James Wood Bush (c. 1844 – 1906) was an American Union Navy sailor of British and Native Hawaiian descent. He was among a group of more than one hundred Native Hawaiian and Hawaii-born combatants in the Civil War, at a time when the Kingdom of Hawaii was still an independent nation. Enlisting in the Union Navy in 1864, Bush served as a sailor aboard the USS Vandalia (depiction shown) and the captured Confederate vessel USS Beauregard, which maintained the blockade of the ports of the Confederacy. He was discharged from service in 1865 after an injury, which developed into a chronic condition in later life. Returning to Hawaii in 1877, he worked as a government tax collector and road supervisor for the island of Kauai, where he settled down. After the annexation of Hawaii to the United States, Bush was recognized for his military service, and in 1905 was granted a government pension for the injuries he received in the Navy.

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

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1866:

German composer Max Bruch conducted the premiere of his first violin concerto, which later became his most famous work. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin_Concerto_No._1_%28Bruch%29

1913:

The Woolworth Building in New York City officially opened; at the time, it was the tallest building in the world, with a height of 792 ft (241 m). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolworth_Building

1965:

Cold War: The Dominican Civil War broke out due to tensions following a military coup of the democratically elected government of President Juan Bosch two years earlier. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominican_Civil_War

1990:

The Hubble Space Telescope was launched aboard STS-31 by Space Shuttle Discovery. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubble_Space_Telescope

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

loath: 1. Averse, disinclined; reluctant, unwilling. 2. (obsolete) Angry, hostile. 3. (obsolete) Loathsome, unpleasant. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/loath

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

From all evil against which the law bars you, you should be barred, at an infinite distance, by honour, by conscience, and nobility. Does the law require patriotism, philanthropy, self-abnegation, public service, purity of purpose, devotion to the needs of others who have been placed in the world below you? The law is a great thing, — because men are poor and weak, and bad. And it is great, because where it exists in its strength, no tyrant can be above it. But between you and me there should be no mention of law as the guide of conduct. Speak to me of honour, of duty, and of nobility; and tell me what they require of you.   --Anthony Trollope https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Anthony_Trollope