Elizabeth Maitland, Duchess of Lauderdale (1626–1698), was a prominent figure amongst 17th-century English and Scottish nobility, known for her beauty, influence and involvement in the politics and arts of her time. Born Elizabeth Murray, she was raised in court circles during the years leading up to the English Civil War and received a well-rounded education from her parents. She had eleven children by her first husband, Lionel Tollemache, five of whom survived to adulthood. Upon her father's death she inherited Ham House – her childhood home – as well as his titles, becoming Countess of Dysart and Lady Huntingtower. During the Interregnum, she was involved with efforts to restore the monarchy. After Lionel's death she married John Maitland, a close advisor to Charles II, bringing her into the heart of politics. She later became Duchess of Lauderdale. During their marriage, they substantially remodelled Ham House, filling it with luxury furnishings and artwork. Elizabeth died there in 1698.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Maitland,_Duchess_of_Lauderdale
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1851:
As part of celebrations marking the separation of Victoria from New South Wales, the inaugural first-class cricket match in Australia began at the Launceston Racecourse in Tasmania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Diemen%27s_Land_v_Port_Phillip,_1851
1976:
The Frente de Liberación Homosexual made their final public appearance, shortly before the group's dissolution due to political repression after the 1976 Argentine coup d'état. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frente_de_Liberaci%C3%B3n_Homosexual
2001:
The computer worm Anna Kournikova, which would affect millions of users worldwide, was released by a 20-year-old Dutch student. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Kournikova_%28computer_virus%29
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
mojibake: (computing) Corrupt characters or letters, especially resulting from being displayed or transferred through an inappropriate character set or encoding. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mojibake
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
Luckdragons are among the strangest animals in Fantastica.… Luckdragons are creatures of air, warmth, and pure joy. Despite their great size, they are as light as a summer cloud, and consequently need no wings for flying. They swim in the air of heaven as fish swim in water. Seen from the earth, they look like slow lightning flashes. The most amazing thing about them is their song. Their voice sounds like the golden note of a large bell, and when they speak softly the bell seems to be ringing in the distance. Anyone who has heard this sound will remember it as long as he lives and tell his grandchildren about it. --The Neverending Story https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Neverending_Story
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