In 1812, a luxurious hotel was opened in Dusseldorf by the name of Breidenbacher Hof. Once the most expensive hotel in Germany, it is still among the best known hotels in the world. Continue reading “Dusseldorf’s Breidenbacher Hof is 200 years old, or is it?”
Tag: 1812
bookmark_borderDaniel Isaac Eaton’s self defense
Just as the prosecution’s case was brilliant if simple, so Daniel Isaac Eaton’s defense was as inept as it was informative.
First of all, Eaton was late for his trial. Continue reading “Daniel Isaac Eaton’s self defense”
bookmark_borderWhen Saint Patrick’s Day was British
St Patrick’s day “a day always precious in the estimation of the Irishman, was celebrated yesterday at the Free Mason’s Tavern.” Reported the Morning Chronicle.
So the famous playright Sheridan, the Mayor of London, and a few other notables celebrated St. Patrick’s, so what? Well, unlike in previous years, British newspapers in 1812 saw trouble brewing in these celebrations.
bookmark_borderHappy St. David’s Day
This year, the Welsh people may be celebrating a recent Rugby triumph over England.
200 year ago, however, the Welsh in Liverpool gave “loyal toasts” to the Royal family and other British notables.
bookmark_borderSocial Networking, Book Burning, and the rooster who lost his head
Daniel Isaac Eaton had been in trouble with the law before. (That is, before the blasphemy case.)
Once upon a time, in a little kingdom in far away Europe, there lived a cockerel by the name of Chanticleer, King Chanticleer. This rooster was a descendent of the Chanticleer in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Nun’s Priest’s Tale, and a distant uncle of the King Chanticleer which featured in 1911 song by Nat D. Ayer.
Only this Chanticleer was a gamecock which sprung from the imagination of John Thelwall in 1793. Continue reading “Social Networking, Book Burning, and the rooster who lost his head”
bookmark_borderDaniel Isaac Eaton, Thomas Paine’s publisher, accused of blasphemy
The prosecution mounted a brilliant case against Thomas Paine’s publisher. The first witness the attorney General called was Henry Ben Raven, who, as stated earlier, had purchased a copy of Thomas Paine’s book from Daniel Isaac Eaton’s shop. Continue reading “Daniel Isaac Eaton, Thomas Paine’s publisher, accused of blasphemy”
bookmark_borderThe Ghost of Thomas Paine haunts the Church of England
When Richard Dawkins recently claimed that Christians were “not really Christian at all”, he wasn’t breaking new ground.
Over 200 years ago, Thomas Paine, that oft-quoted American patriot, wrote a pamphlet that said basically the same thing.
Continue reading “The Ghost of Thomas Paine haunts the Church of England”
bookmark_borderThen she stole the sailor’s heart
Jeffery Hart Bent was not a very forgiving man. Jeffery once passed a toll that he thought he shouldn’t have to pay. When they asked Jeffery for the fare, he rammed through the gate, breaking it, and continued on his way, leaving the broken booth behind him.
When called to Australia’s Supreme Court, Jeffery didn’t seem to see the condemned man as having many more rights than the broken tollbooth. The court was a man short when a squeaky clean English solicitor named Garling was held up at sea on his way to New South Wales, captured by an American ship. Only, they weren’t a short, as there were convicts who had served their time and were eligible to serve in the court. Jeffery Hart Bent, however, would not consider it, and he held in contempt any of his advisors who would.
Judge Bent had heard many stories from his little brother Ellis, no doubt, but nothing could prepare him for the sea voyage he was about to make. Continue reading “Then she stole the sailor’s heart”
bookmark_borderFort Allison: Black History and the War of 1812 in Illinois
The early settlement of Crawford County, Illinois is still relatively clouded in mystery.
The movies used to simplify the westward expansion as a contest between “Indians” and “The White Man.” But when I presented this stereotype a couple of decades ago, on my visit to the a little town near Russelville in Illinois, I was corrected.
Continue reading “Fort Allison: Black History and the War of 1812 in Illinois”
bookmark_borderThe fate of Captain Rowland and his privateer brig Holkar
Stranded on her tropical island, it’s likely that Susannah Lalliment didn’t know or care what happened to her would be rescuers turned deserters, Captain Rowland and his Holkar privateer.
To the British navy and merchant marine, however, the brig Holkar was a menace.
Slowed only by the captured ships and other prizes they had to sell, Captain Rowland and his crew turned back home to turn in his prizes. The Emu was taken to New York, and other prizes to other ports.
Continue reading “The fate of Captain Rowland and his privateer brig Holkar”