WHO WAS BORN
1440: Grand Prince Ivan of Moscow
Ivan Vasilyevich, also known as Ivan the Great, was Grand Prince
of Moscow. Through conquest and diplomacy, he subdued other Russian
cities and united a large portion of Russia. He was also able to
abolish the agreement that for years had kept the Russian rulers
subject to the Golden
Horde. However, Russia was not completely united under one rule
until the reign of his grandson, Ivan
the Terrible.
1561: Francis Bacon
Although he was from an influential family, Bacon
profited little from his connections and achieved success and
reputation on his own merits. An author of poetry
and philosophical essays,
a statesman and politician, he is perhaps best known today for his
quotations and the theory that occasionally re-emerges that he was
the actual author of Shakespeare's work.
1592: Pierre Gassendi
A scientist, a mathematician, and a philosopher,
Gassendi
was a proponent of Epicureanism, and tried in his work to reconcile
varying philosophies in a rational world-view. He was also the first
astronomer to make telescopic obervations of the transit of Mercury
across the face of the Sun.
WHO DIED
628: Saint Anastasius
Magundat was a soldier in the Persian army when Chosroes carried
the Cross from Jerusalem to Persia. Moved by the incident, he took
the name of Anastasius
and became a Christian, then a monk, then sought (and found)
martyrdom.
1552: Sir Edward Seymour
As an uncle to King
Edward VI of England, Seymour was able to procure the
protectorship of his nephew, whereby he was created the first Duke of
Somerset. His success caused jealousy in his enemies, however, and he
was twice arrested and at last executed for treason.
