Day Tripping: February 17

Compromise, collaborations, and classics

Welcome to my daily feature where each day on the calendar marks a part of our shared history.

Much Ado About Little

More than a month after the document is signed in Europe, in 1815, President James Madison signs the Senate ratified the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812 after nearly three years of fruitless fighting on both sides.

At the outset of hostilities between British Loyalists and the United States, Thomas Jefferson declared that capturing Canada was simply “a mere matter of marching.” In the end, the treaty returned each combatant of the dispute to their original borders, after needless bloodshed on both sides.

Truth is, it was an ill-advised skirmish right from the start. British were entrenched in a ten year battle with Napolean back in Europe, and while America attempted to remain neutral, they suffered from trade embargos in France.

Can’t We Just Get Along?

Parliament in Britain barely passes a bill to join the European Union in 1972. Known as the European Communities, or Common Market at the time, western economies like France, Italy and West Germany were flourishing, while the English struggled. Prime Minister Edward Heath’s government eeked out an eight-vote majority in favor of membership with Western Europe.

The off and on romance lasted nearly fifty years until Brexit reared its head in the minds of British parliamentarians, finalizing their departure in 2020.

Herbie Moves Out Front

On this day in 1972, total sales of the Volkswagen Beetle pass those of Ford Model T, making the Bug the most successful selling car in history. Commissioned originally in the thirties by Adolph Hitler as “the people’s car”, the tiny rear-engine vehicle is what I like to call a ‘pregnant rollerskate’.

American car lovers so adored The Bug; it even earned a starring role in its own movie. Herbie The Love Bug didn’t need three tries to beat Ferrari.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Henry Ford.

Musical Milestones

1972 — Pink Floyd debuts their new collection of songs to be called Eclipse at the Rainbow Theater in London, one year before the studio release that would become Dark Side Of The Moon.

1973 — British rock band Free perform their last live show in Hollywood, Florida, as Simon Kirke and Paul Rodgers move on with their new band, Bad Company.

Narratives

Volume one of six, The Decline and Fall of Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon, is published in 1776. His historical account of the dynasty is detailed yet widely criticized as a more personal view, comparing much of the story of Rome to his own time in 18th century Britain.

Remembrance

The seventh Prime Minister of Canada and first francophone in that role, Sir Wilfred Laurier died in 1919. He is highly regarded as Canada’s greatest statesman; “Canada is free and freedom is its nationality”.

Even as a Quebecer, he was a staunch supporter of the British Commonwealth, and was knighted by Queen Victoria at her Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

Notable Births

1962 —American actor and a personal favorite, Lou Diamond Phillips. Loved him in the Longmire series.

1963 — A guy by the name of Michael Jordan was born. I’m told he was a pretty good basketball player.

Thanks for taking the time to read this article dedicated to the days of our history. I hope to see you tomorrow for another installment.

K. Barrett Katie Wallace Maria Rattray Joseph M. Learned Maryam Merchant Dr Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, PhD. Terry Trueman Dr Preeti Singh