On This Day
1828 – Brazil and Argentina recognize the sovereignty of Uruguay in the Treaty of Montevideo
In the Treaty of Montevideo, signed on 27 August 1828, after British mediation, Brazil and Argentina recognized the independence of Uruguay.
Called the Preliminary Peace Convention as a result of the meetings held by representatives from the Empire of Brazil and the United Provinces of Río de la Plata — the predecessor state for Argentina — between 11 and 27 August 1828 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This convention, or treaty, accorded independence to Uruguay in respect to Brazil and Argentina. Uruguay’s independence would be definitively sealed on 4 October of the same year when, in Montevideo, the signing nations ratified the treaty.
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1867 – The United States takes possession of the (at this point unoccupied) Midway Atoll.
Midway Atoll (colloquial: Midway Islands; Hawaiian: Kauihelani, lit. ’the backbone of heaven’; Pihemanu, ‘the loud din of birds’)[2][3] is a 2.4-square-mile (6.2 km2) atoll in the North Pacific Ocean. Midway Atoll is an insular area of the United States and is an unorganized and unincorporated territory. The largest island is Sand Island, which has housing and an airstrip. Immediately to the east of Sand Island across the narrow Brooks Channel is Eastern Island, which is uninhabited and has no facilities. Forming a rough, incomplete circle around the two main islands and creating Midway Lagoon is Spit Island, a narrow reef.[1]
Roughly equidistant between North America and Asia, Midway is the only island in the Hawaiian Archipelago that is not part of the state of Hawaii.[1] Unlike the other Hawaiian islands, Midway observes Samoa Time (UTC−11:00, i.e., eleven hours behind Coordinated Universal Time), which is one hour behind the time in the Hawaii–Aleutian Time Zone used in Hawaii. For statistical purposes, Midway is grouped as one of the United States Minor Outlying Islands. The Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, encompassing 590,991.50 acres (239,165.77 ha)[4] of land and water in the surrounding area, is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The refuge and most of its surrounding area are part of the larger Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument.
From 1941 until 1993, the atoll was the home of Naval Air Facility Midway Island, which played a crucial role in the Battle of Midway, June 4–6, 1942. Aircraft based at the then-named Henderson Field on Eastern Island joined with United States Navy ships and planes in an attack on a Japanese battle group that sank four carriers, one heavy cruiser and defended the atoll from invasion. The battle was a critical Allied victory and major turning point of the Pacific campaign of World War II.
About 40 people live on the atoll, mostly staff of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and contract workers. Visitation to the atoll is possible only for business reasons (which includes permanent and temporary staff, contractors and volunteers) as the tourism program has been suspended due to budget cutbacks. In 2012, the last year that the visitor program was in operation, 332 people made the trip to Midway.[5][6][7][8][9] Tours focused on both the unique ecology of Midway as well as its military history. The economy is derived solely from governmental sources and tourist fees. Nearly all supplies must be brought to the island by ship or plane, though a hydroponic greenhouse and garden supply some fresh fruits and vegetables.
Born On This Day
1875 – Katharine McCormick, American biologist, philanthropist, and activist (d. 1967)
Katharine Dexter McCormick (August 27, 1875 – December 28, 1967) was a U.S. suffragist, philanthropist and, after her husband’s death, heir to a substantial part of the McCormick family fortune. She funded most of the research necessary to develop the first birth control pill.
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1915 – Tasha Tudor, American author and illustrator (d. 2008)
Tasha Tudor (August 28, 1915 – June 18, 2008)[1] was an American illustrator and writer of children’s books.
Biography
Tasha Tudor was born in Boston, Massachusetts as Starling Burgess, the daughter of naval architect W. Starling Burgess, known as “the Skipper” and noted portrait painter Rosamund Tudor. At birth, she was named after her father, but he was an admirer of the War and Peace character Natasha, and his daughter was soon re-christened Natasha. The name was later shortened to Tasha. She spent her early years in Marblehead, Massachusetts, before her father’s work relocated the family to North Chevy Chase in Maryland to help with the Wartime effort.[2]
When socializing with her mother’s friends, Tudor was usually introduced as “Rosamund Tudor’s daughter, Tasha”, leading others to believe that her last name was Tudor. Liking the sound of it, she adopted the name and eventually changed her surname legally following her second divorce.[3] She married Thomas McCready in 1938 in Redding, Connecticut. Tasha and Thomas McCready purchased a large old farm in Webster, New Hampshire, where four children, Bethany, Seth, Thomas, and Efner, were raised. Her first story, Pumpkin Moonshine, was published in 1938, as a gift for a young niece of her husband. They were divorced in 1961, and her children legally changed their names from McCready to Tudor. A later marriage, to Allan John Woods, lasted only a brief time.[4]
Tasha Tudor illustrated nearly one hundred books, the last being Corgiville Christmas, released in 2003. Several were collaborative works with a New Hampshire friend Mary Mason Campbell. She also collaborated in 1957 with Nell Dorr to produce the 24-minute 16mm film The Golden Key: Enter the Fantasy World of Tasha Tudor. Tudor lived in Marlboro, Vermont in a house copied from that of other New Hampshire friends Donn & Doris Purvis. Her son Seth built the replication and lives next door with his family. It is documented in Drawn from New England, and in The Private World of Tasha Tudor. Mother and son worked closely on family endeavors.
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FYI
Music Map
Sweethearts Of The West: Mercantiles – Hubbubs of the Old West; LIFE IN A SOD HOUSE and more ->
By Henry Baker, Live Science: Italian shark has ‘virgin birth’ after 10 years in all-female shark tank
By Ken Downer, Veteran, Rapid Start Leasership: In Praise of Praise: 5 Ways to Enhance the Power of Your Appreciation
By Nicholas LePan, Visual Capitilist: Visualizing the Gravitational Pull of the Planets
By Polina Pompliano, The Profile: 11 Life Lessons I Learned Before My 30th Birthday Here are some practical, non-obvious lessons I’ve learned in the last decade.
By Talib Visram, Fast Company: Soccer fans can now eat their coffee cups The cookie-based cups now available at Manchester City’s stadium should stay crispy for half the duration of a soccer game.
By Brandon Specktor, Live Science: Extinct ‘Hobbit’ creature the size of a house cat discovered in Wyoming dig site Meet Beornus honeyi — but you can call him Beorn.
By Lauren M. Johnson, CNN: An insect eating plant has been identified on North America’s Pacific coast for the first time in 20 years
By Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica: Hit songs rely on increasing “harmonic surprise” to hook listeners, study finds Childish Gambino’s “This Is America” ranked highest in challenging musical expectations.
Ideas
Everything Pretty: How to Make DIY Dawn Powerwash Refill
Recipes
The Yummy Bowl: Stuffed Zucchini Boats With Chicken
By Angelino’s Coffee, Taste of Home: Herbed Slow-Cooker Chicken
Little House Big Alaska: Instant Pot Brownie Bites
RecipeTinEats
- 12 Minute Baked Salmon Fajita Spread May 19, 2026Here is a big Salmon Fajita spread that looks like you worked way harder than you actually did. 😎 Fajita seasoned salmon, vegetables and warmed tortillas all happen in the oven at the same time in 12 minutes flat. Dinner! Done! 12 Minute Baked Salmon Fajita Spread This is a quick Mexican dinner inspired by... […]Nagi
- Creamy Jalapeño Sauce May 19, 2026Here’s my latest taco sauce – a quick Creamy Jalapeño Sauce that’s zingy and tangy and just spicy enough to keep things interesting! Great with all things Mexican, especially fajitas and tacos. I especially love it with salmon fajitas. Creamy Jalapeño Sauce Mexican food and sauces just belong together. Whether it’s a fresh pico de... […]Nagi
wikimedia
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for May 19 May 19, 2026Picture of the day Mundari child in a cattle camp near Terekeka, South Sudan.
- Wikimedia Commons picture of the day for May 18 May 18, 2026Picture of the day Scuol-Motta Naluns, View from Motta Naluns on the environment.
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Stump the Bookseller is a service offered by Loganberry Books to reconnect people to the books they love but can’t quite remember. In brief (for more detailed information see our About page), people can post their memories here, and the hivemind goes to work. After all, the collective mind of bibliophiles, readers, parents and librarians around the world is much better than just a few of us thinking. Together with these wonderful Stumper Magicians, we have a nearly 50% success rate in finding these long lost but treasured books. The more concrete the book description, the better the success rate, of course. It is a labor of love to keep it going, and there is a modest fee. Please see the How To page to find price information and details on how to submit your Book Stumper and payment.
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