Gday...

1822  -             The first anti-cruelty bill is passed in British Parliament.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) is a charity in England and Wales that promotes animal welfare. Since its founding in 1824, it has inspired the creation of similar, but independent, organisations in other countries, including the Scottish SPCA, RSPCA Australia and the ASPCA in the USA.

The first anti-cruelty bill was introduced by Richard Martin MP, who would later earn the nickname of 'Humanity Dick', leader of a group of twenty-two reformers. Also leading the group were William Wilberforce MP, who was already famous for his efforts to abolish slavery in the British Empire, and the Reverend Arthur Broome. The Act was passed in Parliament on 22 July 1822 and was against cruelty to farm animals, particularly cattle. The group assembled at the "Old Slaughters" Coffee House in London to create a society with the will and authority to enforce the new law. The SPCA, the first animal welfare society in any country was thus founded on 16 June 1824, and was subsequently granted its royal status by Queen Victoria in 1840.

1844  -             William Archibald Spooner, from whom the word 'spoonerism' was derived, is born.

William Archibald Spooner was born in London on 22 July 1844. He became an Anglican priest, and later lectured at Oxford in history, philosophy and divinity. Although a brilliant scholar, Spooner was known for his unwitting ability to transpose letters in words, giving a phrase a whole new meaning. Some of his more memorable utterances include:

During a toast to Her Highness Victoria: "Three cheers for our queer old dean!"

During World War 1: "When our boys come home from France, we will have the hags flung out."

At chapel: "Our Lord is a shoving leopard."

To a stranger sitting in the wrong place: "I believe you're occupewing my pie. May I sew you to another sheet?"

To a Dean's secretary: "Is the bean dizzy?"

When announcing the hymn 'Conquering Kings': "Kinkering Congs Their Titles Tale."

Commenting on a naval display: "This vast display of cattle ships and bruisers."

Officiating at a wedding: "It is kisstomary to cuss the bride."

The word "spoonerism" began appearing in popular use as early as 1885. Once when a group of students gathered outside his window, calling for him to make a speech, he replied: "You don't want to hear a speech: you just want me to say one of those... things."

A lasting legacy, indeed.

1933  -             Wiley Post becomes the first person to fly solo around the world.

Wiley Post was born on 22 November 1898. An oilfield accident resulted in his wearing a patch over one eye, but did not stop him from gaining his flying licence under Orville Wright in 1926. Post completed the first round-the-world solo flight of over 25,000km in his single-engine Lockheed Vega 5B aircraft "Winnie Mae". The journey took 7 days 18 hours and 49 minutes. Post landed at the Floyd Bennett Field near New York at 11:50 PM, 22 July 1933. He had previously flown around the world in the Winnie Mae with his navigator, Australian Naval cadet Harold Gatty, who went on to found Fiji Airways, which became Air Pacific.

1969  -             Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin depart the moon after 21 1/2 hours on the surface.

American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the Moon on 21 July 1969, and fellow astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin joined him on the surface twenty minutes later. They spent twenty one and a half hours on the surface before returning to the command module piloted by Michael Collins.

Whilst on the surface, they took numerous photographs, and studied both the nature of the lunar dust and the effects of pressure on the surface. Footprints left behind are expected to remain almost permanently, unless disturbed by the impact of a meteorite. Before leaving the surface, Armstrong and Aldrin planted the American flag and unveiled a plaque bearing the signature of President Nixon and an inscription reading: "Here men from the planet earth first set foot upon the Moon July 1969 AD. We came in peace for all mankind."  

1994  -             The last piece of the Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet hits Jupiter.

Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 was a comet which collided with Jupiter in 1994, providing the first direct observation of the collision of two solar system objects. The Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet was discovered by astronomers Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker and David Levy. It was located on the night of 24 March 1993 in a photograph taken with the 0.4-metre Schmidt telescope at the Mount Palomar Observatory in California. Unlike all other comets discovered before then, it was orbiting Jupiter rather than the Sun.

Between 16 July and 22 July 1994, twenty-three fragments of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 collided with the planet Jupiter. July 22 saw the 23rd piece hit Jupiter. Observatories around the world captured the images, some of which can be seen at http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/sl9/sl9impacts.html

Cheers - John