Born on this day
Wednesday, October 20, 1632. : The great English architect, Sir Christopher Wren, is born.
Sir Christopher Wren was a 17th century English architect. He was born on 20 October 1632, in Wiltshire, England. He studied at Oxford, and at age 25 became professor of astronomy at Gresham College. In 1661 he became the Savilian Professor of astronomy at Oxford until his resignation in 1673. During this time, Charles II appointed Wren as assistant to the royal architect and in 1665 he spent six months in Paris studying architecture. He was also one of the founding members of the Royal Society, of which he was president from 1680 to 1682.
As an architect, Wren designed more than 50 London churches following the Great Fire of London in 1666. He is particularly known for his design for St Paul’s Cathedral, one of very few cathedrals in England to have been built after the medieval period, and the only Renaissance cathedral in the country. His secular works include the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, the garden facade of Hampton Court Palace, Chelsea Hospital, sections of Greenwich Hospital and the buildings of the Temple, London. Wren died in 1723 and was buried in the crypt of St Paul’s.
Born on this day
Saturday, October 20, 1792. : John Fawkner, early pioneer and rival to John Batman for the title of Melbourne’s founder, is born.
John Pascoe Fawkner was born in London on 20 October 1792. In 1803, when he was eleven years old, he accompanied his convict father and family to a potential new convict settlement. The British Government had instructed Lieutenant-Governor David Collins to establish a settlement on the southern coast. At that stage, the area was still part of New South Wales. The expedition included two ships, 308 convicts, 51 marines, 17 free settlers, 12 civil officers, and a missionary and his wife. In October 1803, Collins and his expedition landed at the site where Sorrento now stands on the Mornington Peninsula, naming it Port King. The settlement was not a success for a variety of reasons and, hearing of better land and timber in Van Diemen’s Land, Collins moved most of the settlement across Bass Strait, establishing Hobart.
Fawkner’s father was given a conditional pardon, and founded several businesses, gradually achieving success and some prosperity. A series of misadventures by young Fawkner caused him to be convicted for aiding and abetting the escape of 7 prisoners, for which he was sentenced to 500 lashes and three years labour. After being released in 1816, he gradually moved through more misadventures, crime and punishment until, by sheer determination, he rose above the continual obstacles, finally achieving his own prosperity but, with it, a reputation for being troublesome and arrogant.
The possibility of better prospects on the other side of Bass Strait inspired Fawkner to return to the mainland. Temporarily delayed by creditors who refused to allow him to leave Van Diemen’s Land on his own boat, Enterprize, Fawkner did manage to sail two months later after his crew, in October 1835. He arrived first at Westernport Bay, then moved on to where the settlers aboard the Enterprize had begun the unofficial settlement of Melbourne. Here he established Melbourne’s first hotel, soon followed by Melbourne’s first newspaper, The Advertiser.
After the death of Batman in 1839, in the absence of his rival Fawkner took the opportunity to promote himself as the founder of Melbourne. He gained many followers, and made just as many enemies for his arrogance and pomposity. Success bred success, however, and Fawkner gained influence, entering politics. In 1851, he became a member of the first Legislative Council of the Port Phillip District, and five years later was elected to the first Parliament of the self-governing colony of Victoria. Fawkner died on 4 September 1869.
Born on this day
Monday, October 20, 1828. : H G Spafford, the man who wrote the hymn “It is well with my soul” amidst great personal tragedy, is born.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know,
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”
The words of the hymn “It is well with my soul” were penned by a man who knew profound tragedy. Horatio Gates Spafford was born on 20 October 1828 in New York state. He and his wife Anna became important figures in Chicago in the 1860s, as Spafford was a prominent figure in legal circles, and they were close friends with the famous evangelist D L Moody.
Spafford and his wife suffered their first tragic loss in 1870 when their young son died from scarlet fever. The following year, he suffered further losses. An astute businessman who had invested heavily in real estate, he lost most of his property along the shores of Lake Michigan in the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871.
In 1873, Spafford organised his wife and four daughters for a European vacation, with the intent of assisting D L Moody who would be travelling around Britain and preaching his message. Due to a business matter at the last moment, Spafford was forced to defer his plans, instead sending off just his family on a voyage across the Atlantic. On 22 November 1873, their steamer collided with an English vessel, sinking quickly and claiming the lives of 226 people, including all of Spafford’s daughters. He received from his wife a telegram which read simply, “Saved alone”.
Spafford took the next ship from New York to join his grieving wife. Whilst crossing the Atlantic, the Captain pointed out the site of the collision. Spafford returned to his cabin, where he penned the words of the hymn “It is well with my soul”. He based the hymn on the words of 2 Kings 4:26 from the Bible, which tell of a woman’s peace amidst her grief of losing her only son. The words of this hymn are a lasting legacy of a man who maintained steadfast trust in his Lord and Saviour.
Australian History
Saturday, October 20, 1973. : The Sydney Opera House is formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
The Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, sits on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour. Designed by Danish architect Joern Utzon in 1955, it has become one of the most famous performing arts venues in the world. Utzon arrived in Sydney to oversee the project in 1957 and work commenced on the opera House in 1959. The building, famous for its geometric roof shells, was completed in 1973, at a cost of $102 million.
The Opera House was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 20 October 1973. The opening was celebrated with fireworks and a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Prior to this, however, Sergei Prokofiev’s ‘War and Peace’ was played at the Opera Theatre on 28 September 1973. The following day, the first public performance was held, with a programme performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Charles Mackerras and with accompanying singer Birgit Nilsson.
World History
Friday, October 20, 1911. : Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen departs the Bay of Whales, Antarctica, on his expedition to the South Pole.
Roald Amundsen was born on 16 July 1872, near Oslo, Norway. At fifteen, he intended to study medicine but, inspired by Fridtjof Nansen’s crossing of Greenland in 1888, altered his career intentions to eventually become one of the most successful polar explorers. He planned to be the first to the North Pole, but having been beaten by Frederick Cook and Robert Peary, he then altered his plans to make for the South Pole. He set out for Antarctica in 1910, and reached the Ross Ice Shelf on 14 January 1911 at a point known as the Bay of Whales. From here, on 10 February 1911, Amundsen scouted south to establish depots along the way. During the next two months, he and his party established three depots for storing their extensive provisions. They had their last glimpse of the sun for four months on 22 April 1911.
After maintaining their base at the Bay of Whales during the winter months, on 20 October 1911, Amundsen and four others departed for the South Pole. The remaining three in his expedition party went east to visit King Edward VII Land. The southern party consisted of five men, four sledges, fifty-two dogs and provisions for four months. The expedition reached the South Pole on 14 December 1911, a month before the famed Robert Scott reached it.