1720

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Today in History 10/20/16

Today in History
(1720) Calico Jack protects the rum while Anne and Mary fight
1720 Crossed swords and a grinning skull distinguish Calico Jack Rackham’s flag, and that’s just what pirate hunters find while prowling Jamaican waters. When they attack Pirate Jack’s ship, his female crew, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, return the fight while the men, drunk on rum, wait it out in the hold. .

John “Jack” Rackham, commonly known as Calico Jack, was an English pirate captain operating in the Bahamas and in Cuba during the early 18th century. His nickname was derived from the calico clothing that he wore, while Jack is a nickname for “John.”

Born: Dec 26, 1682 · Bristol, England
Died: Nov 18, 1720 · Port Royal, Jamaica

— Source: wiki/Calico_Jack
(1740) The Holy Roman Emperor dies without a male heir
Maria Theresa’s father is dead and she now begins the daunting task of heading the Holy Roman Empire. However, Prussia, Bavaria, France, Spain, Saxony, and Poland renege on their agreement that a woman may reign if no male heir is available, and the War of the Austrian Succession begins.. 1740

The War of the Austrian Succession involved most of the powers of Europe over the question of Maria Theresa’s succession to the realms of the House of Habsburg. The war included King George’s War in North America, the War of Jenkins’ Ear, the First Carnatic War in India, the Jacobite rising of 1745 in Scotland, and the First and Second Silesian Wars.

Start date: Dec 16, 1740
End date: Oct 18, 1748

— Source: wiki/War_of_the_Austrian_Succession
(1947) Cold War paranoia breeds Hollywood hysteria
1947 In Washington, DC, the House Un-American Activities Committee holds its first hearings into possible Communist infiltration of the US film industry. Soon after, a career-killing blacklist will be drawn up with the help of famous informants, and Hollywood will be held in the jaws of the ‘Red Scare.’.
(1973) An architectural wonder graces Australia
Queen Elizabeth II and Ben Blakeney, a Bennelong Aborigine descendant, help mark the official opening of a new and spectacular performance space seemingly caught in full sail at the tip of a Sydney Harbor peninsula. The breathtaking Sydney Opera House will become an Australian icon. . 1973

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney, Australia. It is one of the 20th century’s most famous and distinctive buildings. Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, the building was formally opened on 20 October 1973 after a gestation beginning with Utzon’s 1957 selection as winner of an international design competition. The government of New South Wales, led by the premier, Joseph Cahill, authorised work to begin in 1958 with Utzon directing construction. The government’s decision to build Utzon’s design is often overshadowed by circumstances that followed, including cost and scheduling overruns as well as the architect’s ultimate resignation.

Address: Bennelong Point, Sydney New South Wales 2000
Phone: 02 8274 9600
Opened: Oct 20, 1973
Capacity: 5,738
Height: 213 feet (65 m) (Architectural)

— Source: wiki/Sydney_Opera_House
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