ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

ON THIS DAY IN 1875, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Great preparations are in progress to give eclat to the Centennial reception to be given at the Academy on the 9th prox, in aid of the Brooklyn Maternity, and the promise is that it will be the most attractive social entertainment ever given in this city. The lady managers are desirous that as many of the guests as possible appear in costume. The attire need not be of the court dress pattern of last year’s Washington Tea Party, as any genuine costume, the fashion of a hundred years ago will be very suitable, the design being to give the assemblage as varied a character in the way of attire as possible, without giving the entertainment a fancy dress appearance. For this reason, while the costume of 1775, either of civilian or military personages will be in order, as also that of Indians, no other fancy attire will be allowed on the floor, or even admitted in the Academy. No one not in costume, except the members of the press, will be admitted on the floor of the Academy after the concert is over, the dress circle and amphitheater seats being for spectators in ordinary evening dress. Gilmore’s Band will perform the promenade concert music, and Bernstein’s Band the dance music. The New England kitchen will occupy the whole of the Assembly rooms, and it will be in charge of the Ladies’ Committee, attired in old costumes of 1775, who will serve up old American homestead fare of the period.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1922, the Eagle reported, “LONDON, OCT. 19, 6:08 P.M. ― The resignation of Prime Minister Lloyd George was officially announced this evening. The resignation of Prime Minister Lloyd George carries with it that of his entire Cabinet. When Mr. Lloyd George tendered his resignation to the King this evening he advised his Majesty to summon Andrew Bonar Law, the Conservative leader, to form a new Cabinet. Up until 6 o’clock this evening, Mr. Bonar Law had not been to Buckingham Palace. Mr. Bonar Law has consented to form a Ministry in succession of Prime Minister Lloyd George, the Evening News says it learns. King George summoned him, asking him to undertake the task, declares the newspaper, and Mr. Bonar Law agreed to comply. After a brief audience with King George this afternoon, Mr. Lloyd George returned to Downing st., where he received a miners’ delegation, but according to Frank Hodges, who headed the delegation, Mr. Lloyd George said he could not consult them as Prime Minister, since he had resigned. Members of the miners’ delegation said Mr. Lloyd George had told them the King had accepted his resignation. The miners, relating their experience, said Mr. Lloyd George received them smilingly and asked their business. ‘We have come to see the Prime Minister.’ ‘Well, gentlemen, I have to inform you that there is no Prime Minister,’ replied Mr. Lloyd George. ‘I have just seen his Majesty and tendered my resignation, which His Majesty accepted.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “To the accompaniment of a jazz recording of ‘Sidewalks of New York’ broadcast from a navy blimp, the city’s namesake warship sailed into New York Harbor today to join other units of the fleet here for the Navy Day celebration Oct. 27. The 34,000-ton battleship New York, veteran of two wars, brought to the city, already host to almost 13,000 sailors, 1,126 navy and coast guard passengers, besides 1,500 members of its own crew. It berthed at Pier 51, North River, off Jane Street. Commissioned in the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 1914, the New York, third oldest ship of her type in the navy, saw major action in the North African campaign and later was the only major ship to hold out at Okinawa without relief for 79 days. The 10,000-ton cruiser Boise, which was also scheduled to come into the New York Port today, will arrive tomorrow, the 3rd Naval District announced, and the battleship Missouri, which was to arrive Saturday, will be in Monday morning. Meanwhile the navy played host aboard the warships and 12,000 New Yorkers swarmed over the decks of the ships in port. The navy estimated that 10,000 persons visited the carriers Enterprise and Monterey at Pier 26, Beach St., and another 1,500 boarded the five destroyers at Pier 42, Morton St. At the Staten Island base 21 submarines and two submarine tenders were viewed by almost 400 persons.”

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Evander Holyfield
Andy Kropa/Invision/AP
Rebecca Ferguson
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Rock Your Baby” singer George McCrae, who was born in 1944; “3rd Rock from the Sun” star John Lithgow, who was born in 1945; “Harper Valley PTA” singer Jeannie C. Riley, who was born in 1945; political activist Grover Norquist, who was born in 1956; Grammy and Tony winner Jennifer Holliday, who was born in 1960; International Boxing Hall of Famer Evander Holyfield, who was born in 1962; “The Mandalorian” creator Jon Favreau, who was born in 1966; “South Park” co-creator Trey Parker, who was born in 1969; former “Saturday Night Live” star Chris Kattan, who was born in 1970; “Community” star Gillian Jacobs, who was born in 1982; and “Doctor Sleep” star Rebecca Ferguson, who was born in 1983.

Trey Parker
Matt Sayles/Invision/AP

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THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN: On this day in 1781, more than 7,000 English and Hessian troops, led by Gen. Charles Cornwallis, surrendered to Gen. George Washington at Yorktown, Va., effectively ending the war between Britain and its American colonies. There were no other major battles, but the provisional treaty of peace was not signed until Nov. 30, 1782. The final Treaty of Paris was signed Sept. 3, 1783.

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BENCHMARK: John Jay was sworn in as the first chief justice of the U.S. on this day in 1789. He resigned in 1795 to become the second governor of New York and served until 1801. He also signed the Treaty of Paris (1783) and the U.S. Constitution (1787) and co-wrote “The Federalist Papers” (1787-88). He died in 1829.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

Quotable:

“I try not to tune in to politics until it’s two or three months before the election. Till then, it’s like watching preseason football.”

— “South Park” co-creator Trey Parker, who was born on this day in 1969