Oswald Watt (1878–1921) was an Australian aviator and businessman. He was born in England and came to Sydney when he was a year old, returning to England for his education. In 1900 he went back to Australia and enlisted in the Militia, before acquiring cattle stations in New South Wales and Queensland. He was also a partner in the family shipping firm. Becoming in 1911 the first Australian to qualify for a Royal Aero Club flying certificate, Watt joined the French Foreign Legion as a pilot on the outbreak of World War I. He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) in 1916, quickly progressing to become commanding officer of No. 2 Squadron on the Western Front. By February 1918, he had been promoted to lieutenant colonel and taken command of the AFC's 1st Training Wing in England. A recipient of France's Legion of Honour and Croix de Guerre, Watt was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1919. He left the military to pursue business interests in Australia. In 1921, he drowned at Bilgola Beach, New South Wales. He is commemorated by the Oswald Watt Gold Medal for outstanding achievement in Australian aviation, and the Oswald Watt Fund at the University of Sydney.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1620:

The Mayflower Pilgrims landed at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts, establishing the Plymouth Colony. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Colony

1879:

A Doll's House, a controversial play by Henrik Ibsen that challenged 19th century marriage norms, premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Doll%27s_House

1919:

After serving two years in prison for encouraging people to resist military conscription, anarchist Emma Goldman was deported from the United States to Russia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Goldman

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

1988:

A total of 270 people were killed when a bomb on board Pan Am Flight 103 exploded while the plane was in flight over Lockerbie, Scotland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_Am_Flight_103

_____________________________ 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:

Finally we shall place the Sun himself at the center of the Universe. All this is suggested by the systematic procession of events and the harmony of the whole Universe, if only we face the facts, as they say, "with both eyes open."   --Nicolaus Copernicus https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Copernicus