August 14: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

August 14, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1887, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle said, “The progress of astronomy has been astonishingly rapid, so that its position now is vastly improved and it is evidently becoming more popular every day. This may be chiefly attributed to the extension of astronomical literature and to the infusion of science into the educational system. Moreover telescopes have been greatly improved and are far less expensive than formerly. Fifty years ago instruments of first class pretensions were comparatively rare, but they have become plentifully distributed everywhere and a man who spends his nights in ‘star gazing’ has long since ceased to be regarded as eccentric.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1891, the Eagle reported, “The electrical world is just now experiencing a thrill of delight because of the remarkable experiments of Nikola Tesla, a young Austro-Hungarian, who has made this city his home and promises to become famous in his profession, says the New York Times. The particular subject upon which this gentleman has so wonderfully perfected himself is that of alternating currents of high frequency, a subject on which he recently delivered a lecture at Columbia college before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. While there was much in Mr. Tesla’s paper that applied to the most occult branches of theoretical electricity, there was also much that appealed to the layman because of the great promise it gave of future commercial importance. Mr. Tesla is now engaged in perfecting an improved system of electric lighting, by which, from a given amount of electrical energy, a light many times stronger than any yet produced may be secured without wires or pipes of any kind connecting with the light itself.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1912, the Eagle said, “The long-expected posthumous child of Colonel John Jacob Astor was born to his widow, the former Madeleine Force, today. The youngster, a lusty, sturdy son, made his appearance in the world at 8:15 o’clock this morning. He weighed 7¾ pounds. The condition of both mother and child is in every way excellent, and the former Brooklyn girl, who was married to the then head of the Astor family in this country only last September, and who became a widow through the foundering of the Titanic four months ago, is particularly happy because she has a child to whom may be given the name of her dead husband.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1944, the Eagle reported, “HYANNIS, MASS. (U.P.) — Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., 21, a naval aviator and son of the former Ambassador to England, has been killed in the European theater, according to word received today … Young Kennedy had been on active duty as a navy pilot … A brother, Lt. John F. Kennedy, was commander of a PT boat in the navy. He returned to this country recently after having taken part in several hazardous engagements in the Pacific. For 10 days he was listed as missing, but later was rescued from a desolate island.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1950, the Eagle reported, “LONDON (U.P.) — The call of the grouse was too strong. King George VI decided he could wait no longer for the arrival of Princess Elizabeth’s second child and left last night to shoot grouse in Scotland. Queen Elizabeth remained behind at Buckingham Palace, however, to be close at hand when her second grandchild arrives. The Princess startled crowds yesterday, awaiting the imminent birth, by walking out of her town residence, Clarence House, and motoring with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, to Buckingham Palace for a farewell get-together with the king.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “Hurricane ‘Barbara’ hammered steadily northward today, its roaring fringe apparently certain to sideswipe the metropolitan area late this afternoon with gale winds, heavy rains and flooding tides. As the season’s first full-blown tropical storm spread a trail of death and destruction through North Carolina and Virginia, police warned New York harbor shipping to batten down for the big blow. The Coast Guard warned shore residents to double-tie small boats and be ready to move should evacuation become necessary. The city will be hit by the hurricane’s fringe around 4 or 5 p.m., the forecast warned. By late tonight the storm should be gone, leaving clear skies and diminishing winds. Tomorrow will be fair and warmer with a high in the 80s. Today’s temperatures hovered around 75.”

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Halle Berry
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Summer Breeze” singer Darrell Crofts, who was born in 1940; “The Jerk” star Steve Martin, who was born in 1945; “Kate & Allie” star Susan Saint James, who was born in 1946; romance novelist Danielle Steel, who was born in 1947; “Alias” star Carl Lumbly, who was born in 1951; International Swimming Hall of Famer Debbie Meyer, who was born in 1952; former Commander of U.S. Forces – Afghanistan Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, who was born in 1954; “Sister, Sister” star Jackee Harry, who was born in 1956; Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden, who was born in 1959; Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, who was born in 1959; Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry, who was born in 1966; “JAG” star Catherine Bell, who was born in 1968; “That ’70s Show” star Mila Kunis, who was born in 1983; Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, who was born in 1987; and “Black-ish” star Marsai Martin, who was born in 2004.

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ALLIED FORCES: President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill signed the Atlantic Charter on this day in 1941. The eight-point agreement grew out of a three-day conference aboard a ship off the Newfoundland coast and stated policies and hopes for the future agreed to by the two nations.

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CODE OF HONOR: Today is Navajo Code Talkers Day. It was established by the Navajo National Council as a tribal holiday recognizing and honoring the distinguished record of the Code Talkers during World War II. The Code Talkers transmitted military messages in the Navajo language that the Axis powers were unable to decipher.

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

Quotable:

“When you face a crisis, you know who your true friends are.”

— Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, who was born on this day in 1959