December 12: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

December 12, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1855, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Late papers from the Sandwich Islands mention another eruption of the Volcano of Mauna Loa, which was considered so dangerous that the people, in the greatest alarm, were leaving Hilo.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1861, the Eagle published the following letter: “Some near and dear relatives of mine crossed the Atlantic and went to London expressly to hear the Oratorio of the Messiah performed by three thousand artists and they tell me that the performance of the glorious Hallelujah Chorus alone repaid them for their trouble and expense. Imagine, dear Mr. Editor, three thousand singers in the ‘King of Kings’ and ‘Lord of Lords’ and ‘He shall reign forever Hallelujah,’ in this great chorus of Handel! This is an age of improvement. Perhaps this time next year under the auspices and influences mentioned, we may hear with delight the grand chorus of the Messiah, the Creation and the Elijah artistically performed by young men and maidens of Brooklyn.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1936, the Eagle reported, “LONDON (U.P.) — Great Britain proclaimed its new king, George VI, today and mourned, as if he were dead, the old one, Edward VIII. King George took the oath of accession at St. James’ Palace, before a special accession council of high dignitaries of Church and State. Then the council proclaimed him formally as King and the Royal Heralds and Kings of Arms were ordered to read his accession proclamation from a balcony on the palace, from Charing Cross, from Temple Bar and on the steps of the Royal Exchange in the old City of London. Cabinet Ministers, high church dignitaries, court officials, the Mayor of London and his Aldermen and Sheriffs gathered in the old palace to hear King George take the oath. He arrived from his home at 145 Piccadilly by motor car, to the ringing cheers of his subjects massed along the Mall. He was wearing the dark blue uniform of admiral of the fleet, resplendent in gold lace and bearing across his breast the blue ribbon of the Order of the Garter. While the troops of 18 regiments took their posts outside and along the route of the proclamation procession to the Royal Exchange, the Duke took his oath: ‘I solemnly and sincerely, in the presence of God, profess, testify and declare that I am a faithful Protestant and will according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the throne of my realm uphold and maintain said enactment to the best of my power according to law.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1952, the Eagle reported, “LONDON (U.P.) — A Congregationalist minister criticized the Royal Family today for giving a toy gun recently to four-year-old Prince Charles, heir to the British throne. The Rev. Hubert Oliver wrote in a church magazine: ‘The Royal Family usually sets us such a good example, but I am amazed by this gift.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “On Nov. 29, the smallest size of registered envelope and the two types of ordinary British envelopes bearing embossed postage stamps of the new reign were placed on sale at all post offices in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The design is based on a sculptured profile portrait of Queen Elizabeth II within the petals of a Tudor rose, as executed by Cecil Thomas.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1962, the Eagle reported, “The United States Eastern District Court will soon begin litigation of claims approximating $30 million for damages resulting from the tragic mid-air crash which sent one plane plunging into downtown Brooklyn two years ago. The crash, the worst in aviation history, claimed the lives of 134 people and caused damage to property in Brooklyn and Staten Island … The crash occurred on Dec. 16, 1960 when a United Douglas DC8 and Trans World airline Lockheed collided in mid-air over Staten Island. The DC8 came to a flaming rest near Sterling Pl. The Lockheed crashed near Miller Air Field in Staten Island. All 128 passengers aboard both planes were killed. Six people in Brooklyn also died.”

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Dionne Warwick
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Pettit, who was born in 1932; Grammy Hall of Famer Dionne Warwick, who was born in 1940; “Love Actually” star Bill Nighy, who was born in 1949; N.Y. Islanders legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Billy Smith, who was born in 1950; gymnast and actress Cathy Rigby, who was born in 1952; International Tennis Hall of Famer Tracy Austin, who was born in 1962; sportscaster Mike Golic, who was born in 1962; Pro Football Hall of Famer John Randle, who was born in 1967; Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Connelly, who was born in 1970; “Support the Girls” star Regina Hall, who was born in 1970; “Jeopardy!” host Mayim Bialik, who was born in 1975; and “Manchester by the Sea” star Lucas Hedges, who was born in Brooklyn Heights in 1996.

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BENCHMARK: John Jay was born in New York City on this day in 1745. Jay co-wrote the influential Federalist Papers with James Madison and Alexander Hamilton and was the first chief justice of the U.S. He died in 1829.

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AROUND THE TOWN: Ed Koch was born on this day in 1924. After eight years in Congress, he served three terms as mayor of New York City (1978-89). A colorful figure who rode the subways, Koch 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. He died in 2013.

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

Quotable:

“If you agree with me on 9 out of 12 issues, vote for me. If you agree with me on 12 out of 12 issues, see a psychiatrist.”

— former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, who was born on this day in 1924