Sir James McCay (1864–1930) was an Australian general and politician. As a member of the Victorian Parliament (1895–99), he championed federation and women's suffrage. He became a member of the first Australian Federal Parliament in 1901 and was Minister for Defence (1904–05), where his long-lasting reforms included creating the Military Board. In World War I, McCay commanded the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the Australian Army in the landing at Anzac Cove, during the Gallipoli Campaign. He was later wounded in the Second Battle of Krithia and sent home, but returned to command the 5th Division, which he led in the Battle of Fromelles in 1916, dubbed "the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history". His failures in difficult military operations made him a controversial figure who earned the disfavour of his superiors, and his efforts to succeed in the face of insurmountable obstacles earned him the odium of troops under his command, who blamed him for high casualties. After the war, McCay resumed his old job as Deputy Chairman of the State Bank of Victoria; his other public roles included commanding the Special Constabulary Force during the 1923 Victorian Police strike.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Whiteside_McCay
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1826:
American settlers in Mexican Texas made the first attempt to secede from Mexico, establishing the short-lived Republic of Fredonia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredonian_Rebellion
1844:
The Rochdale Pioneers, usually considered the first successful co-operative enterprise, opened their store in Rochdale, England, and formed the basis for the modern co-operative movement. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_cooperative_movement
1923:
Nepal and the United Kingdom signed a treaty, the first to define the international status of Nepal as an independent and a sovereign nation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal%E2%80%93Britain_Treaty_of_1923
1965:
The United Nations adopted the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which 87 member nations have since signed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Convention_on_the_Elimination_of_All_Forms_of_Racial_Discrimination
1994:
Mexico's Popocatépetl volcano, dormant for 47 years, began erupting, and is now the nation's most active volcano. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Popocat%C3%A9petl
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
solstitial: 1. Pertaining to a solstice: a solstitial point, the solstitial meridian plane, avenues with a solstitial orientation. 2. Occurring on a solstice: the solstitial half-moon, a solstitial event. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/solstitial
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
The light Begin to bleed, Begin to breathe, Begin to speak. D'you know what? I love you better now. --Kate Bush https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kate_Bush
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