First off, we mention Edmond Halley. He was English, and died in 1742. Not until after he had of course figured out how to compute the orbit of comets, and predicted that one would appear at a certain time. He was right! And in return, the comet was named Halley's Comet. Catchy!
In 1776, we come across yet another Cornwallis. This time, it's Edward. And surprise, surprise, he was a general in the British Army! While his nephew Charles got the Title of "Lord Cornwallis" and the headlines in history for fighting in both North American and India (the latter much more successfully) Edward had to content himself with being the founder of Halifax in Nova Scotia. He fought the local Indian tribes there for several years, since they objected to the English suddenly appearing and building a city. Both sides fought what they all recognized as a total war with strongly racial undertones. However, since Cornwallis is that most heinous of all creatures, a Dead White European Male, he's been pretty well scrubbed out of Canadian history. After all, killing natives is a horrible offense which can never be forgiven. Of course, the fact that those same natives were killing Whites is Completely Understandable and Justified. So the city of Halifax has dropped his name from a few monuments, lest they appear to be encouraging the practice of putting bounties on the heads of Indians. I guess that's a problem in Nova Scotia in the 21st century. Sigh.
And speaking of the Cornwallis family, one of their nemeses died on this date too. The French admiral known (in the short version) as Comte de Grasse died in 1788. He's the guy who led the French naval forces at the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781. He won the battle, and shortly thereafter, the British forces in Virginia, surrounded and unable to be rescued by the Royal Navy, surrendered at Yorktown. Led of course, by the aforementioned Charles, Lord Cornwallis. After that, de Grasse returned to his stomping grounds in the Caribbean. The next year, he got his a** kicked by the Royal Navy at the Battle of the Saintes, and was captured. After he was released, he returned to France, demanded a court-martial, and was found innocent of any wrong-doing in the defeat. Presumably on the ground that he was a French officer commanding a French force, and fighting a non-French force. So really, what could they expect? He was only French after all!
Here's looking at you kid. After this date in 1957, those words were never uttered again. Except by every impressionist in America, who is compelled by law to do Humphrey Bogart. If you haven't guessed, Bogey died on this date in 1957. Thus the mention. As is so often the case, if you need me to tell you about what a great actor he was, then there's something wrong with you. Oh, and he never said (at least in the film) "play it again, Sam". But that's a normal thing too- putting words in an actor's mouth and making them a catchphrase.
In 1984, Ray Kroc died. He was the guy who made McDonalds more than just a single restaurant owned by the McDonald brothers. It's fortunate that he died when he did: if he had lived just one more year, he would have seen his baseball team humiliated and crushed in the World Series by the all-powerful Detroit Tigers. Fun little fact- Willard Scott, the TV personality, is the guy who created the iconic "Ronald McDonald"
And finally, let's give a loud, boisterous yell of 'KHAAAAAAAAN" to celebrate the death of Ricardo Montalban, aka KHAN!!! in Star Trek. He was also Mister Roarke, of course. So repeat after me "Welcome... To Fantasy Island". For best results, do all of the above while wearing the Finest Corinthian Leather. All cliches aside, he died in 2009.
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