Wikipedia:Main Page history/2018 September 19

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From today's featured article

Kate Sheppard (1848–1934) was the most prominent member of the women's suffrage movement in New Zealand, and is one of that nation's best-known historical figures. Born in Liverpool, England, she migrated to New Zealand with her family in 1868, joining religious and social organisations there, including the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). In 1887 she was appointed the WCTU's National Superintendent for Franchise and Legislation. Sheppard promoted women's suffrage by organising petitions and public meetings, by writing letters to the press, and by developing contacts with politicians. She was the editor of the White Ribbon, the first woman-operated newspaper in New Zealand. Through her skilful writing and persuasive public speaking, her work culminated in the grant of the vote to women on 19 September 1893, making New Zealand the first nation to grant universal suffrage. (Full article...)

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Did you know...

The Windscale Piles (centre and right) in 1985

... that while the filters added to the chimneys of the Windscale Piles (pictured) were mocked as "Cockcroft's Follies", they prevented what might have been a disastrous radioactive accident?
... that as a child in Pontianak, Indonesia, Sutarmidji used to hawk newspapers close to the mayor's office that he would later occupy?
... that Big Tips Texas features scantily-clad waitresses from Redneck Heaven, a breastaurant whose body-paint events led to nudity law changes in at least three Texas municipalities?
. .. that Tonatiuh Bravo Padilla stepped down as rector of the University of Guadalajara to seek a return to elected office as a Mexican federal deputy?
... that a former island is named after the Massachusetts Institute of Technology?
... that soldiers from the Axis powers of Germany and Italy committed more than 5,000 war crimes in Italy during World War II?
... that a pyemotid mite, commonly known as the straw itch mite, has been investigated for use in biological pest control?
... that after being rejected by European and Chinese teams, DeMario Mayfield began his professional basketball career in an Iraqi league?

In the news

Typhoon Mangkhut

Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge runs the Berlin Marathon in world record time.
Typhoon Mangkhut (pictured) impacts the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China, resulting in more than 70 fatalities.
Hurricane Florence impacts the East Coast of the United States, causing the deaths of at least 30 people.
Jocelyn Bell Burnell, who co-discovered pulsars but was omitted from the related Nobel Prize, receives the Special Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro is stabbed during a campaign rally.

On this day

September 19: Day of Tasu'a (Islam, 2018); International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Witold Pilecki

1356 – Hundred Years' War: English forces led by Edward the Black Prince decisively won the Battle of Poitiers and captured King John II of France.
1692 – Salem witch trials: As Giles Corey was being crushed to death for refusing to enter a plea to charges of witchcraft, he reportedly kept telling officials, "More weight!"
1940 – Polish resistance leader Witold Pilecki (pictured) allowed himself to be captured by German forces and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp in order to gather intelligence.
1970 – The first Glastonbury Festival, the largest greenfield festival in the world, was held at Michael Eavis's farm in Glastonbury, England.
1982 – :-) and :-( were first proposed by Scott Fahlman for use as emoticons.

Theodore of Tarsus (d. 690) · Alexander Tilloch Galt (d. 1893) · Damayanti Joshi (d. 2004)

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Today's featured picture

John Philip Sousa (1854–1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known primarily for American military marches. Showing great talent as a child, he mastered several instruments alongside an apprenticeship in the Marine Corps. After a period as a violinist and theater orchestra conductor, Sousa returned to the Marines for a twelve-year stint as head of the U.S. Marine Band, including two presidential inauguration balls. Later in life, he formed the Sousa Band and saw active service in World War I. He wrote a total of 137 marches, including The Stars and Stripes Forever, which was designated the United States national march in 1987.

Photograph: Elmer Chickering

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