George Formby (1904–1961) was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian. On stage, screen and record he sang light, comical songs, usually playing the ukulele or banjolele, and became the UK's highest- paid entertainer. After an early career as a stable boy and jockey, Formby took to the music hall stage after the early death of his father in 1921. In 1923 he purchased a ukulele, and married Beryl Ingham, a fellow-performer who became his manager. She insisted that he appear on stage formally dressed, and introduced the ukulele to his performance. He started his recording career in 1926 and, from 1934, he increasingly worked in film to develop into a major star. During the Second World War, Formby entertained civilians and troops (pictured in France), and by 1946 it was estimated that he had performed in front of three million service personnel. After the war his career declined, although he toured the Commonwealth, and continued to appear in variety and pantomime. Formby was considered Britain's first properly home-grown screen comedian. He was an influence on future comedians—particularly Charlie Drake and Norman Wisdom—and, culturally, on entertainers such as the Beatles.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Formby

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1176:

Byzantine–Seljuk wars: The Seljuk Turks prevented the Byzantines from taking the interior of Anatolia at the Battle of Myriokephalon in Phrygia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Myriokephalon

1716:

French soldier Jean Thurel enlisted in the Régiment de Touraine at the age of 17, beginning a career of military service that would span 90 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Thurel

1849:

American slave Harriet Tubman escaped; she would become famous for orchestrating the rescues of more than 70 other slaves via the "Underground Railroad". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Tubman

1914:

Andrew Fisher, whose previous term as Prime Minister of Australia oversaw a period of reform unmatched in the Commonwealth until the 1940s, became Prime Minister for the third time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Fisher

1939:

World War II: The Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east, sixteen days after Nazi Germany's attack on that country from the west. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_invasion_of_Poland

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

rapine: The seizure of someone's property by force; plunder. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rapine

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

You know, that's the first thing that got me about this place, that there wasn't anybody laughing. I haven't heard a real laugh since I came through that door, do you know that? Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing.   --Ken Kesey https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ken_Kesey