Francis Bacon

NAME Francis Bacon or 1st Baron Verulam and Viscount St Albans

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Francis Bacon was famous as an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, and author. He is particularly renowned for his contributions to the development of the scientific method and his influential philosophical works.

BIRTH b January 22, 1561 York House, Strand, London.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Francis' was the youngest son of Sir Nicholas Bacon, who was Elizabeth I's Lord Keeper of the Great Seal. He was a staunch enemy of Roman Catholics.

Francis' mother. Anne Cooke, was a Protestant daughter of Sir Anthony Cooke, an eminent humanist, scholar and tutor to Edward VI. She was famous for her learning and published translations from Italian and Latin .

CHILDHOOD Francis grew up familiar with the royal court. Not only did his dad rub shoulders with his uncle, but his uncle, William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, was the chief advisor of Queen Liz for most of her reign.

EDUCATION An all round clever cogs, Bacon made himself master of the whole body of knowledge in existence. Biographers believe that Francis received an education at home in his early years, and that his health during that time, as later, was delicate. He entered Trinity College, Cambridge in 1573 (yes, your maths is correct he was just 13). Bacon lived there for three years there with his older brother Anthony Bacon.

At Cambridge, his studies of science brought him to the conclusion that the methods (and thus the results) were erroneous. His reverence for Aristotle conflicted with his dislike of Aristotelian philosophy, which seemed barren, disputatious, and wrong in its objectives. After Cambridge he went on to Grays Inn for training in law.

In his writings, Bacon stressed the principle of learning by the inductive process by which student are encouraged to observe and examine with their senses.

CAREER RECORD Bacon's goals were threefold: discovery of truth, service to his country, and service to the church. Knowing that a prestigious post would aid him toward these ends, in 1580 he applied, through Uncle William, (1st Baron Burghley), for a post at court. His application failed, and for the next two years Bacon worked quietly at Gray's Inn until admitted as an outer barrister in 1582. His CV is as follows:

1582 Became a barrister
1584 Elected to Parliament for Melcombe in Dorset.
1586 Re-elected this time as MP for Taunton, Somerset.
1593 Bacon took his third parliamentary seat , this time for Middlesex. During this period, Bacon was enduring long disappointments in his attempts to gain public office. He wrote letters of sound advice to the Queen but she never took them on board. Things changed when James
I came to throne.
1603 The accession of James I brought Bacon into greater favour. He was knighted in 1603.
1604 Member of the King's Council
1607 Solicitor General
1613 Attorney General
1614 Retired from House of Commons
1617 Made Keeper of the Great Seal of England following in daddy's footsteps.
1618 Appointed Lord Chancellor with title Lord Verulam
1621 After a few months in prison (see Scandal below) he concentrated on his writing career.

APPEARANCE So was Bacon fat or lean? Actually he was middling stature and looked older than what he was. He had a goatee beard, dark hair.

Paul van Somer I /  Francis Bacon 1617

The Elizabethans favoured idiosyncrasies in appearance in contrast to the perfect proportions loved by the Greeks. Said Bacon: "There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion."

FASHION Bacon dressed in typically tight Elizabethan attire. which rendered the wearer unable to move, so he could only stand and pose. The reasons behind this was to show they had enough servants to do everything for them.

CHARACTER Bacon was known for his intelligence, ambition, and pragmatism. He was also renowned for his eloquence and rhetorical skills.  According to Alexander Pope, Bacon was, "the wisest, brightest and meanest of mankind." However as Pope lived over a hundred years later, how did he know?

SENSE OF HUMOUR Bacon was a wit. Here's his opinion on a lanky tall envoy from France "People of such dimensions are like four or five storey houses-the upper rooms are the most poorly furnished." (1)

RELATIONSHIPS Bacon waited until he was in his mid 40s before tying the knot. On May 10, 1606, Bacon married one Alice Barnham (1592-1650) at St Marylebone's Chapel, a suburb to the North of London, with the reception at the Strand estate. Alice was not yet 14 when they wed and her guardian was Sir John Pakington, who was a great favourite of Queen Elizabeth. A number of modern scholars have speculated that Bacon was gay and married for political reasons.

"Children sweeten labours but they make misfortunes more bitter," said Bacon in Essay of Parents and Children. Well, Mr and Mrs Bacon produced no litter, which I guess adds further fuel to the scholars speculations.

In his book On Marriage and Single Life, Bacon quipped "Wives are young men's mistresses, companions for middle age and old men's nurses."

MONEY AND FAME The sudden death of his father in February 1579 seriously influenced Bacon's fortunes. Sir Nicholas had laid up a considerable sum of money to purchase an estate for Francis, but he died before doing so, and his youngest son was left with only a fifth of that money. Having started with insufficient means, he borrowed money and became habitually in debt. To support himself, he took up his residence in law at Gray's Inn in 1579 in order to to bring home some, er bacon .

For the next 25 years his financial situation remained bad. His friends could find no public office for him, a scheme for retrieving his position by a marriage with the wealthy widow Lady Elizabeth Hatton failed, and in 1598 he was arrested for debt. It was only Bacon's change in fortunes when James I came to the throne that he became financially secure. He was helped by HIS WIFE Alice bringing an income of £220 a year from her father's estate.

Bacon quipped in Of Seditions and Troubles "Money is like muck not good except it be spread." However, he had a reputation for being rather mean with his wallet.

Bacon wrote in Of Praise: "Fame is like a river that beareth up all things light and swollen and drowns things weighty and solid." 

FOOD AND DRINK: Bacon likely enjoyed the fine cuisine of his time, which would have included elaborate feasts and banquets.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Bacon had an appreciation for the arts and was known to patronize artists and musicians, though he himself was not known for any musical or artistic talents.

"Generally music feedeth that disposition of the Spirits which it findeth." Bacon in Sylva Sylvarum

LITERATURE Bacon wrote over 30 philosophical books and many other legal, scientific and many other popular works. He often didn't finish ambitious works which he'd started such as Novum Organium.  Here's some of his works:

1597 Essays The first essays to be actually called essay. They were famous for Bacon's pregnant aphorisms such as "Mahomet made the people believe that he would call a hill to him... when the hill stood still he was never a whit abashed but said 'If the hill will not come to Mahomet, Mohomet will go to the hill."; (Well wouldn't you be a whit abashed if you saw a hill heading towards you?)

1603 The Advancement of Learning In which Bacon classified the different types of knowledge into poetry, philosophy and history.

1620 Novum Organium (New Logic) In which Bacon threw out the old logic and proposed in Latin, the inductive method of logical reasoning but never got round to finishing it.

1626 New Atlantis This fable about a city on an imaginary Pacific island ran by scholars called Ben Salem was published posthumously. Its advanced population had aircraft, hearing aids, refrigerators and submarines. One of the first ever Science Fiction novels, it was a best seller for more than a decade.

Some people think Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays. The essayist might have been a bit of a ham but as far as I'm concerned its unlikely as until 1603 he wrote all his books in Latin. The Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle agrees with me. He wrote: "Lord Bacon could as easily have created the Planets as he could have written Hamlet "

NATURE: Bacon had an interest in the natural world and conducted scientific experiments to better understand it. He is considered one of the pioneers of the scientific method.

 A keen gardener, Bacon wrote in Of Gardens. "God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed it is the purest of human pleasures." Also, according to Bacon: "Nothing is more pleasant to the eye than green grass kept finely shorn."

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Bacon's busy career likely left little time for leisure pursuits, but he may have enjoyed activities such as hunting and falconry, which were popular among the nobility of his time.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Bacon saw natural science as a means of empirical discovery and a way of increasing human power over nature. He felt that science held the key to technical progress. He was greatly revered by scientists well into the 20th century for the so-called Baconian method, which involved analysing experience by mechanical means so as to arrive at true conclusions.
Bacon also:

1. Developed binary using only "a" & "b" in 5 letter combinations for letters of alphabet. He also developed bribery.
2. Believed warm water freezes quicker than cold water. However, he made a pigs ear of that one as you will read later in in this trivial biography.
3. Declared that works not words would carry the new science’s message.
4. Credited with contributing to logic a method of reasoning a method of analogy.
5. He didn't actually invent much

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY  Bacon's philosophical works explored themes of knowledge, truth, and human understanding. He advocated for the advancement of learning through empirical observation and critical thinking.

An early advocate of Enlightenment, Bacon saw men progressing through conquering nature.

His religion was generally more formal than fervent but it occasionally stirred. Said Bacon: "There never was found in any age of the world either philosophy or sect or law or discipline which did so highly exalt the public good as the Christian faith."

POLITICS Politically a conservative, Bacon saw an ideal government as one, which was benevolent without the worst excesses of despotism by rulers.

After James I became king of England, Francis Bacon proposed ways to unite England and Scotland. He also offered recommendations on how to deal with the issue of Roman Catholics. In recognition of these contributions, he was knighted on July 23, 1603.

SCANDAL As Lord Chancellor in 1621, like a boiled egg Bacon got himself in hot water and was convicted of bribery when granting monopoly patents. He was fined the considerable sum in those days of £40,000, dismissed from office, banished from court and spent four days in Tower of London. The swine confessed saying he was "neatly and penitently sorry". but said he did not always give verdict to his paymaster. King James later pardoned him and remitted his fine but forbade him to return to Parliament or court.

"When the Lordships asked Bacon
How many Bribes he had taken
He had at least the grace
To get very red in the face."

HOMES His family home was Gorhambury House, St Albans, Hertfordshire. When Queen Elizabeth visited Bacon's father there she commented "What a little house you've gotten." Sir Nicholas replied tactfully "The house is well built, but it is you, your majesty who have made me too great for my house." Bacon's dad took the Queen's hint and began to build extensions on the property so he could properly entertain her in the future.

Gorhambury House By Srlee at English Wikipedia

Bacon's garden there had a garden full of mechanical curiosities.

Bacon a practical outlook on one's home. He wrote in Of Buildings "Houses are built to live in and not to look on; therefore let use be preferred before uniformity, except where both be had."

TRAVEL Wrote Bacon in Of Travel : "Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education; in the elder, a part of experience." When a teenager Francis and his older brother Anthony.

In 1576 Bacon sailed across the English Channel to France with Sir Amias Paulet, the English ambassador at Paris. The disturbed state of government and society in France under Henry III afforded him valuable political instruction. The sudden death of his father two and a half years later in February 1579 necessitated Bacon's return to England

DEATH The father of experimental science was driving in his carriage one wintry day in Highgate, North London, when he decided on impulse to observe the effect of cold on the preservation of meat - as one does. 

Bacon stopped his carriage, purchased a chicken and stuffed it with snow. Soon afterwards he was seized by a chill, which developed into bronchitis. Feeling ill and beginning to shiver violently, Bacon made his way to the nearby house of his friend Earl of Arundel. 

He was given a damp bed-so damp that his condition worsened and he died of pneumonia on April 9, 1626." His last words were: "My name and memory I leave to men's charitable speeches, to foreign nations and to the next age." I wish it had been "What a fowl day.!"

His tomb and monument are in St Mildred’s Church, St Albans.

Less than two weeks after Bacon's death, Alice Barnham Bacon married Mr. John Underhill. 

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Most of Bacon's portrayals on the silver screen have cropped up in films about Queen Elizabeth such as in Elizabeth and Essex (1939), where Donald Crisp plays him as a wily old fox.

ACHIEVEMENTS 1. Laid foundations of experimental approach to science putting a stop to Aristotle's non-experimental methods. The first great methodological scientist.
2. Bacon believed that only matters of good and evil have religious significance, not scientific discoveries. He taught that the ever increasing scientific knowledge could be developed without any reference to God or his creation. Thus, he began the split between religion and Science.
3. Bacon’s writings were largely responsible for the formation of Royal Society and he was the most influential & versatile writer of his generation.
4. The first outstanding English Essayist

1. The Faber Book of Anecdotes by Clifton Fadiman.

Johann Sebastian Bach

NAME Johann Sebastian Bach

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Composer

BIRTH March 31, 1685 (March 21, 1685, under the Julian calendar) in Eisenach, which is a city in Thuringia, Germany.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Johann was the youngest of eight children. His father, Johann Ambrosius Bach (February 24, 1645 – March 2, 1695) was a string player, court trumpeter and town piper in Eisenach. The post of town piper entailed organizing all the secular music in town as well as participating in church music at the direction of the church organist.

Johann's mother Maria Elisabeth Lämmerhirt (d 1695) also grew up in a musical family and his uncles were also all professional musicians ranging from church organists and court chamber musicians to composers.

Johann was orphaned aged 10 and was raised by his eldest brother Johann Christoph Bach, the organist at the Michaeliskirche in nearby Ohrdruf. (Evidently the Bach family were not very imaginative at names).

CHILDHOOD Johann Sebastian's childhood home would have been busy and crowded. In addition to seven siblings, there were two orphaned cousins, some of his father's apprentices, and other relatives from time to time. The environment was saturated with music.

After the loss of his parents , the orphaned boy lived first in Ohrdruf in the home of an older brother, Johann Christoph, and then in Lüneburg at St. Michael's School, where he was a choirboy.

Johann Sebastian received his first musical instruction from his Father, then after his death from his organist brother Johann Christoph and his uncle confusingly also called Johann Christoph, who was the town and court organist.

While in his brother's house, Sebastian devoted much of his to copying, studying, and playing music. Christoph owned a manuscript of keyboard music by some of the most notable organists of the day, including his mentor Joann Pachelbel. Late one night, when the house was asleep, Johann Sebastian slipped his hand through the grate of the locked cabinet, pulled out the prized manuscript from his brother's music cabinet and began to copy it by the moonlight. This went on nightly for months until Johann Christoph heard the young Sebastian playing some of the distinctive tunes from his private library, grabbed his copy and confiscated it.

EDUCATION Young Johann Sebastian attended the Gymnasium in Eisenach the same school that Martin Luther attended 200 years earlier.

According to regulation, children of poor parents could attend the Latin school at Lüneburg (which he did from 1700) and pay for their costs by singing in the choir.

Johann Sebastian completed Latin school when he was 18, (an impressive accomplishment in his day, especially considering that he was the first in his family to finish school)

CAREER RECORD It was at Ohrdruf whilst living with his brother that Joann Sebastian began to learn about organ building. The Ohrdruf church's instrument, it seems, was in constant need of minor repairs, and he was often sent into the belly of the old organ to tighten, adjust, or replace various parts. The church organ, with its moving bellows, manifold stops, and complicated mechanism, was the most complex machine in any European town. This practical experience with the innards of the instrument would provide a unique counterpoint to his unequalled skill in playing it; Bach was equally at home talking with organ builders and with performers.

Here's his CV:
1700 A choirboy at the Convent of St Michael in Lüneburg, where he received free tuition, room, and board plus a small stipend
1702 Johann Sebastian's voice broke and he worked as a musician for a minor Noblemen, Duke Johann Ernst.
1703 Organist and Choirmaster at New Church in Arnstradt.
1704 Wrote his first Cantata "Denn Wurst Meine Seele."
1707 Organist at the Church of St Blasius in Mülhausen. The Congregation objected to the innovative harmonised music he was introducing.
1708 Appointed the Court Organist, with a doubled salary to Duke Wilhelm Ernst.
1714 Seemingly having got over his wanderlust and still in the same job his reward was promotion to Concert Master to Duke Wilhelm Ernst at double the salary again.
He began to travel throughout Germany as an organ virtuoso and as a consultant to organ builders.
1717 Resigned from Duke Wilhelm Ernst who was so upset that Bach had not given him sufficient notice that he imprisoned him for 16 days. Appointed Concert Master and Director of Music to the 23-year-old Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Köthen effectively meaning he was musical director for the city of Leipzig.
1723 On May 30, 1723, Bach was appointed the Music Director and choirmaster of St Thomas Choir School in Leipzig, who must have wondered about young Herr Bach's capacity for holding down a job. He in fact was the third choice and presumably regretted taking it as he constantly squabbled with the town council who did not appreciate his musical genius. He also had to teach Latin to the schoolboys there. JSB didn’t want to do this and he paid for a replacement out of his own pocket. The school was unruly, lacking discipline and Bach only received a quarter of his Prince Leopold salary. Things did improve. Surprisingly, considering his track record he stuck at it for the rest of his life.

Bach's dedication to teaching is especially remarkable. There was hardly any period in his life when he did not have a full-time apprentice studying with him, and there were always numerous private students studying in Bach's house, including such 18th century notables as Johann Friedrich Agricola. Well, he was famous in his day, Agricola was a German composer.

APPEARANCE: Bach was described as having a strong and commanding presence, with piercing eyes and a prominent forehead.

Johann Sebastian Bach (aged 61) in a portrait by Elias Gottlob Haussmann,

 

FASHION: Bach typically dressed in the fashion of his time, favoring formal attire befitting his status as a court musician. Those judges wigs that were all the rage in early eighteenth century society.

CHARACTER Red blooded, often independent and stubborn, stuffy, but a strong sense of right and fairness. Bach often got into trouble with his employers hence his large resume. Apart from that he was a decent bloke.

SPEAKING VOICE As a boy, Bach was known to have an "uncommonly fine treble voice" (soprano), which was highly regarded during his youth. This suggests that he had strong vocal control and a clear, musical tone as a child. His voice would have changed at puberty, as was typical, and there are no surviving accounts describing his adult speaking voice.

SENSE OF HUMOUR According to the Encarta Encyclopedia, Bach's Goldberg Variations are a prime example of his "lyrical wit."

Here's a Bach joke - Dracula was a terrible organist. His Bach was worse than his bite.

RELATIONSHIPS AND FAMILY Following a small inheritance from an uncle Johann Sebastian married his first wife Maria Barbara Bach, a second cousin, on October 17, 1707 at Dornheim church. 

She bore him seven children (four survived, a pair of twins died within the first year, and one died at age 24.) 

Little is known of Maria Barbara. She died suddenly on July 7, 1720 while Bach was travelling with Prince Leopold. On his return he discovered that his wife had unexpectedly became ill, died, and was buried while he was gone.

A year and a half after this tragedy, Bach got hitched to his second wife, the 20-year-old Anna Magdalena Wilcken on December 3, 1721. She was a soprano singer at the prince's court and daughter of the court trumpeter at Weissenfells. 

Anna bore Johann Sebastian thirteen children. five died in the first year and three died between three and five years, another Gottfried Heinrich was seriously mentally handicapped. The busy Anna had her last child at the age of 41. 

When not busy giving birth, Anna helped him with his work copying the scores of his music for the performers, while he encouraged her singing. Eventually her handwriting became so much like her husband's that it is sometimes difficult to tell them apart. 

Despite their age difference (she was 17 years his junior), the couple seem to have had a very happy marriage. 

After her husband died, the widowed Anna Magdalena was not able to maintain her previous standard of living. When she passed away in 1760 she was given a pauper’s funeral.

If your Maths is up to it you will have worked out that Bach had 20 children altogether, nine girls and 11 boys. Five of the boys were called Johann. They lovingly referred to him as "The Old Hat."

If every dog can have it's day, Bach's sons certainly did. For instance Carl Phillip, who at one time worked for Frederick the Great, wrote many pieces for the clavier in a passionate expressive style. He was one of the founders of the classical style and his use of harmony was an influence on a promising young composer called Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 

The painting below is a detail from Flötenkonzert Friedrichs des Großen in Sanssouci ("Frederick the Great's Flute Concert in Sanssouci") by Adolph von Menzel, 1852, which depicts Frederick the Great playing the flute as C. P. E. Bach accompanies on the keyboard. 

Bach's youngest son, Johann Christian was from 1762 the Music Master to the English royals. One of the most popular musicians in England in the late 18th century, he was known as the English Bach.

One could say that for his sons, success was relative, but not all his siblings sustained the good name of Bach. For instance his second son, W E Bach tried to pass off in his old age some of his Father's work as his own.

The only one of the Bach daughters to marry, Elisabeth Juliana Friederica, chose as her husband Bach's student Johann Christoph Altnikol.

In total 64 members of the Bach family between 1600 and 1800 took up music as a profession. More than 100 descendants of Bach have been cathedral organists.

George Friedrich Handel, who was born in the same year as Bach, made several trips to Germany, but Bach was unable to meet him, a fact he regretted. The only known interaction between them occurred on Good Friday 1747 when Bach performed Handel arias in Leipzig during a performance of the St Mark Passion.

MONEY AND FAME Bach was acknowledged in Germany as the greatest organist of his time and esteemed as a specialist in the mechanics of organ building. However his contrapuntal (music that consists of two or more melodies played at the same time) style of writing sounded old fashioned to his unhip contemporaries. Indeed Carl Philip and Johann Christian Bach were more famous in their lifetime than their father. 

The old man's compositions weren't fully appreciated until the 19th century when Mendelssohn helped revive his music. In 1829 Mendelssohn conducted the first performance since the "Old Hat's" death of his St Matthew Passion. In 1850 the Bach Gesellschaft was formed to publish his music. By now everyone was wanting to perform or listen to his works en masse.

Bach was always complaining about money with a lot of children to support and choirs and orchestras to run. However, recently discovered papers reveal he was a dab hand at financial speculation, trading shares in a Saxony silver mine.

Outside the St Thomas Church (Thomaskirche) at Leipzig there is a statue of the composer, with his left-hand coat pocket turned inside out.

FOOD AND DRINK Bach enjoyed simple, hearty meals, typical of the cuisine of his time. He was known to indulge in beer and wine on occasion.

In 1732 Bach wrote The Coffee Cantata, a humorous one act operetta about a stern Father's attempt to check his daughter's indulgence in her coffee habit. Check out the Coffee Cantanta Songfacts for more.

MUSIC AND ARTS The quality of Bach’s soprano voice as a child earned him a place in the choir of St Michael in Lüneburg. When his voice broke he retained his place due to his talents as an instrumentalist.

An outstanding organist and harpsichordist and not an insignificant composer, Bach relied heavily on old German hymn tunes for inspiration. 

Most of his writing was for the Lutheran church, in total he wrote over 200 chorales and 46 organ chorales. 

A master of improvisation, Bach could sit down and create great music on the spot. In addition he could play by ear (but then others fiddle with their moustaches).

A great innovator, Bach developed the chorale prelude, (a counterpuntal composition consists of 2 or more melodies played at the same time). He also instigated the novel practice of the far greater use of the thumb on the keys of the organ. Despite his innovative contrapuntal and organ keying styles, Bach could be an old fogey- he thought the recently invented piano made "a frightful noise."

Bach defined music as “An agreeable harmony for the honour of God and the permissible delights of the soul”.

Here's a summary of some of Bach's Greatest Hits- with links to Songfacts all written by yours truly.

1706 Toccata & Fugue in D Minor: This rousing work was christened when Bach went on holiday to Lübeck to hear the Danish organist Dietrich Buxtehude play on the five Sundays before Christmas. He was meant to return to work before Christmas but didn't return to Arnstradt until the following February. Consequently he didn't provide any music for his employer over Christmas and the New year and lost his job. However he did write this piece. Today it is associated with spooky images from horror films.

Toccata & Fugue in D Minor Songfacts

1713 Sheep May Safely Graze: This humdinger was written for the 31st birthday celebrations of Duke Christian of Saxe-Weissenfels.

1721 Brandenburg Concertos: These six pieces were written for the Count Brandenburg, a Prince who loved music, to gain extra support for his work. He dedicated them to the Count on March 24, 1721. The Count's orchestra was too small to perform them and the manuscripts were discovered for sale on the Count's death in a job lot. The second concerto is meant to include one of the most difficult pieces there is for a trumpeter.

Brandenburg Concerto No 2 Songfacts

Title page of Brandenburg Concertos written in French,

1723 St John Passion: Johann Sebastian Bach debuted the St. John Passion on April 7, 1724, in Leipzig, Germany. This sacred oratorio, based on the Gospel of John, was composed by Bach for the Good Friday Vespers service at the St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig. Whenever it was performed, The St John Passion was accompanied by sermons often up to three hours in length to which Bach’s musical settings were a diversion and a compliment. All of which added up to a liturgical event of a considerable magnitude.

1724 Meine Seel erhebt den Herren The first performance of "Meine Seel erhebt den Herren" took place on July 2, 1724, in Leipzig. This date is significant because it coincides with the Feast of the Visitation, a celebration in the Christian liturgical calendar commemorating the visit of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth, as described in the Gospel of Luke. The cantata was performed at the St. Thomas Church, where Bach was serving as the Thomaskantor (cantor).

"Meine Seel erhebt den Herren" is a German paraphrase of the Latin Magnificat, Mary's song of praise. Bach’s setting is a part of his second annual cycle of cantatas, also known as the chorale cantata cycle. The cantata is structured in multiple movements, incorporating choruses, arias, and recitatives that reflect the text's devotional and celebratory character.

1729 St Matthew Passion: Bach's St Matthew Passion was first performed on April 11, 1727 in Leipzig's St. Thomas Church, but was then lost for a century. The manuscript for this masterpiece was discovered when it was bought as wrapping paper from the estate of a deceased cheese-monger. It was eventually revived in 1829 when 20-year-old Felix Mendelssohn conducted the Passion in Berlin.

 Bach's St Matthew Passion was first performed in Leipzig's St. Thomas Church

1731 Cantata no 140 (Sleeper’s Awake): Originally a late 16th century Lutheran hymn. The middle chorale was used in the 1980s for a series of Lloyds Bank adverts.

1742 Goldberg Variations: Quite a long, boring piece but a certain Count Keyster appreciated it. In gratitude he gave Bach a golden goblet filled with 100 gold pieces, hence it's name. The Count was an insomniac.

Aria Da Capo Songfacts

1747-49 Mass in B Minor: Began in 1724, a work of great power and subtleness and a monument of the baroque era, it was too long to be performed in an ordinary service. Incidentally if you're wondering why this ardently Protestant composer wrote such a Catholic work it was because at that time Bach was after the job of court composer for the Catholic King of Saxony. He didn't get it.

Mass In B Minor Songfacts

The last piece Bach composed was Before Thy Throne, which he wrote sick and blind days before he died.

Bach has had many admirers down the ages. Beethoven called him, “The immortal god of harmony” and even the anti-Christian Nietzsche heard in Bach’s music “a higher order of things”.

LITERATURE Bach was well-read and drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including literature, poetry, and religious texts.

Bach wrote music books with his impeccable, elegant writing. They included:

The Well Tempered Clavier (1722), which was intended to teach his first wife and children keyboard technique.
Little Organ Book (1717), which he dedicated "For the glory of the most high God alone. And for my neighbour to learn from."

In addition his second wife, Anna, wrote "The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena Bach" which chronicled the last 27 years of her husband's life.

An inventory of Bach's personal library strongly suggests that he came to those discussions well prepared. It included 80 volumes (52 titles), all of them theological. At the top of the list is the three-volume Calov Bible — Luther's translation of the Bible with parallel commentary selected from Luther's works by Abraham Calov—followed by two sets of the complete works of Luther.

NATURE Well, the Baseni dog found in central Africa has no bark. Which has nothing to do with Johann Sebastian except for being a very weak pun.

Actually, Bach had a deep appreciation for nature and often found solace and inspiration in its beauty.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Bach liked walking. As a youngster, he walked 50 kilometres from his Lüneburg school to Hamburg to see J A Reincken , the organist perform. On another occasion he walked a mere 25 miles to Halle in the hope of meeting Handelbut arrived just after he had left the town by coach. Doh!

Bach enjoyed playing games, spending time with his family, and engaging in theological and philosophical discussions.

He also had a hobby of glassblowing.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Bach's music reflects a deep understanding of mathematical and scientific principles, particularly in his use of counterpoint and harmony.

Bach believed that baroque music helped protect people from the advance of doubt bred by the 18th century craze for scientific rational enquiry.

Bach believed in the spiritual significance of numbers. The number 14 was especially important to him. If A+1, B=2 etc, when you add up the cardinal numbers that correspond to the letters of his surname, you get 14.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY A devout member of the Lutheran Church, his sympathies lay in particular with the Pietist movement.

The German composer believed he could best serve his church and the people around him through his music. Bach produced a great deal of religious music, which include his Mass in B Minor, four smaller masses, a Magnificat, three Passions and 202 Church Cantatas. His Cantatas were mostly written for Sunday services that began at 7.00am and lasted four hours. 

Bach defined music as "An agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul." 

He inscribed the scores of his religious music with the letters “JJ”, (“Jesus, Juva” meaning “Jesus help”) at the beginning and “SDG” (“Soli Deo Gloria” meaning “to God alone the glory”) at the end.

"Bach almost persuades me to be a Christian." Roger Fry (1866-1934)

SCANDAL When Bach was 18, he was working as an organist in Arnstadt. At the time, he taught music to students at a local school, some of whom were older and not exactly model pupils. He reportedly had trouble maintaining discipline and got into a physical altercation with one of them in 1705.

The student, a bassoonist named Geyersbach, accused Bach of insulting him by calling him a “Zippelfagottist,” which loosely translates to something like "nanny-goat bassoonist" or "prancing bassoon player" — definitely not a compliment. Geyersbach retaliated by calling Bach a “dirty dog” and struck him with a walking stick.

Bach then drew his Degen (a small sword), and according to court records, he tore Geyersbach’s coat — but didn’t injure him. The scuffle ended when others intervened. 

Image by ChatGBT

Bach was criticised in his younger days by the church authorities for his lavish flourishes and unusual augmentations in his organ accompaniments to congregation singing.

Many of Johann Sebastian Bach's manuscripts were lost because some of his family members did not care about preserving them.

"Though full of great musical lore
Old Bach is a terrible bore
A fugue without a tune
He thought was a boom
So he wrote sixteen thousand or more." Musical Herald 1884 

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Bach's health was generally robust, though he suffered from various ailments throughout his life, 

His sight failed in his later years due to his hard work and the wear & tear on his eyes when in his childhood he copied his brother’s music volume in the dark. The famous London based eye surgeon, John Taylor, operated on Bach's failing sight along with Handel's and Edward Gibbon's. All three were unsuccessful.

HOMES Bach was a rover, moving around and settling wherever there was work. He finally settled in Leipzig in 1723 and spent the rest of his life there. Opposite the St Thomas Church, Leipzig where he worked can be found today the Bach museum.

1685 Born & brought up in a house in Lutherstrasse Eisenach, Thuringia.
1695 After his father died in 1695 he moved to brother Johann Christoph’s house in Ohrdruf on the corner of Johann Sebastian Bach-Strasse. The building no longer exists.
1700-02 His brother could no longer support them so moves with his school friend Georg Erdmann to St Michael’s church and school at Lüneburg. He lived in the buildings of the monastery there.
1702 Worked for Prince Johann Ernst at Weimar.
1703 Lived for a while in family member & mayor Martin Fieldhaus’ house, close to Maria Market Square in Arnstradt.
1707 Due to new job moved to Mülhausen.
1708-17 Lived a few hundred yards away from the Schloss next to the Hotel Elephant on the market place in Weimar.
1717 Lived in Wallstrasse 25, Kothen
1723 Moved to Leipzig.

TRAVEL Bach never travelled outside a 200 mile radius from his home in his lifetime.

DEATH Bach's last major work he wrote before his death was a fugue with a counter-theme B-A-C-H. He died of a paralytic stroke after his unsuccessful eye operation aged 65 on July 28, 1750, in Leipzig, Germany. This arguably greatest of all baroque composers was buried in the chancel of Saint Thomas Church, Leipzig. 

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA 1.Bach's music has been used in various adverts, such as his Air on a G String, which was used for years in those laid back Hamlet cigar commercials. Also his Sleepers Awake cantata was the theme used in those 1980s Lloyds Bank advert with that bloke from Rumpole (Leo McKern).
Here's two more. Ad for Audi A8 cars, the music used: Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major.
Strongbow cider commercial, the music used: Toccata and Fugue

2. Many pop songs have been based on Bach's compositions, including:
"Lady Lynda" by The Beach Boys-based on Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring.
"A Lovers Concerto" by The Toys- Based on Minuet in G.
Brandenburger by Nice was based on, yes that's right, his Brandenburg Concertos.
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procul Harum based on Air on a G String. If Herr Bach had been of a litigious nature and more pertinently not rather dead, his lawyer would have been kept exceedingly busy by these tunes.

3. The Chronicle of Anna Magdalena was filmed in 1968. Bach was played by Gustav Leonhardt.

4. Albert Schweitzer's 1905 biography, Johann Sebastian, emphasised the religious nature of Bach's music.

ACHIEVEMENTS 1. Bach was revolutionary in his mixture of free forms with dance forms such as the Minuet and developed the Chorale prelude, (Do I have to explain what that is again? see the section on Music and Arts if you have forgotten). based upon a chorale or hymn tune. He also instigated the novel practice of using the thumb more as the little finger on the keys of the organ, but I've already told you that.

2. The numero uno composer of all time for the organ his best work has lasted for centuries. In a 1999 poll of music lovers, Bach was voted Britain’s 3rd fave composer of the Millennium.
3. Wrote the The Well Tempered Clavier, a collection of 48 fugues and preludes composed in every minor and major key. He established for the first time in the history of the keyboard music a tuning procedure that made all the keys equally usable.
4. After years of drifting he finally worked out how to hold down a job.
5. Beethoven was a devotee of Bach, learning the Well-Tempered Clavier as a child and later calling Bach "Urvater der Harmonie" ("original father of harmony") and "nicht Bach, sondern Meer" ("not a stream but a sea", punning on the literal meaning of the composer's name).

Lauren Bacall

NAME: Lauren Bacall

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Lauren Bacall was famous as an iconic American actress known for her distinctive voice, sultry looks, and strong, independent on-screen persona.

BIRTH: Lauren Bacall was born on September 16, 1924, in The Bronx, New York City, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Bacall was born as Betty Joan Perske to William Perske, a salesman, and Natalie Weinstein-Bacal, a secretary.

Bacall was a cousin of Israeli President Shimon Peres.

CHILDHOOD: Bacall had a relatively modest upbringing in New York City. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she took her mother's maiden name, Bacall, later in life.

EDUCATION: Bacall attended the Highland Manor Boarding School for Girls in Tarrytown, New York, and later studied at Julia Richman High School in Manhattan.

CAREER RECORD:  Bacall's acting career took off when she was discovered by director Howard Hawks, who cast her in her breakthrough role opposite Humphrey Bogart in To Have and Have Not (1944). Her resume reads

Began career as a fashion model.

Starred in numerous classic films, including The Big Sleep (1946), Key Largo (1948), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), and Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

Successful stage career, winning Tony Awards for Applause (1970) and Woman of the Year (1981)

Continued acting in film and television throughout her life.

APPEARANCE: Bacall was known for her striking beauty - dark hair, deep brown eyes, distinctive cheekbones. Her deep, sultry voice and smoldering gaze becoming her trademarks.

Photo of Lauren Bacall in 1945.

FASHION: She epitomized Hollywood glamour. Bacall was known for her sophisticated yet sultry fashion sense, often seen in tailored suits, elegant dresses, and statement jewelry.

CHARACTER: Bacall was known for her strong, independent personality both on and off-screen, often playing characters with wit, intelligence, and determination.

SPEAKING VOICE Lauren Bacall’s speaking voice is one of the most iconic and instantly recognizable in film history. It is often described as a deep, smoky, sultry, and throaty growl—sometimes likened to a “purr”. This distinctive quality was not entirely natural; Bacall’s original voice was higher-pitched and somewhat nasal. Director Howard Hawks famously instructed her to train her voice to speak in a much lower register, a process that involved vocal exercises and, by some accounts, shouting and smoking to roughen her tone. The result was a voice that became her trademark and contributed significantly to her screen persona.

SENSE OF HUMOUR: She was known for her dry wit and sardonic delivery, which Bacall often displayed in interviews and public appearances.

RELATIONSHIPS: Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart married in a three minute ceremony on May 21, 1945. The wedding took place at Malabar Farm, the home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Louis Bromfield in the Pleasant Valley area of Richland County. 

Bogart and Bacall with best man Louis Bromfield (center) at their wedding 

At 5' 8 1/2", Bogart was almost exactly the same height as Lauren Bacall.

Tragedy struck on January 14, 1957 when Bogart died of esophageal cancer. 

Lauren Bacall announced her engagement to Frank Sinatra approximately 14 months after Humphrey Bogart's death on March 11, 1958. This relatively short period between Bogart's death and Bacall's new engagement caused quite a stir in Hollywood at the time. The relationship between Bacall and Sinatra had begun shortly after Bogart's passing, with Sinatra being described as the "only unattached man" Bacall knew at the time.

However, the engagement was short-lived. Just two days after the announcement, while Sinatra was in Miami for a singing engagement, the news spread across the front pages of newspapers. Sinatra, who initially blamed Bacall for the leak (though he later acknowledged it wasn't her fault), abruptly ended the relationship. This sudden breakup left Bacall devastated, and it would be six years before she and Sinatra saw each other again

Lauren Bacall and Jason Robards were married on July 4, 1961, in Ensenada, Mexico. The couple drove to Ensenada for their wedding ceremony, which took place south of the border. This was Bacall's second marriage, following her marriage to Humphrey Bogart, who had passed away in 1957. For Robards, this was his third marriage.

The wedding was a relatively private affair, with the couple choosing to marry in Mexico rather than in the United States. Their union produced one son, actor Sam Robards. However, the marriage was not to last, as Bacall and Robards divorced in 1969. According to Bacall's autobiography, the main reason for their divorce was Robards' struggle with alcoholism

Bacall had three children, Stephen Humphrey Bogart, Leslie Howard Bogart, and Sam Robards.

MONEY AND FAME:  Born Betty Joan Perske, Hollywood producer Howard Hawks saw something most folks missed. Hawks, with an eye for talent sharper than a falcon's beak, scooped Betty right off the streets of Manhattan (44th Street, to be precise) and transformed her into Lauren Bacall. The May 19, 1943 edition of Variety said: “Could actress Betty Bacall be slated for screen stardom. Howard Hawks nabbed her for fast buildup, right off 44th Street, too.”

Bacall's rise to fame was about as fast as a greased pig in a greased pig contest. Cast opposite Humphrey Bogart in To Have and Have Not, she became an overnight sensation. Sparks flew on screen, and they likely flew off screen too, because a year later Bogie and Bacall were hitched in a ceremony that probably lasted less time than it takes to make a decent cup of coffee (three minutes, to be exact).

Bacall achieved significant wealth and fame throughout her career, becoming one of Hollywood's most iconic leading ladies. She remained relatively private despite her celebrity status.

FOOD AND DRINK: Bacall enjoyed fine dining and was known to appreciate good food and wine.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Bacall had a great appreciation for the arts and was a supporter of various cultural institutions throughout her life.

Humphrey Bogart is buried with a silver whistle bearing the legend "If you need anything just whistle," a constant reminder of the first film he and Bacall made together, To Have and Have Not.

LITERATURE: Bacall was an avid reader and had a deep love for literature, often citing her favorite authors and books in interviews.

Bacall wrote two autobiographies, Lauren Bacall by Myself (1978) and Now (1994).

NATURE: Bacall enjoyed spending time outdoors and had a particular fondness for the natural beauty of the countryside.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Bacall enjoyed horseback riding, gardening, and painting in her leisure time. She also had a hobby of collecting beer mugs.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: While not prominently known for her interest in science and math, Bacall possessed a keen intellect and curiosity about the world around her.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Bacall's views on philosophy and theology were not extensively documented, but she was known for her sharp intellect and introspective nature.

SCANDAL: Bacall largely avoided scandal throughout her life, maintaining a dignified public image.

Life has a way of throwing curveballs, and in 1980, Lauren found herself living in the same building as John Lennon when the unthinkable happened. She later admitted hearing the gunshot that took Lennon's life but mistook it for a car backfiring. 

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Bacall maintained good health and physical fitness throughout her life, staying active well into her later years.

HOMES Lauren Bacall spent most of her life in New York City, her hometown.

She also owned residences in Hollywood, California, likely to be closer to film opportunities.

TRAVEL Bacall traveled extensively throughout her life for work and leisure, visiting destinations all over the world.

DEATH Lauren Bacall passed away on August 12, 2014, in New York City at the age of 89.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Lauren Bacall's filmography is extensive,  spanning several decades. Here are some highlights:

Films: To Have and Have Not (1944), Key Largo (1948), Designing Woman (1957), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), Dogville (2003)

Television: The Love Boat (1983), Empty Nest (1994-1995), Walker, Texas Ranger (1999)

Documentaries: Lauren Bacall: In Her Own Words (2005), Becoming a Legend (2008)

This list is not exhaustive, and Bacall appeared in many other films, television shows, and documentaries throughout her career.

ACHIEVEMENTS Lauren Bacall's talent and dedication were recognized with numerous prestigious awards:

Academy Award (1997) - Best Supporting Actress for her role in  The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Academy Honorary Award (2009) - A lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Tony Awards (2) - For Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Applause (1970) and Woman of the Year (1981).

Golden Globe Award (1997) - Best Supporting Actress for her role in  The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Screen Actors Guild Award (1997) - Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her part in The Mirror Has Two Faces.

Beyond awards, Lauren Bacall's enduring impact on cinema earned her recognition as one of the greatest American female stars of classic Hollywood.

Charles Babbage

NAME: Charles Babbage

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Charles Babbage is renowned as the "Father of the Computer" for his pioneering work in conceptualizing and designing early mechanical computers, notably the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine.

BIRTH: Charles Babbage was born on December 26, 1791, in London, England.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: Babbage hailed from a well-off family of bankers. His father, Benjamin Babbage, was a wealthy banker and merchant, while his mother, Betsy Plumleigh Teape, came from a family of prosperous craftsmen and merchants.

CHILDHOOD: Charles Babbage's childhood was marked by tragedy. He lost his mother at the tender age of eight, and his father sent him to a boarding school in Alphington, Devon, where he had a rather unhappy experience due to the school's harsh discipline.

EDUCATION: He attended several schools in his early years and eventually enrolled at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied mathematics.

CAREER RECORD: Babbage's career was primarily focused on mathematics and engineering. 

Professor of Mathematics at the Royal Society of London (1816).

Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University (1828-1839).

Invented the Difference Engine (a mechanical calculator for mathematical tables) and the Analytical Engine (a programmable computer).

APPEARANCE: Charles Babbage was described as a tall, thin man with sharp features and piercing eyes.

FASHION: He typically dressed in the fashion of his time, favoring formal attire befitting his status as a gentleman scholar.

CHARACTER: Babbage was known for his intellectual brilliance, determination, and sometimes prickly personality. He was highly driven and intensely focused on his work.

However, Babbage was also known for his "immense personal charm and boundless vitality," and he was "equally at ease with intelligent working men, country clergymen, men of science, at court, or at the dining tables of the aristocracy". He was a prominent figure in London society, famous for hosting lively soirées attended by leading intellectuals and artists of the day

SENSE OF HUMOUR: Babbage's writings—such as his satirical and witty complaints about street noise—show a sharp, sometimes sarcastic sense of humor. (1)

He was a member of the lighthearted "Extractors Club" at Cambridge.

RELATIONSHIPS: Charles Babbage married Georgiana Whitmore at St. Michael's Church in Teignmouth, Devon on July 25, 1814.  She was the sister of British parliamentarian William Wolryche-Whitmore.

They had eight children together,  but only four – Benjamin Herschel, Georgiana Whitmore, Dugald Bromhead and Henry Prevost – survived childhood. 

Georgiana died on September 1, 1827, the same year as Babbage's father, their second son (also named Charles) and their newborn son Alexander.

Babbage collaborated with mathematician Ada Lovelace, who is considered the first computer programmer for her work on the Analytical Engine. 

Babbage was a bigwig in London's social scene, famous for importing the "scientific soirée" from France. Picture high-society soirées with a healthy dose of intellectual discourse – the perfect blend of gossip and groundbreaking ideas.

MONEY AND FAME: On his father's death in 1827, Babbage inherited a large estate (value around £100,000, equivalent to £8.72 million or $11.1 million today), making him independently wealthy However, Babbage's personal finances fluctuated throughout his life due to his various projects and investments. Despite government funding for his inventions, Babbage never achieved significant financial success. 

His fame grew posthumously with the recognition of his groundbreaking ideas.

FOOD AND DRINK: Babbage was known to enjoy fine dining and appreciated good wine.

MUSIC AND ARTS: While he had a keen interest in the arts, Babbage's primary focus remained on mathematics and engineering.

Babbage hated all forms of street music, especially organ-grinders and in the 1860s ran a campaign to ban them.

Babbage's inventions had a profound impact on the development of modern technology, which in turn has influenced various art forms.

LITERATURE: Babbage had a love for literature, particularly scientific and mathematical works.

Babbage himself wrote several books on mathematics and economics. His book Economy of Machines and Manufactures (1832) initiated the field of study known today as operational research. 

NATURE: He had a fascination with the natural world, often drawing inspiration from it for his inventions.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Apart from his work, Babbage enjoyed long walks and horseback riding.

Babbage wasn't all gears and equations lost two games of chess to a supposed automaton called the Mechanical Turk. We now know it was a hoax, a clever contraption with a human player cleverly hidden inside. But for Babbage, it was a spark of inspiration, a testament to the (slightly dubious) possibility of machine intelligence. 

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Babbage's greatest contributions were in the fields of science and mathematics, particularly in the development of computing technology.

Charles Babbage couldn't stand the sloppy way humans were churning out mathematical tables. Errors littered the things like confetti after a particularly enthusiastic party. So, ever the resourceful chap, Babbage decided to yank the whole error-prone business away from us squishy-brained mortals and hand it over to the glorious certainty of machinery.

In 1822, he started peppering folks like Sir Humphrey Davy with letters outlining his grand plan for a calculating engine – a mechanical marvel that would crank out numbers with the kind of precision a human calculator could only dream of (and probably wake up in a cold sweat about). This wasn't some abacus on steroids, mind you. This was a full-blown, difference engine, an automatic, metal-toothed beast designed to tackle polynomial functions with the enthusiasm of a bulldog chasing sausages.

He unveiled the whole contraption, powered by a good old-fashioned crank and fueled by the decimal system, in a paper presented to the Royal Astronomical Society with a title as dry as week-old toast: "Note on the application of machinery to the computation of astronomical and mathematical tables." Not exactly a chart-topper, but then again, Babbage wasn't exactly aiming for the pop charts. He was after accuracy, my friends, accuracy!

But Babbage, ever the restless innovator, wasn't content to stop there. He dreamt of an Analytical Engine, a mechanical computer, if you will, that could handle the most complex calculations with the nonchalance of a virtuoso pianist tickling the ivories. This marvel was supposed to be programmed with punched cards, a far cry from the grueling hand-cranking of the difference engine.

Unfortunately for Babbage, the technology of the time was about as sophisticated as a butter knife. His ideas were light-years ahead, but the means to bring them to life just weren't there. Still, the concepts he laid out became the gospel for future computer geeks, paving the way for the silicon marvels we cuddle in our laps today.

Babbage wasn't all gears and equations. He had a healthy dose of eccentricity thrown in for good measure. There's the story (possibly apocryphal, but undeniably Babbage-esque) of him baking himself in an oven at 265 degrees Fahrenheit for a cool four minutes. Why? Just to see what would happen, of course! And then, as if that wasn't daring enough, he demanded to be lowered into Mount Vesuvius. Talk about a man who embraced the scientific method with gusto!

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Charles Babbage wasn't your average churchgoer. Raised in a strictly Protestant household, he inherited their faith, but with a twist of independent thinking. Doctrines like the Athanasian Creed, with its tangled theology, left him scratching his head. Instead, he found solace in the writings of Samuel Clarke, particularly his clear-eyed exploration of God's nature. This sparked a lifelong fascination with faith for Babbage.

As he matured, the kindness and compassion at the heart of Christianity resonated more with him than theological debates. Even his autobiography delved into religion, proposing three ways to connect with the divine: pure reason, scripture, and observing the wonders of creation. This last point, natural theology, was a big deal for Babbage. He saw the intricate clockwork of the universe as undeniable proof of a grand designer.

Even the thorny issue of miracles didn't faze him. When the famous philosopher David Hume questioned their existence, Babbage pushed back. He argued that our limited human understanding shouldn't discount extraordinary events. Miracles, he reasoned, weren't breaches of natural laws, just events with causes beyond our grasp. In Babbage, we see a fascinating dance between scientific curiosity and a deep-seated faith, a testament to the complexity of reconciling reason and religion.

SCANDAL: Babbage's life was relatively free from scandal, although he did engage in heated disputes with other scientists and scholars over his ideas and inventions.

MILITARY RECORD: Babbage had no notable military record.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: He suffered from various health issues throughout his life, including problems with his digestion and eyesight.

HOMES: Babbage and Georgiana lived at Dudmaston Hall, Shropshire (where Babbage engineered the central heating system), before making a home in Marylebone, London.

TRAVEL: Babbage was a man of intellectual curiosity and sought knowledge throughout Europe. He traveled to places like Italy, Switzerland, and France to learn about the latest advancements in mathematics and mechanical engineering. These travels undoubtedly influenced his own inventions.

DEATH: Charles Babbage died at his home at 1 Dorset Street in Marylebone, London, on October 18, 1871, at the age of 79. He is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery, located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in West London.

Babbage's grave in Kensal Green Cemetery is not very prominent. Visitors need to use a printed map available at the cemetery's office to locate it. The worn name "Charles Babbage, Esq." is barely visible on the front of the tomb1.

Babbage's brain was removed during his autopsy and was not buried with the rest of his body. It was considered too special to be allowed to decompose4. One half is on display at the Science Museum in London, the other half is held at the Hunterian Museum in the Royal College of Surgeons in London

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: The enduring legacy of Charles Babbage and his groundbreaking concepts have led to him being featured in various media formats. Documentaries exploring the history of computing often include him as a pivotal figure. Several biographies detail his life and accomplishments. His visionary ideas have even inspired fictional portrayals in literature and film.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Charles Babbage is widely considered the "Father of the Computer" due to his design of the Analytical Engine, a mechanical computer that could be programmed to perform complex calculations. Though never fully completed in his lifetime, the concepts behind it laid the foundation for the development of modern computers.

Despite his significant contributions to the field of computing, Babbage had declined both a knighthood and a baronetcy during his lifetime.

Beyond computing, Babbage's inventions like the Difference Engine, a machine for calculating mathematical tables, had a significant impact on various scientific fields.

His contributions extended beyond specific inventions. Babbage advocated for scientific research and collaboration, influencing the scientific landscape of his era.

Source (1) Public Domain Review

Gladys Aylward

NAME: Gladys Aylward

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Gladys Aylward is famous for her courageous missionary work in China, particularly her efforts to rescue orphaned children during the tumultuous years of the Chinese Civil War and World War II.

BIRTH: Gladys Aylward was born on February 24, 1902, in Edmonton, London, England.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: She was born into a working-class family, the daughter of Thomas John Aylward, a postman and Rosina Florence.

CHILDHOOD: Aylward's childhood was marked by poverty and hardship, but she demonstrated a strong sense of determination and compassion from a young age.

EDUCATION: She received a basic education but left school at the age of 14 to work as a domestic servant.

CAREER RECORD: Aylward's career was defined by her missionary work in China, where she served as a Christian evangelist and humanitarian.

Worked various jobs in England before feeling called to missionary work in China.

Arrived in China in 1932 and established a small inn in Yangcheng.

Fought against the practice of foot binding and rescued young girls.

Became a warden for a children's home and later opened her own orphanage.

Led hundreds of orphans on a perilous escape from Japanese forces during World War II.

Continued her humanitarian work in China and Taiwan after the war.

APPEARANCE: She was of average height with a plain, unassuming appearance that belied her inner strength and resilience.

Gladys Aylward in China

FASHION: Aylward dressed modestly and practically, often wearing simple clothing suitable for her missionary work in rural China.

CHARACTER: She was known for her unwavering faith, compassion, and determination in the face of adversity.

SPEAKING VOICE Gladys Aylward had a distinctive and compelling British accent with a warm, earnest, and somewhat unpolished tone that reflects her working-class London origins and her passionate missionary spirit. She spoke with clear conviction and an engaging storytelling style, often with emotional emphasis, which held listeners spellbound during her talks and sermons. 

SENSE OF HUMOUR: Aylward had a dry sense of humor and a quick wit, which she often used to diffuse tense situations or bring joy to others.

Her humor was often marked by self-deprecation and a wry acknowledgment of her unusual circumstances. For instance, she recounted how, after tirelessly trying to persuade friends, family, and even strangers that they should go to China as missionaries, none took her seriously. She humorously reflected on how people thought she was "a bit funny in my head" for her persistence. Her own sister even joked to an aunt, "Aunt Nell, be very careful. If our Glad knocks at your door, don't open it because you might find yourself on the way to China before long." Gladys herself admitted, "Well, perhaps I was [a bit funny]. After all, it was a queer idea, wasn't it, running around, trying to push somebody off to a place you didn't know anything about, to do something you didn't know anything about, to a people who you also didn't know anything about? Yes, it was. Well, all right."

RELATIONSHIPS: Although unmarried, Aylward formed close bonds with the Chinese people she served, particularly the orphaned children under her care.

MONEY AND FAME: She lived a modest and frugal life, prioritizing her missionary work and the welfare of others over personal wealth or fame.

Aylward gained international recognition after the publication of her biography, The Small Woman.

FOOD AND DRINK: Aylward embraced the local cuisine of China, often eating simple meals of rice, vegetables, and tea with the people she served.

MUSIC AND ARTS: While not particularly interested in music and arts herself, Aylward used creative methods such as storytelling and drama to share her message of faith with the Chinese people.

LITERATURE: She read extensively, particularly Christian books. Aylward valued the Bible as her primary source of inspiration and guidance, often quoting scripture in her teachings and writings.

NATURE: Aylward appreciated the beauty of the natural world, finding solace and inspiration in the rugged landscapes of rural China, particularly its mountains..

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Her main hobbies included reading, gardening, and spending time with the children under her care.

SCIENCE AND MATHS: Although not formally educated in science and math, Aylward had a practical understanding of these subjects gained through her experiences as a missionary.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Her life was guided by her Christian faith. She believed in the power of faith, love, compassion, and service to others.

Stuck in domestic service at a young age, Gladys Aylward dreamt of faraway lands and spreading the good word. She studied with great determination in order to be fitted for the role, only to be turned down by the China Inland Mission because her academic background was inadequate.

Gladys scraped together every penny, booked a one-way ticket to China (no refunds!), and ended up partnering with a formidable Scottish missionary named Mrs. Jeannie Lawson. Together, they opened The Inn of the Eight Happinesses in a remote outpost at Yangcheng – not exactly a catchy name, but hey, it had a roof and four walls, which was more than most folks in Yangcheng could boast.  There, she and Mrs. Lawson not only provided hospitality for travelers but would also share stories about Jesus.

Gladys became a crusader against the barbaric practice of foot binding, stomping around like a one-woman podiatry police force. She took in orphans faster than a bakery sells doughnuts on Saturday morning, even adopting a few herself.  There were prison riots she intervened in. She risked her life many times to help those in need.

By the time 1949 rolled around, China wasn't exactly the picture of tranquility. Communists were about as keen on missionaries as a fly in your soup, so Gladys, headed back to Blighty. After her mum passed away, she settled in Taiwan and guess what? Yep, you guessed it – another orphanage! The Gladys Aylward Orphanage, to be precise. There she stayed, spreading kindness and Christianity until the good Lord himself called her home.

SCANDAL: There were no scandals associated with Aylward's life; she was widely admired for her selflessness and dedication to humanitarian causes.

MILITARY RECORD: Aylward was not involved in military service but played a crucial role in evacuating orphaned children from war-torn regions during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

In 1938, the region Aylward was serving in was invaded by Japanese forces. Most folks would've hightailed it outta there faster than you can say "banzai," but Gladys? She wasn't about to abandon her orphans. So, she led more than 100 of them over treacherous mountain passes, all while nursing a war wound that would make lesser folks cry like a toddler separated from their blankie.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Despite facing numerous challenges and hardships, Aylward maintained good health and physical fitness well into her later years.

HOMES: She lived in various locations throughout China during her missionary work, often in simple accommodations provided by local communities. They included Yangcheng, Taiyuan, and Yanan, where she established orphanages. 

TRAVEL: Aylward traveled extensively throughout China, often on foot or by mule, as she carried out her missionary work in remote villages and regions.

DEATH: Gladys Aylward passed away in Taipei, Taiwan, on January 3, 1970, at the age of 67. While influenza is often cited as the cause of her death, some sources indicate pneumonia.

Aylward was laid to rest in a serene cemetery on the campus of Christ's College in Guandu, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Her grave, located on the edge of a steep hill alongside the graves of the college's founder and other significant figures, provides a peaceful haven amidst the bustling metropolis. The area is lush with vegetation, creating a tranquil oasis. Her gravestone, inscribed in both English and Chinese, bears the following:

"MISS GLADYS AYLWARD

MISSIONARY (1902-1970)

Born on the Twenty-Fourth of February, Nineteen Hundred and Two in London, England

She came to China in Nineteen Hundred and Thirty to preach the Gospel, in response to the Lord's call:

And became a citizen of the Republic of China in Nineteen Hundred and Forty-one

She was laid to rest in the Lord, at Taipei, Taiwan, on the Second Day of January, Nineteen Hundred and Seventy

'Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit'. John 12:24"

Gladys Aylward's passing was deeply mourned worldwide. Memorial services were held across the globe to commemorate her extraordinary life and dedicated service to others.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA: Gladys Aylward's story captured the hearts and imaginations of many. Here are some key appearances in media:

The book The Small Woman by Alan Burgess, published in 1957, detailed her extraordinary life. This biography became a bestseller and brought international recognition to Aylward's work.

The 1958 film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness starring Ingrid Bergman was based on Burgess's biography. The film further popularized Aylward's story and legacy.

In addition several documentaries have been produced about her life and humanitarian efforts.

ACHIEVEMENTS: Gladys Aylward's achievements transcended geographical boundaries:

Rescuing Orphans: During wartime, she led hundreds of orphans on a daring escape, saving them from potential harm. Her orphanages throughout China provided a safe haven for countless children.

Championing Social Change: Her unwavering opposition to the cruel practice of foot binding empowered women and girls. She fought for their rights and well-being.

Cross-Cultural Understanding: Aylward embraced Chinese culture, learned the language, and dressed modestly. This dedication fostered trust and respect, allowing her to connect deeply with the people she helped.

Symbol of Courage and Faith: Her unwavering belief in God and her remarkable courage in the face of adversity continue to inspire people worldwide.

Source (1) Sermonindex.net

Gene Autry

NAME: Gene Autry

WHAT FAMOUS FOR: Gene Autry is famous for his contributions to American popular culture as a singer, songwriter, actor, and iconic cowboy entertainer.

BIRTH: Gene Autry was born on September 29, 1907, near Tioga, Texas, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND: He was born into a middle-class family, the son of Delbert Autry and Elnora Ozment.

CHILDHOOD: Autry spent his early years on his family's farm, where he developed a love for music and horses. He learned the guitar and sang in his grandfather's church choir. Young Gene toured with a medicine show during his high school years.

EDUCATION: He attended public schools in Texas but left formal education at a young age to help support his family.

CAREER RECORD: Gene Autry had a prolific career spanning several decades, during which he achieved success as a recording artist, radio star, film actor, and television personality.

After high school, Gene Autry worked as a telegrapher for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad in Oklahoma and performed as a singer and a guitarist at local dances before being discovered by Will Rodgers.

Starred in 93 Western films between 1934 and 1953.

Hosted the popular television series The Gene Autry Show from 1950 to 1956.

Owned several radio and television stations.

Founding owner of the California Angels baseball team (now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim).

APPEARANCE: He was tall and lean, with rugged good looks that epitomized the image of the American cowboy.

Autry in the 1940s

FASHION: Autry was known for his signature cowboy attire, often seen wearing a Stetson hat, boots, and a Western-style shirt and jeans.

CHARACTER: He was known for his humility, integrity, and generosity, traits that endeared him to fans and colleagues alike.

SPEAKING VOICE  Born and raised in Texas, Autry’s voice carried a gentle Southwestern American accent. However, it was not heavily regional or rural; instead, it was accessible and easy for a national audience to understand, which contributed to his broad appeal.

His delivery was natural and unforced, often described as sincere and reassuring. This directness helped establish his character as reliable and morally upright, both in his roles and in public life

SENSE OF HUMOUR: Autry was known for his dry wit and ability to deliver comedic lines in his films, often with his sidekick Smiley Burnette.

He frequently used humor to poke fun at himself, the entertainment industry, and cowboy stereotypes. Here are some notable examples:

“I'm not a good actor, a good rider or a particularly good singer, but they seem to like what I do, so I'll keep on doing it as long as they want.”

“It occurs to me that music, with the possible exception of riding a bull, is the most uncertain way to make a living I know. In either case you can get bucked off, thrown, stepped on, trampled--if you get on at all. At best, it is a short and bumpy ride.”

"I couldn't shoot a man in the back. I couldn't take a drink at a bar. They would have run me out of town.” (1)

RELATIONSHIPS: Gene Autry met Ina Mae Spivey in Springfield, Missouri, and quickly formed a close bond. They married Ina Mae Spivey on April 1, 1932, in St. Louis, Missouri. The wedding was sudden and unexpected-so much so that friends and family initially thought it was an April Fool’s joke.

Their marriage lasted 48 years, until Ina’s death in 1980. Ina was a supportive partner, credited with encouraging Gene’s career moves, including his leap to Hollywood and his recording of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The couple had no children but often cared for Gene’s siblings after his mother’s death. Ina was known for her grace, intelligence, and steadfast support throughout Gene’s multifaceted career. (2)

Gene Autry and Jacqueline Evelyn Ellam (known as Jackie Autry) were married in a quick, quiet, and small wedding ceremony at the First United Methodist Church in Burbank, California on July 19, 1981. The nuptials was attended by close friends including Pat Buttram, and the Reverend Larry Stamper performed the wedding. The ceremony took place after a period of courtship that began following Ina’s passing in 1980.

Jackie was a successful banker when she met Gene through business dealings in Palm Springs, California. Their relationship deepened after they reconnected at a holiday fundraiser in December 1980. Jackie and Gene shared 17 years of marriage until his death in 1998. Jackie became a prominent businesswoman and philanthropist, co-founding the Autry Museum of the American West and serving as Honorary American League President. She was a visible and active partner in Gene’s later life and legacy. (2)

Gene and Jackie Autry source Gene Autry.com

He had no children of his own but had a close relationship with his stepchildren.

MONEY AND FAME: Autry achieved significant wealth and fame throughout his career, becoming one of the wealthiest and most successful entertainers of his time. 

Beyond the glitz and the twang, Autry was a shrewd businessman. Radio stations? Check. Television stations? Double-check. Properties from Palm Springs to San Francisco? You betcha. Heck, the man even owned the Los Angeles Angels (later the California Angels) for a good chunk of the 20th century. 

He ranked for many years on the Forbes magazine list of the 400 richest Americans.

FOOD AND DRINK: He enjoyed simple, hearty meals typical of American cuisine, often preferring home-cooked meals over extravagant fare.

MUSIC AND ARTS: Autry was passionate about music, particularly country and western styles. He played guitar and yodelled in his signature style.

There he was, tapping out telegrams for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad by day, then serenading locals with his guitar by night. Imagine that – the dulcet tones of a future singing cowboy echoing through a dusty telegraph office. Well, one night, destiny – or maybe just boredom – decided to intervene. In waltzes Will Rogers, American humorist extraordinaire. Catches Autry warbling away, likes what he hears, and delivers the golden ticket: "You, son, got yourself a decent voice. Go pro." And pro Gene Autry went, transforming himself into "The Singing Cowboy."

Hollywood, 1934. Autry rocks up, all wide-eyed and bushy-tailed. Couldn't act, couldn't ride, couldn't rope a steer to save his life. Didn't matter a hoot. Within a few years, he's the biggest cowboy star on the silver screen. Talk about raw charisma. Debuts in Ken Maynard's forgettable flick, In Old Santa Fe, then tackles a 13-part serial so outlandish it makes your head spin, The Phantom Empire. Republic Pictures throws a contract his way, and bam! Autry's churning out westerns like a well-oiled Gatling gun.

Then there's "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." You know it, you love it. But here's the kicker: this holiday classic wasn't even written for Christmas! Hatched in Chicago for a Montgomery Ward promotion, the lyrics started life as a poem before Gene Autry finally wrangled it into a hit song in 1949.

Originally penned by Ray Whitley, a singing cowboy in his own right, "Back In The Saddle Again" hit the dusty trail in the 1938 flick Border G-Man. Whitley, along with his posse, The Six Bar Cowboys, introduced the song, its lyrics yearning for a return to the wide-open range.

Well, that yearning must have struck a chord with Gene Autry, a man who practically lived on horseback. He snatched up the song, seein' it as the perfect anthem for his next picture, Rovin' Tumbleweeds (1939). After a bit of wranglin' – some retooling by Whitley and Autry – the song became a runaway hit, a gold record to boot. The tune was so darn catchy, it became a constant companion: theme song for his radio show Gene Autry's Melody Ranch, later finding a home on his television show too, The Gene Autry Show. Heck, it even wrangled the title spot for his 1941 film, Back in the Saddle.

LITERATURE: While not known for literary pursuits, Autry's songs and films often drew inspiration from American folklore and storytelling traditions.

NATURE: He had a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the American West, often incorporating scenes of wilderness and outdoor adventure into his work.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS: Autry was an avid horseman and enjoyed participating in rodeos and equestrian events in his spare time. He also known to be an avid golfer.

Gene Autry owned the Los Angeles Angels American League baseball club from 1961 to 1997. Sadly, he never saw them snag a World Series win, though they did retire his number 26 – a fitting tribute to a true American legend. When the Angels finally won their first World Series championship in 2002, star outfielder Tim Salmon held Autry's cowboy hat aloft during the on-field celebration, and the public address system played, "Back in the Saddle Again".

SCIENCE AND MATHS: While not formally educated in science and mathematics, Autry had a practical understanding of these subjects gained through his experiences on the ranch.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY: Autry's philosophy was rooted in the values of hard work, perseverance, and integrity, reflecting the ethos of the American frontier.

His grandfather was a Methodist preacher, but his personal beliefs are not widely known.

SCANDAL: Autry maintained a clean public image throughout his career, avoiding scandal or controversy.

MILITARY RECORD: He served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, entertaining troops and participating in morale-boosting efforts.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS: Autry maintained good health throughout much of his life, owing in part to his active lifestyle and outdoor pursuits.

HOMES: He owned several properties throughout his life, including a ranch in California and a home in Palm Springs.

TRAVEL: Filming his Western movies took Autry to various locations across the United States, particularly in the West and making occasional trips abroad.. Promotions, recording sessions, and rodeo appearances might have involved additional travel.

DEATH: Gene Autry passed away on October 2, 1998, at his home in Studio City, California. The cause of death was complications from lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Gene Autry's legacy is heavily tied to his media appearances. Here's a breakdown:

Films: The quintessential "singing cowboy," Autry starred in a staggering 93 Western films between 1934 and 1953. These movies were immensely popular and helped shape the genre.

Television: Capitalizing on his film success, Autry hosted the popular children's television series The Gene Autry Show from 1950 to 1956. The show further solidified his image as a wholesome Western hero.

Recordings: A prolific recording artist, Autry released numerous songs and albums throughout his career. His music, often featuring his signature yodeling, played a significant role in the early development of country music.

ACHIEVEMENTS Gene Autry's accomplishments transcended film and music. He is the only entertainer to have been honored in all five categories by the Hollywood Walk of Fame, having been awarded stars for his performances in films, music recording, radio, television, and live theater. Here are some highlights:

Music Industry Recognition: He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a prestigious honor in the music industry.

Country Music Recognition: The Academy of Country Music Awards honored him with the Cliffie Stone Icon Award, solidifying his place as a legend in country music.

Preserving Western Heritage: Passionate about Western culture, Autry founded the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum (now known as the Autry Museum of the American West). This museum preserves and showcases the history of the American West.

Shaping a Genre: Through his films and music, Autry played a pivotal role in shaping the Western genre, leaving a lasting impact on American popular culture.

Sources (1) IMDB (2) Gene Autry.com