On This Day
1809 – The Berners Street hoax is perpetrated by Theodore Hook in the City of Westminster, London.
The Berners Street hoax was perpetrated by Theodore Hook in Westminster, London, England, in 1809.[1][2] Hook had made a bet with his friend Samuel Beazley that he could transform any house in London into the most talked-about address in a week, which he achieved by sending out thousands of letters in the name of Mrs Tottenham, who lived at 54 Berners Street, requesting deliveries, visitors, and assistance.[3]
History
On 27 November, at five o’clock in the morning, a sweep arrived to sweep the chimneys of Mrs Tottenham’s house. The maid who answered the door informed him that no sweep had been requested, and that his services were not required. A few moments later another sweep presented himself, then another, and another; twelve in all. After the last of the sweeps had been sent away, a fleet of carts carrying large deliveries of coal began to arrive, followed by a series of cakemakers delivering large wedding cakes, then doctors, lawyers, vicars and priests summoned to minister to someone in the house they had been told was dying. Fishmongers, shoemakers and over a dozen pianos were among the next to appear, along with “six stout men bearing an organ”. Dignitaries, including the Governor of the Bank of England, the Duke of York, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Mayor of London, also arrived. The narrow streets soon became severely congested with tradesmen and onlookers. Deliveries and visits continued until the early evening, bringing a large part of London to a standstill.[4]
Every Officer that could be mustered was enlisted to disperse the people, and they were placed at the corners of Berners Street to prevent trades people from advancing towards the house with goods. The street was not cleared at a late hour, as servants of every denomination wanting places began to assemble at five o’clock. It turned out that letters had been written to the different trades people, which stated recommendations from persons of quality. A reward has been offered for the apprehension of the author of the criminal hoax.[5]
Hook stationed himself in the house directly opposite 54 Berners Street, from where he and his friend spent the day watching the chaos unfold.[4]
Despite a “fervent hue and cry” to find the perpetrator, Hook managed to evade detection, although many of those who knew him suspected him of being responsible. It was reported that he felt it prudent to be “laid up for a week or two” before embarking on a tour of the country, supposedly to convalesce.[6]
The site at 54 Berners Street is now occupied by the Sanderson Hotel.
1945 – CARE (then the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe) is founded to send CARE Packages of food relief to Europe after World War II.
CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, formerly Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe[1]) is a major international humanitarian agency delivering emergency relief and long-term international development projects. Founded in 1945, CARE is nonsectarian, impartial, and non-governmental. It is one of the largest and oldest humanitarian aid organizations focused on fighting global poverty. In 2016, CARE reported working in 94 countries, supporting 962 poverty-fighting projects and humanitarian aid projects, and reaching over 80 million people and 256 million people indirectly.[2]
CARE’s programmes in the developing world address a broad range of topics including emergency response, food security, water and sanitation, economic development, climate change, agriculture, education, and health. CARE also advocates at the local, national, and international levels for policy change and the rights of poor people. Within each of these areas, CARE focuses on empowering and meeting the needs of women and girls and promoting gender equality.[2]
CARE International is a confederation of fourteen CARE National Members, each of which is registered as an autonomous non-profit non-governmental organization in the country and four affiliate members.
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Born On This Day
1820 – Rachel Brooks Gleason, fourth woman to earn a medical degree in the United States (d. 1905)
Rachel Brooks Gleason (November 27, 1820 – March 13, 1905) was an American physician, the fourth woman to earn a medical degree in the United States.
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FYI
By Open Culture: A Free 700-Page Chess Manual Explains 1,000 Chess Tactics in Straightforward English
By Mark Linsenmayer, Open Culture: Famed New Orleans Music Producer Mark Bingham Discusses His Songs and Collaborations: A Nakedly Examined Music Conversation (#136)
Atlas Obscura: How German librarians finally caught an elusive book thief; Abandoned Virginia Renaissance Faire and more ->
Atlas Obscura: How leather balls hint at an ancient sport; How to Recreate Lost Family Recipes and more ->
Gastro Obscura: Opening a Brewery as a Native American is a Radical Act and more->
Fireside Books presents Shelf Awareness for Readers for Friday, November 27, 2020
Ideas
By shinkdifferent: Plywood Reindeer
Recipes
By Hangry Hannah’s Kitchen: Sweet Potato Brownie Bread (Gluten + Dairy Free)
RecipeTinEats
- First-in-the-world pre-release GIVEAWAY! October 2, 2024I was so excited to receive a box of the overseas edition of my new cookbook Tonight I decided to do a very special giveaway….be the first in the world to receive my new cookbook! **GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED! Congratulations Kimsi from Belgium, Cathy in the USA and Renae in QLD, Australia! I have sent each... […]Nagi
- TONIGHT book tour dates are LIVE! September 26, 2024The schedule for the first leg of the TONIGHT book tour is now live, and I’m so excited to share it with you! Is your city on the list? Let’s hang out, take selfies, chat food, sign books…and for some, meet Dozer!! I have created an Events page which I will keep updated throughout the... […]Nagi
wikimedia
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 4 October 4, 2024Picture of the day Crucifix and shadow on the wall, Abbey of Saint Peter (Assisi). Today is the feast of Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of Ecologists.
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for October 3 October 3, 2024Picture of the day Philippsruhe castle in Hanau-Kesselstadt, seen from the west from the park.
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