Profile of the Day

On this day in 1775, Paul Revere and William Dawes set out on horseback to warn the American colonies of approaching British troops. Revere’s role in the famous ride would later be immortalized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Image: Paul Revere’s ride / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Late in the night on April 18, British troops began marching towards Lexington and Concord to capture Patriot leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Taking separate… Read the full story

Do you enjoy baseball? On this day in 1820, Alexander Cartwright, the “Father of Modern Baseball,” was born in New York City, New York.  Image: Alexander Cartwright / Hawaii State Archives, Wikimedia Commons Alexander Joy Cartwright, Jr. was the son of Alexander Cartwright, Sr., a merchant sea captain, and Esther Rebecca Burlock. A volunteer firefighter, Cartwright often played bat-and-ball games with other volunteers. He founded the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club in New York and is often credited with… Read the full story

Silent film star Charlie Chaplin was born on April 16, 1889 in London, England. Image: Charlie Chaplin / Library of Congress In a true rags-to-riches story, Chaplin grew up in poverty and became one of the most successful actors in the industry. He endured several hardships early in his life. His father abandoned the family when he was very young, while his mother suffered from a mental illness that kept her in-and-out of the asylum…. Read the full story

On this day in 1452, Renaissance Man Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci in the Republic of Florence. Image: Leonardo da Vinci / Library of Congress A gifted and extremely talented individual, da Vinci’s genius ranged from science, arts, mathematics, engineering, astronomy, architecture, and much more. Some of his greatest artistic masterpieces include the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and the Vitruvian Man. A brilliant inventor and engineer, da Vinci designed and illustrated concepts… Read the full story

On this day in 1577, Christian IV of Denmark was born.  Image: Christian IV of Denmark / Wikimedia Commons Christian IV was born on April 12, 1577 at Frederiksborg Castle in Denmark to King Frederick II and Sofie of Mecklenburg. He was the third child but eldest son of the couple. Since Denmark was still an elective monarchy at the time, Christian was not automatically heir to the throne. However, when he was 3, his father had… Read the full story

On this day in 1689, William III and Mary II were crowned as joint sovereigns of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The couple reigned together until Mary’s death in 1694 at the age of 32.

On this day in 1847, newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer was born. Today he best known for establishing the prestigious Pulitzer Prize, which is awarded annually for excellence in American journalism. Image: Joseph Pulitzer / Library of Congress Pulitzer was born on April 10, 1847 in Makó, Hungary to a well-regarded merchant family. Growing up in Budapest, Pulitzer was educated by private tutors. In 1864, he emigrated to the United States as a recruit for the Union Army… Read the full story

On this day in 1413, Henry V was crowned King of England. The second English monarch of the House of Lancaster, Henry V was considered to be one of the great warrior kings in English history.  Image: The British Library, Flickr Henry V was the eldest son of Henry IV of England and Mary de Bohun and the great grandson of Edward III of England. In 1398, his father was exiled and Henry was taken under the… Read the full story

Today we remember former First Lady Betty Ford on what would have been her 106th birthday. Image: Betty Ford / U.S. National Archives and Records Administration Ford was born Elizabeth Ann Bloomer on April 8, 1918 in Chicago, Illinois. She was the third child and only daughter of William Stephenson Bloomer, Sr., a traveling salesman, and Hortense Neahr. While in school, Ford studied to become a dancer. In 1948, she married Gerald Ford, who was campaigning for… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Bette Davis! The legendary actress was born 116 years ago today. Image: Bette Davis / Wikimedia Commons Ruth Elizabeth Davis was born on April 5, 1908 in Lowell, Massachusetts. With dreams of becoming a performer, Davis moved to New York City to study acting. Did you know future star Lucille Ball was one of her classmates in drama school? She began her career in theater before landing her first role in the film Bad Sister…. Read the full story

On this day in 1802, American activist and social reformer Dorothea Dix was born. Image: Dorothea Dix / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, CC0 Dix was born in Hampden, Maine to Joseph Dix and Mary Bigelow. At the age of 12, Dix moved to Boston to stay with her wealthy grandmother, Dorothea Lynde, who encouraged her interest in education. Dix eventually began to teach and in 1821, opened a school in Boston. However, frequent bouts… Read the full story

Today marks what would have been actor Marlon Brando’s 100th birthday. Born on April 3, 1924, Brando is often considered one of the most famous and influential actors of the 20th century. Image: Marlon Brando / Library of Congress Brando was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Marlon Brando, Sr., a pesticide and chemical feed manufacturer, and Dorothy Pennebaker, an actress and theater administrator. After he was expelled from military school, Brando worked as a ditch-digger…. Read the full story

What was your favorite fairy tale growing up? Today we celebrate the 219th birthday of fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen! Known for writing some of the world’s most popular fairy tales, Andersen’s stories have been translated into more than 125 languages and have been adapted into numerous films, plays, and ballets. Image: Hans Christian Andersen / Library of Congress Andersen was born in Odense, Denmark on April 2, 1805. He was the only child of Hans Andersen, Sr. and… Read the full story

On this day in 1883, stage and silent film actor Lon Chaney was born. Known for his versatility and physical transformations for each role, Chaney was dubbed “The Man of a Thousand Faces.” Image: Lon Chaney / Wikimedia Commons Chaney was born Leonidas Frank Chaney on April 1, 1883 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Both of his parents, Frank H. Chaney and Emma Alice Kennedy, were deaf and as a result, Chaney was skilled at communicating… Read the full story

On this day in 1790, John Tyler, the 10th President of the United States, was born. Tyler succeeded to the presidency after the death of President William Henry Harrison, who passed just one month into his presidency. Image: John Tyler / Library of Congress Tyler was born to a prominent and influential Virginian family on March 29, 1790. His father, John Tyler, Sr., was a wealthy planter and judge. He served as the 15th Governor… Read the full story

Happy birthday to country music legend Reba McEntire! Today the popular singer turns 69. Since getting her start singing on local radio shows in high school, McEntire has become one of the best-selling artists of all time. Image: Reba McEntire / Gage Skidmore, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Reba Nell McEntire was born on March 28, 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma to Clark Vincent McEntire and Jacqueline Smith. Her father and paternal grandfather were both champion steer… Read the full story

Today we remember Estonian poet Marie Under, who was born on this day in 1883. Considered one of Estonia’s great poets of the 20th century, Under has been nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature multiple times, but has never won. Image: Marie Under / Wikimedia Commons Born in what is today Tallinn, Estonia, Under learned to read at the age of 4 and began writing her own poetry by the age of 14. She first… Read the full story

On this day in 1874, American poet Robert Frost was born. Awarded with four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry during his lifetime, Frost is remembered as one of the most celebrated and popular poets of the twentieth century. Image: Robert Frost / Library of Congress Although best known for his depictions of rural life in New England, Frost was actually born in San Francisco, California. His father, William Prescott Frost, Jr., was a journalist and editor of the San… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Elton John! Today the music icon turns 77. Image: Elton John / Nationaal Archief, CC0 John was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on March 25, 1947 in Pinner, Middlesex, England to Stanley Dwight and Sheila Eileen Harris. A gifted piano player from a young age, he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at the age of 11. At the age of 17, he dropped out of school to pursue a career in music. During… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Reese Witherspoon! Today the actress turns 48. Image: Reese Witherspoon / Wikimedia Commons Witherspoon was born Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon on March 22, 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana to John Draper Witherspoon, an otolaryngologist, and Mary Elizabeth Reese, a professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University. She attended Stanford University, but left before finishing her studies to pursue a career as an actress. After earning critical acclaim for her roles in Election and… Read the full story

Happy birthday to Matthew Broderick! Today the actor turns 62. Image: Matthew Broderick / Photo by Shawn Miller, Library of Congress, Public Domain Broderick was born on March 21, 1962 in Manhattan, New York to a creative family. His mother, Patricia Blow, was a playwright, actress and painter, while his father, James Broderick, was an actor best known for starring in the television series Family. While researching his ancestry, Broderick discovered that his second great grandfather,… Read the full story

Do you have Norwegian ancestors? 196 years ago today, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen was born in Skien, Norway. Referred to as “the father of prose drama,” Ibsen is often regarded as one of the greatest playwrights since Shakespeare.  Image: Henrik Ibsen / National Library of Norway, Flicker Ibsen was born on March 20, 1828 to Knud Ibsen and Marichen Altenburg in the small Norwegian costal town of Skien. Although once a well-to-do merchant family, the family was faced with hardships… Read the full story

Today marks the 176th birthday of lawman Wyatt Earp, who is best remembered for his involvement in the infamous gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Considered one of the most famous shootouts in the history of the Wild West, the 30-second gunfight resulted in the death of three outlaws. Earp was the only person to emerge from the shootout unharmed. Image: Wyatt Earp / Wikimedia Commons Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp was born on March 19, 1848 in Monmouth,… Read the full story

Today we remember Grover Cleveland, who was born on this day in 1837. Cleveland served as the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. Image: Grover Cleveland / Library of Congress He was born Stephen Grover Cleveland on March 18, 1837 in Caldwell, New Jersey and was the fifth of nine children born to Richard Falley Cleveland, a Presbyterian minister, and Anne Neal. He was a third cousin thrice removed of Moses Cleveland, who founded the… Read the full story

Today marks the Ides of March. The famous date is remembered as the anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC. His assassination was the result of a conspiracy by many Roman senators, led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, who plotted to kill the Roman dictator in an effort to restore the Roman Republic. Image: The death of Julius Caesar / Wikimedia Commons Considered one of the greatest military commanders… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the birth of genius physicist Albert Einstein! Image: Albert Einstein / Library of Congress Einstein was born in Ulm, Württemberg, Germany on March 14, 1879. His father, Hermann Einstein, was a salesman and engineer. He founded Elektrotechnische Fabrik J. Einstein & Cie, a company that manufactured electrical equipment based on direct current. His mother, Pauline Koch, ran the family household. While on a visit to the United States in 1933, Einstein elected not… Read the full story

Today we celebrate the birth of Percival Lowell, the astronomer who initiated the work that would lead to the discovery of Pluto. Image: Percival Lowell / Library of Congress Lowell was born on March 13, 1855 in Cambridge, Massachusetts to a prominent and wealthy family. His second great grandfather, John Lowell, was a judge and delegate to the Congress of the Confederation. His maternal grandfather, Abbott Lawrence, was a prominent businessman, philanthropist, and founder of… Read the full story

Happy 78th birthday to Liza Minnelli! Image: Liza Minnelli / Wikimedia Commons The legendary performer was born on March 12, 1946 in Hollywood, California to actress Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli. With famous parents, it was not a surprise that Minnelli would follow them into show business. At the age of 3, Minnelli made her first film performance in the musical In the Good Old Summertime, starring her mother. Minnelli won her first Tony award at the age… Read the full story

On this day in 1899, Frederick IX, King of Denmark, was born in Sorgenfri Castle, near Copenhagen. Image: Frederick IX of Denmark / Nationaal Archief Frederick IX was the eldest son of King Christian X and Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the fourth Danish monarch of the House of Glücksburg. When he was baptized in April 1899, he had 21 godparents, including his great grandfather Christian IX of Denmark, Nicholas II of Russia, and the Prince of… Read the full story

Do you have any Polish ancestors? On this day in 1822, Polish pharmacist Ignacy Łukasiewicz was born in Zadusxniki, Poland. A notable inventor and philanthropist, Łukasiewicz is perhaps best remembered for the invention of the modern kerosene lamp. Image: Ignacy Łukasiewicz / Wikimedia Commons The youngest of five children, Łukasiewicz was born to an impoverished noble family. To help support his family, he began to work as a pharmacist’s assistant in a pharmacy. During this time, he… Read the full story

Do you have French ancestry? On this day in 1765, French inventor Nicéphore Niépce was born. Credited as the inventor of photography, Niépce developed heliography, a technique used to create the world’s earliest known permanent photographic image. Image: Nicéphore Niépce He was born Joseph-Nicéphore Niépce on March 7, 1765 in Charlon, France to a wealthy family. After serving in the French military, Niépce shifted his focus to pursue his scientific interests. Working alongside his brother, Claude, Niépce developed the… Read the full story

On this day in 1806, English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born. During her lifetime, Browning was considered to be one of the most popular Victorian poets of the era. Image: Elizabeth Barrett Browning / Library of Congress Browning was the eldest of twelve children born to Edward Barrett Moulton-Barrett and Mary Graham Clark. The family had acquired their wealth as sugar plantation owners in Jamaica, but her father chose to raise his family in England. Educated… Read the full story

Do you have any Brazilian roots in your family tree? Today we remember one of Brazil’s greatest composers in history, Heitor Villa-Lobos, who was born on March 5, 1887. Image: Heitor Villa-Lobos / Arquivo Nacional Collection, Public Domain Described as “the single most significant figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music,” Villa-Lobos has become one of the most well-known Latin American composers to date. He was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Raul Villa-Lobos and Noêmia dos… Read the full story

On this day in 1954, actor, director, and producer Ron Howard was born in Duncan, Oklahoma. Image: David Shankbone / Wikimedia Commons, (CC BY 3.0) Howard was the eldest son born to Rance Howard, a writer, director, and actor, and Jean Speegle Howard, an actress. His father was born with the surname “Beckenholdt,” but changed it to “Howard” when he became an actor. With both parents working in show business, Howard made his first on… Read the full story

On this day in 1792, Italian composer Gioachino Rossini was born. Rossini gained fame for his 39 operas and is remembered as one of the most significant Italian composers of the first half of the nineteenth century. Image: Gioachino Rossini / Wikimedia Commons Rossini was born on February 29, 1792 to Giuseppe Rossini, a trumpeter, and Anna Guidarini, a singer. He began to compose by the age of 12 and studied at Bologna’s Philharmonic School…. Read the full story

On February 28, 1901, chemist Linus Pauling was born. Considered one of the most influential chemists in history, Pauling is often recognized as one of the founders of quantum chemistry and molecular biology. Image: Linus Pauling / Library of Congress Pauling was born in Portland, Oregon to Herman Henry William Pauling and Lucy Isabelle “Belle” Darling. He was named “Linus Car” after his maternal grandfather, Linus, and his paternal grandfather, Carl. Over the course of… Read the full story

Today we remember star Elizabeth Taylor, who was born February 27, 1932. Image: Elizabeth Taylor / Wikimedia Commons Taylor was born in Hempstead, London to American parents, Francis and Sara Taylor. From her early years as a child star, she became one of the greatest actresses of Hollywood’s Gold Age. Remembered for her stunning beauty and sometimes scandalous love life, Elizabeth spent much of her life devoted to charitable organizations and became an outspoken advocate… Read the full story

Do you have cowboys or lawmen in your family tree? On this day in 1846, Buffalo Bill Cody was born in the Iowa Territory. Image: Buffalo Bill Cody / Library of Congress Though born in the U.S., Cody spent much of his childhood growing up in his father’s hometown in Canada before the family moved to the Kansas territory. Buffalo Bill’s life was filled with fascinating adventures, making him a legendary figure of the American Wild… Read the full story

Today we remember sociologist and civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois, who was born on February 23, 1868. Image: W.E.B. Du Bois / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, CC0 William Edward Burghardt Du Bois was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts to Mary Silvinia Burghardt and Alfred Du Bois. His mother’s family was a part of a small free black community in Great Barrington and they had long owned land in the area. His maternal second great… Read the full story

Today we celebrate what would have been George Washington’s 292nd birthday! Image: George Washington / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution Washington was born on February 22, 1732 on his family’s plantation in Westmoreland County in the British colony of Virginia. He was the first of six children born to Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Ball. As a teen, Washington began a career as a surveyor and completed many surveying expeditions throughout the Virginia… Read the full story

Today we remember actor Alan Rickman on what would have been his 78th birthday. Image: Marie-Lan Nguyen, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) Rickman was born on February 21, 1946 to Margaret Doreen Rose Bartlett and Bernard William Rickman, a factory worker. At the age of 8, Rickman’s father died of lung cancer, leaving his mother to raise Rickman and his three siblings alone. Although he had participated in school plays during high school, Rickman chose to… Read the full story

American photographer Ansel Adams was born on this day in 1902. Adams is perhaps best remembered for his stunning black and white images of the American West. He used his work to help promote the conservation of the American wilderness. Image: Ansel Adams / Wikimedia Commons Adams was born on February 20, 1902 in San Francisco, California to distinctly upper-class parents. Although his grandfather founded a prosperous lumber business, Adams would come to condemn the… Read the full story

Remember listening to the music of Sonny & Cher? Today we remember Sonny Bono on what would have been his 89th birthday. Image: Sonny Bono / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Salvatore Phillip Bono was born on February 16, 1935 in Detroit, Michigan. The son of Sicilian immigrants, Bono and his family moved to California when he was seven. After dropping out of school, Bono worked a series of odd jobs to support himself. He began his… Read the full story

Do you have adventurers in your family tree? On this day in 1874, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton was born. Considered one of the principal figures of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, Shackleton’s expeditions to Antarctica pioneered routes into the continent’s interior. Image: Ernest Shackleton / Library of Congress Shackleton was born on February 15, 1874 in Kilkea, County Kildare, Ireland to Henry Shackleton and Henrietta Letitia Sophia Gavan. At 16, he joined the mercantile marine service and later became… Read the full story

Have you found your connection to abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass? Today we remember the inspirational social reformer, who chose to celebrate his birthday on February 14. Image: Frederick Douglass / Library of Congress Douglass had never known the exact date of his birth. He was born into slavery around February 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland. He was separated from his mother as an infant and spent the early years of his childhood living with his grandmother on a plantation in… Read the full story

On this day in 1542, Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of King Henry VIII, was executed on the grounds of treason for committing adultery. She was queen for only 16 months before her death at the Tower of London. Image: Catherine Howard / Rijksmuseum, Wikimedia Commons Howard was the daughter of Lord Edmund Howard and Joyce Culpeper. She was also the first cousin of Anne Boleyn, who was King Henry VIII’s second wife and mother of… Read the full story

On this day 215 years ago, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was born. Image: Abraham Lincoln / Library of Congress Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a one-room log cabin at Sinking Spring Farm in Hardin County, Kentucky. He was the second child born to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks. His paternal grandfather, Captain Abraham Lincoln, served in the American Revolutionary War and was a pioneer settler of Kentucky…. Read the full story

On this day in 1773, William Henry Harrison, the 9th President of the United States, was born on the Berkeley Plantation in Charles City County, Virginia. Image: William Henry Harrison / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, CCO The last U.S. president to be born a British subject, Harrison was the youngest son of Benjamin Harrison V and Elizabeth Bassett. A member of the Continental Congress, Harrison’s father was a signer of the Declaration of Independence… Read the full story

On this day in 1931, actor James Dean was born in Marion, Indiana. The Rebel Without a Cause star’s life was cut short when he died at the age of 24 in a car accident. Image: James Dean / Wikimedia Commons Dean was the only child born to Winton Dean and Mildred Marie Wilson. After his mother died of uterine cancer when he was nine years old, Dean was sent to live with an aunt and uncle on… Read the full story

Remember reading Little House on the Prairie? On this day in 1867, author Laura Ingalls Wilder was born in a log cabin outside of Pepin, Wisconsin. Image: Laura Ingalls Wilder / Missouri State Archives, Flickr Wilder was a descendant of the Delano family, the same ancestral family of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In fact, Wilder and President Roosevelt were fifth cousins once removed. Her life growing up with her pioneer family in the “Big Woods” became… Read the full story