Poor Gabriel's Almanac - December 26th

Interesting things that happened December 26th:

Birthdays on this date:

In 1194 Frederick II Hohenstaufen, Holy Roman emperor
In 1716 Thomas Gray (in England), poet (Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard)
In 1738 Thomas Nelson, merchant, signed Declaration of Independance
In 1778 Juan Lovera, Venezuelan artist
In 1792 Charles Babbage, invented calculating machine (first computer)
In 1837 George Dewey, admiral, the American naval hero of Manila
In 1891 Henry Miller, author (Tropic of Capricorn, Tropic of Cancer)
In 1893 Mao Zedong, Chinese leader (1943-76), revolutionary, author
In 1914 Richard Widmark, actor (Madigan, Kiss of Death, Judgment at Nuremberg)
In 1917 Rosemary Woods, Nixon's secretary (keep her away from your tapes)
In 1921 Steve Allen, comedian, jazz musician, variety show host (Tonight Show)
In 1927 Alan King, comedian, actor (Just Tell Me What You Want, Casino)
In 1942 Marco Vinicio Cerezo Arévalo, president of Guatemala (1986-91)
In 1948 Chris Chambliss, NY Yankee first baseman

Events worth noting:

+ Boxing Day, in Canada, United Kingdom (except Scotland.)
+ Feast of St. Stephen, martyr
+ National Whiner's Day
In 1492 First Spanish settlement in New World founded, by Columbus.
In 1773 Expulsion of tea ships from Philadelphia, PA.
In 1848 First gold seekers arrive in Panama en route to San Francisco.
In 1860 Maiden voyage of the first steamship owned by one man (Cornelius Vanderbilt).
In 1865 James Mason invents the first American coffee percolator.
In 1878 First store in the US to install electric lights (Philadelphia, PA).
In 1917 Federal government took over operation of American railroads for the duration of WW I.
In 1919 Yanks and Red Sox reach agreement on transfer of Babe Ruth.
In 1925 First East-West football game at Ewing Park before 25,000 fans.
In 1933 US foreswears armed intervention in Western Hemisphere.
In 1941 Churchill is first British PM to address joint US Congress meeting.
In 1972 Harry Truman, 33rd US Pres dies at 88.
In 1973 Soyuz 13 returns to Earth.
In 2004 Earthquake (9.1) and tsuname devastate costal Asia.
In 2006 Gerald Ford dies at 93 (longest-lived US President).

And remember ...

National Indigestion Season

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Although efforts have been taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, several errors have been found in the past. Don't place any bets on the basis of what you find here. If you spot an error, write to Poor Gabriel at poorgabriel@mystery.com .