On this day in 585 BCE the Battle of Halys (hey-lis) came to a quick end when a Solar Eclipse occurred over the battlefield. When the sunny skies suddenly turned dark, the two armies immediately dropped their weapons and came to a truce, ending a five-year-long war. The account was written down by the Greek philosopher and scientist Thales and remains the first ever noted solar eclipse. If you’ve ever witnessed a total solar eclipse in person, they are pretty astounding. If you didn’t know what was happening, you might change your ways also.

Today is the birthday of Irishman Thomas Moore. Today he’s remembered for his poetry, but Moore was a singer-songwriter, actor, and entertainer. Although he was Irish born, he acquired an English accent during his school years and maintained it throughout his life. 

He was not a fan of American politics. His views were validated during his Grand Tour of America and Canada. He toured around performing and had a chance encounter with then-President Thomas Jefferson. A 6’2” Jefferson accidentally mistook a the short-statured Moore for a pre-teen boy. Moore was outraged and glad to leave the capitol for Philadelphia where he was well-known for his melodies and poems. 

After his tour of America and Canada, Moore published Epistles, Odes, and Other Poems, in which he was critical of the American system of slavery. His mocking tone caused quite a stir. One British editor retaliated, giving Moore’s latest work a poor review. Moore was in turn outraged and challenged the editor to a duel.

The duel was halted at the last minute by the police who arrested both men. Out of the almost-duel arose a rumor that Moore’s opponent was given a gun with no ammo. The rumor became a pile on with writers all over England and Ireland taking jabs at Moore. Even Lord Byron took advantage of the moment to make a witty remark about Moore’s manhood. Moore was never able to fully escape the rumor, perhaps because it was an easy way to get him riled up. 

Moore’s most renowned work is certainly his Irish Melodies, which was a revival of many old Irish folk tunes with lyrics or new lyrics. His famous composition “Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms” was written for his young wife, as a way to assure her of his love and devotion.  Ireland generally considers Moore to be the national bard.  

Today is the birthday of Ruby Payne-Scott, Australian radio-physicist. After years of being denied jobs as a woman, she was hired by the Australian government during WWII. Her first assignment was to get the European and American radar systems working. At the time, the machine didn’t work like they were supposed to in Australia. Ruby correctly hypothesized that the South Pacific weather was interfering with the radar readings. Ruby helped tweaking the machines to get them functioning and they were successfully used to detect and track Japanese fighter planes. 

From 1944 until 1951 Ruby Payne-Scott investigated radio emissions from the sun, discovering sunspots and pioneering the field of radiophysics. All the while, she kept her marriage a secret. Married women were not allowed to work in public offices. When the department found out in 1951, Ruby was 5 months pregnant and was not too sore about leaving, excited to become a mother at age 39. 

The rest of Ruby’s life was quiet, though her daughter noted she never lost all the knowledge. Her daughter said that occasionally, as a kid, “you’d ask her a question, a classic childhood question like ‘Why does the sun come up in the morning?’ and my mum would always have a very complicated answer.”

 

Thomas Moore

 

Tis believed that this Harp, which I wake now for thee 

Was a Siren of old, who sung under the sea; 

And who often, at eve, through the bright waters roved, 

To meet, on the green shore, a youth whom she loved. 

 

But she loved him in vain, for he left her to weep, 

And in tears, all the night, her gold tresses to steep, 

Till heaven look'd with pity on true-love so warm, 

And changed to this soft Harp the sea-maiden's form. 

 

Still her bosom rose fair -- still her cheeks smiled the same -- 

While her sea-beauties gracefully form'd the light 

And her hair, as, let loose, o'er her white arm it fell, 

Was changed to bright chords uttering melody's spell.

 

Hence it came, that this soft Harp so long hath been known 

To mingle love's language with sorrow's sad tone; 

Till thou didst divide them, and teach the fond lay 

To speak love when I'm near thee, and grief when away.