On This Day
1841 – William Henry Harrison dies of pneumonia, becoming the first US President to die in office and setting the record for the briefest administration.
More at: History
HistoryWow’s Quick Shot Videos
A short, sharp hit of history in video format. Acclaimed Irish playwright and novelist Oscar Wilde was the toast of London society in the 1890s until things came decidedly unstuck through an association with a young British aristocrat, Lord Alfred Douglas, known as ‘Bosie’.
The source for this HistoryWow video is: Oscar and Bosie - A Fatal Passion by Trevor Fisher; General Historical Texts.
More Quick Shot Videos on HistoryWow's YouTube Channel: 
Who Am I?
- I was born in Aragon, Spain, in 1746.
- My father was a painter, and I quickly followed his profession, being apprenticed to a local artist aged 14. In 1763 I went to Madrid to study under Francisco Bayeu.
- My career quickly developed and in 1775 I began designing for the Royal Tapestry Factory, followed by being appointed court painter to Charles IV in 1786.
- In the winter of 1792 I became seriously ill and was left totally deaf, which altered my career dramatically. My previous Rococo style was replaced by dark subjects and a more expressionistic emphasis.
- In 1824, I was forced to going into exile due to political upheavals, and I died in France in 1828.
Last week’s answer:
Thomas Pinckney (1750-1828)
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HistoryWow’s Highlighted Historical Quotation
“The magnitude of our city draws the produce of the world into our harbour, so that to the Athenian the fruits of other’s countries are as familiar a luxury as those of his own.”
Thucydides (460-395 BCE), Greek historian, on the ancient city of Athens.Source: The Great Cities in History by John Julius Norwich
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HistoryWow’s Featured Historical Figure of Note
Heraclius (? - 641)Byzantine emperor. The Byzantine (East Roman) Empire was in a state of collapse when Heraclius became emperor in 610. He built up the military and in six years defeated many of his enemies, including the Persians, who had almost captured Byzantine. In the 630s he was unable to stop new invaders, the Arabs.
More at: History
