Today's the Day - 18th October

Herman Melville

On this day in 1851, The Whale by Herman Melville was published in Britain in 3 volumes. Later to become the story of Moby-Dick, it was published in just a single volume in the USA approx. 3 weeks later.

The novel was a commercial failure and out of print at the time of the author's death in 1891, but during the 20th century, its reputation as a “Great American Novel” was established.

The English edition had an initial print of only 500 copies – significantly fewer than his other books while only 3,200 copies of the novel were sold during Melville’s lifetime.

Birthdays and anniversaries on this day:

Erin (or is it Joanie?)

Legendary American singer-songwriter and guitarist Chuck Berry was born in 1926.

Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated of US President John F Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Erin Moran, who played the part of Joanie Cunningham in the 1970’s TV smash hit Happy Days, celebrates her 56^th birthday today.

Today's the Day - 17th October

On this day 60 years ago, Britain’s first nuclear power station, Calder Hall in Cumbria, was officially opened.

 

A clock at Calder Hall registering power
transferred to the National Grid

Opened by the Queen, it actually began operating in August of the same year, becoming the first nuclear power station in the world to generate power on an industrial scale.

The first nuclear power station in the world began operations on an experimental basis 2 years previously in the Soviet Union, but the output generated was significantly lower than that at Calder Hall.

The town of Workington, situated 15 miles up the coast from Calder Hall, became the first town in the world to receive heat, light and power from nuclear energy, and within 4 hours nuclear-powered electricity had reached London.

Birthdays and anniversaries today include:

Rita Hayworth

US actor and dancer Rita Hayworth was born on this day in 1918. She died in 1987 aged 68 with Alzheimer's disease being a contributing factor.

Actor Guy Henry, better known as Henrik Hanssen in BBC’s Holby City is 56 today.

South African golfer Ernie Els, nicknamed “The Big Easy” celebrates his 47^th.

Today's the Day - 16th October

100 years ago today, Margaret Higgins Sanger and colleagues opened the first American birth control clinic in New York City. It resulted in their immediate arrest and jailing for the distribution of “obscene material”, although the convictions were later overturned.

Sanger believed that women deserved an equal footing in society and that to lead healthier lives, should be able to determine themselves when to bear children. She also wanted to put an end to back-alley abortions which, even though they were illegal at the time, were commonplace.

She didn’t totally disagree with abortions per se, but considered that contraception was the most practical way to avoid them.

Davina, 49 today

In 1921 Margaret Sanger founded the American Birth Control League, which later became the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Happy birthday today goes to:

Dan Biggar (27)

English TV presenter Davina McCall (49)

South-African cricketer Jacques Kallis (41)

Welsh Rugby Union outside-half Dan Biggar (27)