Patrick Francis Healy (February 27, 1834 – January 10, 1910) was an
American Catholic priest and Jesuit. While Healy was one-sixteenth black
and considered himself to be white, he was posthumously recognized as
the first black American to become a Jesuit, to earn a PhD, and to
become the president of a predominantly white university. Born in
Georgia, Healy was legally considered a slave by birth and was sent
north by his father to be educated alongside his brothers. After
studying in Massachusetts, Healy entered the Society of Jesus and
eventually earned his doctorate in Belgium. Healy was named the chair of
philosophy at Georgetown University in 1866 and became its president in
1873. He aimed to transform the institution into a modern university by
expanding courses in the sciences, raising standards at the medical
school, and growing the law school. He also had constructed the
university's flagship building, Healy Hall. For this, he became known as
Georgetown's "second founder".
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Francis_Healy>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1560:
The Treaty of Berwick was signed, setting the terms under which
an English fleet and army could enter Scotland to expel French troops
defending the Regency of Mary of Guise (pictured).
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Berwick_%281560%29>
1962:
Two dissident Republic of Vietnam Air Force pilots bombed the
Independence Palace in Saigon in a failed attempt to assassinate
President Ngo Dinh Diem.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_South_Vietnamese_Independence_Palace_bombing>
1982:
The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, known for its performances of
Gilbert and Sullivan's Savoy operas, gave its final performance.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27Oyly_Carte_Opera_Company>
2002:
Violent riots, perceived to have been instigated by a train
fire that killed 59 Hindu pilgrims, broke out in the Indian state of
Gujarat, killing at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, over three days.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godhra_train_burning>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
pronoia:
1. (philosophy, theology) Divine providence, foreknowledge, foresight.
2. (historical, Byzantine Empire) An imperial grant to an individual of
temporary fiscal rights in the form of land, incomes or taxes from land,
fishing rights, etc., sometimes carrying with it an obligation of
military service. […]
3. (psychology) A belief (sometimes regarded as irrational) that people
conspire to do one good.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/pronoia>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
We aren’t going to lay down weapons. We will protect the
country ... Our weapon is our truth, and our truth is that it's our
land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that.
--Volodymyr Zelenskyy
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Volodymyr_Zelenskyy>