Mt. Tambora, in Indonesia, began eruptions in 1815 that would continue until 15 July. It was the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history, killing 71,000 people, of whom 11,000-12,000 died as a direct result of the eruptions. The remainder died mostly of starvation and disease brought about by the destruction of agriculture in the area. The original Big Ben was cast in 1858, but it cracked in testing. The Titanic left Southampton in 1912.
Born today: William Hazlitt (1778-1830), Matthew Perry (1794-1858), Max von Sydow (1929), Omar Sharif (1932), Gloria Hunniford (1940), Bunny Wailer (1947) and Brian Setzer (1959).
It is the feast day of William of Occam. I'm sure he was a nice guy and all, but that razor of his wouldn't shave hair off a bowling ball.
