year was declared an "annus mirabilis".

 

Age had taken its toll on the elderly George- by 1760, he was partially blind and deaf. On an October morning, he drank a cup of hot chocolate, and then went to the bathroom. A loud noise was heard from the bathroom, and his valet found him on the floor, dead of an aortic dissection (he did not die on the toilet, contrary to popular belief- he had gotten up to open his secretary desk). At 76 years old, George was the longest-lived British monarch at the time (his grandson and successor George III would surpass this in 1815).

[Gooseberry Crumble 5,337]

 

 

On this day in 1995 american tennis player  Bobby Riggs died aged 77.

In his senior years he made quite a provocative and controversial  move-stating that females in tennis, infact females in sport and life in general were inferior to men and challenged any female player to beat him in a special game in order to prove his point. 

Billie Jean King declined regarding his challenge as childish and pathetic.  Margaret Court however did take up the challenge but lost the tennis match.

This caused a disheartened and frustrated Billie Jean King to reevaluate and accept the match challenge  . She won and a battle ensued with regards to fair and equal pay between male and female tennis players. 

The saga was made into a  2017 movie titled ' Battle of the sexes ' starring  Emma Stone as Billie Jean and Steve Carrell as Bobby Riggs.

[Hell 1,334]

American actor Vincent Price died on this day 29 years ago, aged 82.

 

 

Irish actor and singer Richard Harris died on this day 20 years ago, aged 72.

 

[The Ashes Urn 1,355]

American singer-songwriter Roger Miller died on this day 30 years ago, aged 56.