MEMORIALS AND THINGS OF FAME 

Researched and compiled by Lorie Pierce, lorie@qctonline.com 

January 22, 1781 – The Quebec Gazette

On Thursday the 28th ult., in the morning, a vast body of ice was detached by the flood-tide from the key at Point Levy which had been fast for some days before, in so much that several persons had passed and repassed. This huge body left a large space of clear water before this City, returned with the ebb-tide and was stopped by the said key, which must then have been very strong and well-supported on the sides to resist so mighty a force. Since that time, the icy bridge over the Great River St. Lawrence before Quebec has stood fast, and may probably continue passable till the 20th or perhaps 30th of April next. The most weather-wise and connoisseurs in phenomena are staggered at this event, and the more so as it happened so early in the winter and in such mild weather. 

January 8, 1801 – The Quebec Gazette

Voyage of Discovery

All the papers have spoken of the Voyage of Discovery to be undertaken by the two French ships Naturaliste and Geographe under the command of Capt. Baudin. One of the objects of the expedition is to establish in a positive manner the navigation of New Holland [Australia]. The French Government has adopted all the means in their power to render the voyage useful to natural history, and to the knowledge of the manners of savage life. At the same time, Vaillant, so celebrated for his travels in the interior parts of Africa, will set off to explore new regions. He is to seek for the famous city which is said to be situated in the centre region of the Torrid Zone, and he is to prepare or establish commercial relations with those countries, with which, hitherto, no trade has been carried on but the slave trade. The expenses of his journey are to be defrayed by a company of merchants at Marseilles, called the Society of Interior Africa.

Note from Lorie: The Voyage of Discovery left Le Havre on Oct. 19, 1800, with 22 scientists, including gardeners, mineralogists, botanists, zoologists, geographers and artists aboard the aptly named corvettes, Géographe and Naturaliste. The two ships were packed with equipment. Space was added to accommodate the scientists, live animals and plants by adding an additional deck, as well as reducing the number of guns on the gun deck. A large library was also included, containing botanical and zoological texts, journals of mariners, maps and charts. In the course of its vast itinerary, the Baudin Expedition explored the then-unknown coasts of Nouvelle-Hollande (Australia) and Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania). The scientists amassed extensive collections of Australian fauna and flora, including the first major marine collections from Australian waters. These collections formed the foundations of an incipient understanding of the biodiversity of the newly discovered fifth continent. (Source – Western Australia Museum)

January 12, 1856 – The Morning Chronicle

The father of Gen. Tom Thumb, Mr. Stratton, who resided near Bridgeport, Con., died on Friday evening. His mind had been disordered. It is understood that he had acquired a large fortune by the exhibition of the little general, which will now be divided between the widow, the renowned dwarf, and his two married sisters.

Note from Lorie: Charles Stratton, a.k.a. General Tom Thumb (1838-1883), an American showman noted for his small stature, was the first major attraction promoted by the circus impresario P.T. Barnum. (Source – Encyclopedia Britannica)

 January 15, 1876 – The Morning Chronicle

[Former U.K. Prime Minister Benjamin] Disraeli’s views on woman suffrage have come to light in the following letter written in 1873: “I was much honoured by receiving from your hands the memorial [petition] signed by 11,000 women of England, among them some illustrious names, thanking me for my service in attempting to abolish the anomaly that the Parliamentary franchise attached to a household or property qualifications, when possessed by a woman, should not be exercised, though in all matters of local government, when similarly qualified, she exercises this right. As I believe this anomaly to be injurious to the best interests of the country, I trust to see it removed by the wisdom of Parliament.”

January 14, 1956 – The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph

Quebec Flier Bails Out

Ottawa – Two RCAF fliers bailed out of their crippled CF100 fighter plane after a mid-air crash Friday. The pilot of the second plane got his aircraft home safely despite the fact that part of its tail assembly was sheared away. Using the ejector seat equipment, Flt. Lt. John Kitchen, 33, Calgary-born pilot and his navigator, FO Bill Delorey, 22, Quebec City, blew themselves out of their plane after the collision at 13,000 feet. The plane crashed in a field and burned. They landed safely in a field a few miles south of Carleton Place, Ont. … and were picked up and returned to their Uplands base at Ottawa by an RCAF helicopter.

January 15, 1966 – The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph

Monique Leyrac To Sing In Quebec City Over Weekend

By Florrie McGrath

She had just arrived home from a concert recital in Paris … [when] she stepped into the living room of her Montreal apartment to find a battery of television cameramen waiting to focus a full-length feature about her recent rise to fame on CBC’s “Telescope.” … Miss Leyrac, who last year won over audiences in Poland, Belgium and France, bringing home international awards, is here to perform tonight and Sunday. “Her vitality is amazing. We feel exhausted just following her.” a member of Fletcher Markel’s “Telescope” crew remarked.

Note from Lorie: Singer and actor Monique Leyrac, O.C., C.Q. (1928 – 2019) popularized many songs by French-Canadian composers. Known for “Les lumières de ma ville” (1950), “Anne-Marie” (1954) and “Act of the Heart “(1970), she was a childhood friend of Denise Proulx, and a lifetime friend of Pierre Roche, Charles Aznavour, Félix Leclerc, Fred Mella and Suzanne Avon. (Source – IMDB)

Editor’s note: Articles from the archives are reproduced with the original vocabulary, spelling and punctuation. Explanatory notes may be added.