MAY 6 ~ ON THiS DAY in History

1536 ~ KiNG HENRY VIII ordered English language Bibles to be placed in every church on the 6th day of May in 1536.

1782 ~ The Grand Palace construction began the 6th May 1782, for the royal residence of the King of Siam in Bangkok, at the command of King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke.

1835 ~ The New York Herald was published for the first time on the 6th May 1835, by James Gordon Bennett, Sr..

1840 ~ The PENNY BLACK the World’s first official adhesive postage stamp became valid for use in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on the 6th day of May in 1840.

The Penny Black, the World's 1st adhesive postage stamp featuring Queen Victoria ~ 1st May 1840
The Penny Black, the World’s 1st adhesive postage stamp featuring Queen Victoria ~ 1st May 1840

1844 ~ The GLACiARiUM opened and became the World’s first mechanically frozen ice rink on the 6th day of May in 1844.

1856 ~ SiGMUND FREUD the Austrian psychiatrist was born on the 6th day of May in 1856 (died in 1939 aged 83)

1868 GASTON LEROUX the French writer best known for writing the novel The Phantom of the Opera (Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, 1910) was born on the 6th day of May in 1868 (died in 1927 aged 58).

1877 ~ Chief Crazy Horse of the Oglala Sioux surrendered to United States troops in Nebraska on the 6th May 1877.

1889 ~ The EiFFEL TOWER was officially opened to the public at the Universal Exposition in Paris on the 6th day of May in 1889.

View of the Eiffel tower and the Exposition Universelle on the Champs de Mars with Seine and the Pont d'Iena in the foreground, Paris, taken from a tethered balloon above the Trocadero in 1889
View of the Eiffel tower and the Exposition Universelle on the Champs de Mars with Seine and the Pont d’Iena in the foreground, Paris, taken from a tethered balloon above the Trocadero in 1889

895 ~ RUDOLPH VALENTiNO the Italian actor was born on the 6th day of May in 1895 (died in 1926 aged 31)

1915 ~ ORSON WELLES the American film director and actor was born on the 6th day of May in 1915 (died in 1985 aged 70).

1910 ~ GEORGE V became the King of the United Kingdom upon the death of his father on the 6th day of May in 1910.

1937 ~ HiNDENBURG DiSASTER The German zeppelin Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed within a minute while attempting to dock in New Jersey, on the 6th day of May in 1937, causing 36 people to die.

1940 ~ JOHN STEiNBECK is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his novel The Grapes of Wrath on the 6th day of May in 1940.

1945BOB SEGER the American singer/songwriter was born on the 6th day of May in 1945.

1947ALAN DALE the New Zealand actor was born on the 6th day of May in 1947.

1948 ~ MARY MacGREGOR the American singer was born on the 6th day of May in 1948. Mary MacGregor is best known for singing the 1976 song Torn Between Two Lovers… 

1953 ~ TONY BLAiR the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, 1997–2007 was born on the 6th day of May in 1953.

1961 ~ GEORGE CLOONEY the American actor was born on the 6th day of May in 1961.

1961GiNA RiLEY the Australian actress, writer, singer and comedian was born on the 6th day of May in 1961.

1992 ~ MARLENE DiETRiCH the German actress died on the 6th day of May in 1992 aged 90.

Marlene Dietrich Shanghai Express movie 1932 black & white photo by Josef von Sternberg smoking cigarette
Marlene Dietrich still photograph from the Shanghai Express movie in 1932, by Josef von Sternberg, with butterfly lighting to enhance her features. Mick Rock said this photograph was the inspiration for the iconic Queen II album cover.

1992iNTERNATiONAL NO DiET DAY was created by Mary Evans Young on the 6th day of May in 1992. Mary is the director of the British group “Diet Breakers”. After personally experiencing anorexia, she worked to help people appreciate themselves for what they are, and to appreciate the body they have.

2003 ~ GEOFFREY BARDON (AM) the Australian school teacher who created the Aboriginal art of the Western Desert movement died on the 6th May 2003 (born 1940). Geoff Bardon brought Australian indigenous art to the attention of the world.

2006GRANT McLENNAN the Australian singer and songwriter from The GO-BETWEENS died on the 6th day of May in 2006 aged 48.

WORLD’S OLDEST UNiVERSiTY GRADUATE AGAiN ~ 97 year old Allan Stewart

Allan Stewart, the World's oldest university graduate aged 97 years old at the Southern Cross University graduation on 4th May 2012
Allan Stewart, the World's oldest university graduate aged 97 years old at the Southern Cross University graduation on 4th May 2012

“People should never use the excuse that ‘I am too old to study’ or ‘I have left my run too late’,” ~ Allan Stewart

97 year old Allan Stewart from Australia became the World’s oldest university graduate for the second time, more than 70 years after attaining his first degree. He surpassed his own Guinness World Record when he graduated with his 4th degree, a Master of Clinical Science (Complementary Medicine) from Southern Cross University in Lismore, on Friday the 4th of May 2012. Allan achieved his first Guinness World Record title 6 years earlier, at the age of 91, when he completed a law degree at the University of New England.

“I can hang up my mortar board and academic robes after this one, although I said that after my last degree and then I got bored” ~ Allan Stewart

Allan Stewart is a Sydney-born great-grandfather, and retired dentist, now living at Port Stephens. He attained his first degree in 1936, when he graduated with a Bachelor of Dentistry with Honours from the University of Sydney. He later completed a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at Northwestern University in Chicago, and practised as a dentist in London, Sydney and rural northern NSW.

“I have so much time on my hands these days and I like to keep mentally active.” ~ Allan Stewart

Allan said fitness and having a focus in life was a key to his longevity and intellectual stimulation.

“It is never too late to expand your mind, make new friends and challenge yourself to achieve something worthwhile.” ~ Allan Stewart

Allan Stewart the World's oldest university graduate aged 97 years old on Weekend Sunrise ~ Sunday 6th May 2012
Allan Stewart the World's oldest university graduate aged 97 years old on Weekend Sunrise ~ Sunday 6th May 2012

Allan Stewart still lives independently at the age of 97, and also acts as a carer for a friend. He thinks about each day and what he wants to achieve, and says that gives him focus and purpose. Allan said “There’s a lot of surprise but I think the fact that I’ve done what I’ve done has been an encouragement to a lot of people, particularly older people and say baby boomers to do the same”

Doctor Sonia Brownie, a Southern Cross University lecturer said she did a double take when she first saw an enrolment application with a date of birth of 1915. “When I initially saw his application for enrollment I trotted back down to the student liaison team because I saw the date of birth 1915 and I said for them to check that he indeed was a man well into his senior years,” she said. Mr Stewart studied mostly by correspondence online, and is known to be excellent at time management.

 

Allan Stewart, the World's oldest university graduate at home ~ May 2012
Allan Stewart, the World's oldest university graduate at home ~ May 2012

When Allan was not studying for his fourth degree, he was walking, gardening, fishing, playing golf, and assisting in the local community technology centre. Allan says it’s one of his paradigms to keep the mind and body active. “When you do graduate it’s not just sufficient to say well I’ve gone so far, I feel that you need to continue learning,” he said.

“I’m a great believer from a health point of view, as you are ageing, to make sure you have sufficient exercise of the mind and sufficient exercise of the body” ~ Allan Stewart

In the future, 97 year old Allan plans to take it very easy and relax with friends and family, including his 12 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.

“You are never too old and it’s never too late to study” ~ Allan Stewart

Allan Stewart, World's oldest university graduate aged 97 years old, at Southern Cross University graduation ~ 4th May 2012
Allan Stewart, World's oldest university graduate aged 97 years old, at Southern Cross University graduation ~ 4th May 2012

“It’s never too late to live your dream” ~ Anton K. Kressnig