Category: Note

On March 7, 1530 English King Henry VIII‘s divorce request was denied by Pope Clement VII.   March 7, 1644: Massachusetts established the first two-chamber legislature in the colonies. — March 7, 1707 was the birthday of Stephen Hopkins, (Governor of Rhode Island) one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. — March 7, 1944 was the birthday of Townes Van Zandt, a gifted Texan singer/songwriter. (He died in 1997.) — Today we present a guest article from a SurvivalBlog reader that is not part of the writing contest judging. — We are seeking entries for Round 117 of …

The Dutch painter Paulus Moreelse passed away on March 6, 1638. According to the Infogalactic Wiki: “He was a Dutch painter, mainly of portraits. Moreelse was born in 1571. He lived most of his life in Utrecht. “He was a pupil of the Delft portrait painter Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt, who had himself been a pupil of Anthonie van Blocklandt. He took a study-trip to Italy, where he received many portrait commissions. Back in Utrecht, in 1596 he became a member of the zadelaarsgilde (Saddler’s guild), which then embraced the painters as well. In 1611, along with Abraham Bloemaert, he …

Today is the birthday of Jan van der Heyden. (5 March 1637, Gorinchem – 28 March 1712, Amsterdam). He was a Dutch Baroque-era painter, glass painter, draftsman, and printmaker. Van der Heyden was one of the first Dutch painters to specialize in townscapes and became one of the leading architectural painters of the Dutch Golden Age. He painted a number of still lifes at the beginning and at the end of his career. He was also an engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the firefighting technology of his day. Together with his brother Nicolaes, who was a hydraulic …

On March 4, 1756, the Scottish portrait painter Henry Raeburn was born in Edinburgh. He died in 1823. The image above is his portrait painting of Colonel Alasdair McDonnell of Glengarry, circa 1812. — On March 4, 1782, Johann Rudolf Wyss, Swiss folklorist and writer (of Swiss Family Robinson fame), was born in Bern. (He died in 1830) — On March 4, 1955, the first radio facsimile, or fax transmission, was sent across the continent. — Today we present a guest article from a SurvivalBlog reader that is not part of the writing contest judging. — We are seeking entries …

On May 3, 1849, the Gold Coinage Act authorized $20 Double Eagle gold coin and the $1 Gold Liberty coin in the United States. — Today is the birthday of bluegrass musician Doc Watson. (He was born in 1923 and passed away in 2012.) His guitar work was phenomenal. — This is also the birthday of both Alexander Graham Bell and actor James Doohan, in 1920. He played Montgomery Scott in the Star Trek television series and films. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He passed away on July 20, 2005. — A Newsletter Update: The March, 2025 edition …

On March 2, 1458, the Hussite revolution leader George of Poděbrady was chosen as the 16th King of Bohemia. On March 2nd, 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. Today is coincidentally also the birthday of Sam Houston. Today is also the birthday of Moe Berg, American baseball player and clandestine agent. (He died in 1972). His biography The Catcher Was a Spy is fascinating reading. And this is the birthday of libertarian economist Murray Rothbard (born 1926, died 1995.) His book For a New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto is highly recommended. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another …

Today is the birthday of William Ewart Fairbairn  (28 February 1885 – 20 June 1960).  He was a British soldier and police officer. He developed hand-to-hand combat methods for the Shanghai Police during the interwar period, as well as for the Allied special forces during World War II. He created his own fighting system known as Defendu. Notably, this included innovative pistol shooting techniques and the development of the famed Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife (pictured.) — Some sad news: Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman, wife found dead in Santa Fe home. Those in the prepper community will of course remember Hackman best …

February 27, 1919: the first public performance of Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” symphony. — On February 27th, 1900: Felix Hoffman patented acetylsalicylic acid, better known as aspirin. — And on February 27th, 1902 Harry ‘Breaker’ Harbord Morant was executed in Pretoria. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course …

On February 26, 1797, the Bank of England issued the first £1 note. — Feb 26, 1993: A truck bomb built by Islamic extremists exploded in the parking garage of the North Tower of New York’s World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000 others. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than …

February 25, 1814: Australia’s first currency – the “holey dollar” introduced, made of Spanish ‘pieces of eight’  (8 Reales) with the centers stamped out and overstamped with a date and “NEW SOUTH WALES”, for the colony of New South Wales. — Today’s feature article is a review written by SurvivalBlog Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson. — We are in need of entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. …

The artist Winslow Homer was born on March 24, 1836 in Boston, Massachusetts. The illustration above is a detail from Homer’s 1865 painting: “The Veteran in a New Field.” It hangs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. — On February 24, 1905, the Simplon railroad tunnel through the Alps in Switzerland achieved breakthrough after 7-1/2 years of construction. — February 24, 1971:  Algeria nationalized 51 percent of French oil concessions. — Today’s feature is a guest post that is not part of the writing contest. (On Mondays, we normally post a review penned by our Field Gear Editor, Tom Christianson.) — …

On February 23, 1921 the first US transcontinental air mail flight arrived in New York City from San Francisco. — On February 23, 1945, six Marines from E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima. — Today is the anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Alamo (February 23 – March 6, 1836). — February 23rd is also the birthday of Captain Isaac Davis (February 23, 1745 – April 19, 1775), a militia officer and gunsmith who commanded a Minute Company in Acton, Massachusetts during the Battle …

On February 22, 303, the first official Roman edict for persecution of Christians was issued by Emperor Diocletian at Nicomedia. This ordered all Christian churches to be closed and scriptures burned. — On February 22, 1797, the Last Invasion of Britain began. It was launched by the French during the Revolutionary Wars. This invasion began near Fishguard, Wales. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending …

On February 21, 1857, the U.S. Congress outlawed foreign currency as legal tender in the US. Pictured is a Spanish 8 Reales silver coin. — February 21, 1937, the League of Nations banned foreign national “volunteers” in the Spanish Civil War. — Because of my two recent cataract surgeries, I won’t be posting much today.  Thanks for your patience. — We are in need of entries for Round 117 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $950,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 117 ends on March 31st, so get busy writing …