MILESTONES: December 12, birthdays for Mayim Bialik, Yuvraj Singh, Rey Mysterio

Brooklyn Today

December 12, 2017 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Mayim Bialik. Photo by Peter Barreras/Invision/AP

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Greetings, Brooklyn. Today is the 349th day of the year.

On this day in 1926, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page reported a series of explosions that destroyed the oil tanker Agwisun that was docked in the Erie Basin, which is part of the Red Hook waterfront. The explosions could be felt as far away as Manhattan and 20 miles out into New Jersey. The ship had been in a dry dock for maintenance. Several were injured, and the Eagle reported some dramatic rescues. There were no fatalities, as most of the crew was on shore leave.

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On this day in 1936, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page reported that George VI became King of England at an accession ceremony for which he arrived late. And while England mourned his brother, Edward VIII, as if he were dead, this former king was very much alive and on a ship to France and Switzerland. Edward VIII, now the Duke of Windsor, had abdicated the throne for a divorcee, and in doing so set a precedent. His great-nephew Charles, Prince of Wales — himself divorced from Princess Diana — married British divorcee Camilla in 2005. And Prince Harry is engaged to another American divorcee, Meghan Markle, although a more popular one. Unlike his father, Prince Harry is not an immediate heir to the throne.

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On this day in 1941, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page reported that American and Philippine forces fighting Japan had sunk a 29-ton battleship, causing other ships on the Japanese war fleet to flee. Other reports on that page, such as from Pravda, the communist news agency, revealed that Japan had planned its Pearl Harbor attack a long time ago and “bitingly taunted Germany on the failure of its greatest offensive of all time.”

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On this day in 1948, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle front page reported that, 10 years earlier on the eve of World War II, a communist spy ring had stolen secret U.S. State Department papers that conveyed British naval plans. The message was copied by a high-ranking State Department official by the name of Alger Hiss. The House Committee on Un-American Activities revealed these papers, which were considered to be “the least touchy” of the documents that the House committee had obtained.

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include Hall of Fame tennis player TRACY ANN AUSTIN, who was in 1962; Emmy Award-winning TV personality and game show host BOB BARKER, who was born in 1923; actress MAYIM BIALIK, who was born in 1975; Oscar Award-winning actress JENNIFER CONNELLY, who was born in 1970; singer and musician SHEILA E., who was born in 1957; singer CONNIE FRANCIS, who was born in 1938; actor ROBERT LINDSAY, who was born in 1949; professional wrestler REY MYSTERIO JR., who was born in 1974; Hall of Fame basketball player BOB PETTIT JR., who was born in 1932; Olympic gymnast CATHY RIGBY, who was born in 1952; Indian cricket star YUVRAJ SINGH, who was born in 1981; singer DIONNE WARWICK, who was born in 1940; and actor TOM WILKINSON, who was born in 1948.

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ED KOCH WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1924. A congressman from 1969 to 1977, Koch was elected mayor of New York City in 1977. He was known as a colorful figure who rode the subways, and he reached out to his constituents for advice and commentary. His business acumen brought the city out of dire financial straits, but he weathered many scandals and controversies during his tenure in office. After leaving office, he practiced law and taught at several universities, but was never far from the public eye. He wrote 17 books, including several mysteries, and made scores of cameo appearances in film and TV, complete with a brief stint as a judge on “The People’s Court.” He died in 2013 in New York.

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TODAY IS POINSETTIA DAY. It is a day to enjoy poinsettias and to honor Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the American diplomat who introduced into the U.S. the Central American plant that is named for him. Poinsett also served as a member of Congress and as secretary of war. He died in South Carolina in 1851.

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JOSEPH HAYNE RAINEY WAS SWORN INTO THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THIS DAY IN 1870. He was the first black person to serve in the House. Rainey served until 1879.

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GUSTAVE FLAUBERT WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1821. The French author is best known for one of the greatest 19th-century novels, “Madame Bovary.” He died in France in 1880.

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FRANK SINATRA WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1915. He matured from a teen idol to the premier singer of American popular music. Known as the “Chairman of the Board” to his fans, he made more than 200 albums. His signature songs include “New York, New York” and “All the Way.” His film career includes musicals “On the Town” and “Pal Joey” and two gritty films: “From Here to Eternity,” for which he won an Oscar, and “The Man with the Golden Arm.” Sinatra died in Los Angeles in 1998.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

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“The art of creation is older than the art of killing.” — Ed Koch, who was born on this day in 1924