IT HAPPENED ON MAY 11

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 192, 11 May 1937, Page 3

IT HAPPENED ON MAY 11

Anniversaries Worth Recalling 1720—Baron Munchausen, born. 1727—Thomas Gainsborough, born. 1772—Marion du Fresne’s ships anchor in Bay of Islands. 1778—Earl of Chatham, died. 1812—Spencer Perceval, shot. 1866—Overend Gurney and Co., failed. To-day, 217 years ago, was born Barou von Karl Friedrich Hieronymus Munchausen, probably the world's greatest liar. He made himself the hero of incredible stories. These stories were founded, for the most part, on actual occurrences, not necessarily concerning himself, but stretched by him out of all semblance to the original. Born at Bodenwerder, in Hanover, he was engaged as a cavalry officer in Russian campaigns against the Turks, and died on February 22, 1797. Thomas Gainsborough, tlie most famous of English portrait and landscape painters, was born at Sudbury, in Suffolk. He was only 18 when he . married Margaret Burr, who possessed an annuity which enabled the young couple to settle in Ipswich. From there he went to Bath, and later to London, where his reputation as a portrait painter reached its, height. His studio was crowded with sitters, and although he raised his prices several times he was unable to keep pace with the demands macle upon him. He was one of the original members of the Royal Academy, but due to a difference with the authorities he ceased to exhibit from 1783. He died on August 2, 1788. More than 200 of his wonderful paintings were portraits. He was also an accomplished musician and a lovable character. On May 11, 1772, M. Marion du Fresne, a Frenchman, anchored his two ships in the Bay of Islands. On June 12 he went ashore accompanied by 16 officers and men from his ship for a day’s fishing at Manawara Bay. Early the next morning 12 men from the other ship were sent on shore at Orakaukaua for water and provisions. Four hours later a sailor swam back to his ship bringing the news that he' alone survived of the 12 men. It was not long, too, before news was received that Marion and his companions had been killed and eaten by the Natives. On July 14 the ships, now in command of M. Crozet, left the country, but not before taking possession of the North Island for the French, naming it France Australe.

William Pitt the Elder, first Earl of Chatham, died in tragic circumstances. Almost from the time when, as a young man of 27 he entered Parliament, he had been a power for good in the land. He was the uncompromising opponent of bribery and corruption, and feared nobody, least of all the King. His conduct of the Seven Years’ War raised Great Britain from a position of humiliation to world supremacy. As Prime Minister he became known as the Great Commoner. When he went to the House of Lords as the Earl of Chatham he wrecked his own influence and prestige. He was carried down to the House for the last time on April 7, 1778, and while protesting against Britain recognising America’s independence (he had never approved of the war) he fell back in a fit. He died at Hayes, in Kent, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. A thrill of horror ran throughout the length and breadth of the United Kingdom when on May 11. 1812. Spencer Perceval, Prime Minister, was assassinated in the Lobby of the House of Commons by a madman, one Bellingham. Perceval was walking rapidly through the Lobby and was about to enter the door of the Legislative Chamber when a tall man in a tradesman's dress who was standing by raised a pistol and fired. The shot, which was almost at point-blank range, entered Perceval’s heart. Perceval walked on one or two paces, faintly uttered “Oh I I am murdered.” and fell on the floor. Within seven days of the crime Bellingham’s body was swinging from the gallows. Perceval, a colleague of William Pitt the Younger, and an opponent of Charles James Fox, was 50 years old at the time of his death. On Friday, May 11, 1866, a blow’ was struck which staggered the mercantile community, not only of London but also of the whole United Kingdom—the failure of Overend, Guerney and Company, bankers. The company had been formed about 60 years before by Thomas Richardson and John Overend. The liabilities ran into millions of pounds, and there was a minor run on other banks. Other firms associated with this great company also failed, so that this day in London came to be known as Black Friday. The directors vere brought, for trial for alleged grave improprieties, and, amid loud acclamations. even in the court itself, were acquitted.