1741day.year
George Frideric Handel completes his oratorio Messiah.
In 1741, George Frideric Handel completed his renowned oratorio Messiah, a seminal work in Baroque choral music.
George Frideric Handel composed Messiah in just 24 days during a creative period in Dublin.
The oratorio blends scriptural texts with majestic choruses like the famous "Hallelujah".
It premiered on April 13, 1742, to great acclaim and has since become a staple of choral repertoire.
Handel's masterful orchestration and dramatic pacing revolutionized the genre.
Messiah's enduring popularity has inspired countless performances and recordings worldwide.
This completion marked a high point in Handel's career, cementing his legacy in Western music.
1741
George Frideric Handel
Messiah
1814day.year
Battle of Baltimore: The poem Defence of Fort McHenry is written by Francis Scott Key. The poem is later used as the lyrics of The Star-Spangled Banner.
During the Battle of Baltimore in 1814, Francis Scott Key penned "Defence of Fort McHenry", later becoming the lyrics of the U.S. national anthem.
Francis Scott Key witnessed the British naval bombardment of Fort McHenry from a ship in Baltimore Harbor.
Inspired by the sight of the American flag still flying at dawn, he wrote a poem that evening.
Titled "Defence of Fort McHenry", it captured the resilience of American defenders.
The verses were quickly printed in newspapers and set to the tune of a popular British song.
By 1931, Congress officially adopted it as The Star-Spangled Banner.
Key's words have since echoed as a tribute to national endurance and freedom.
1814
Battle of Baltimore
Francis Scott Key
The Star-Spangled Banner
1975day.year
The first American saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, is canonized by Pope Paul VI.
Elizabeth Ann Seton became the first native-born American saint when she was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1975.
Elizabeth Ann Seton was canonized by Pope Paul VI on September 14, 1975, becoming the first native-born American saint in the Catholic Church. Born in 1774, she founded the Sisters of Charity and pioneered Catholic education and social services in the young United States. Her dedication to caring for orphans, the sick, and the poor established enduring charitable institutions. Seton's spiritual writings and leadership inspired generations of educators and nuns across America. Her canonization recognized not only her personal holiness but also the growing importance of Catholicism in American society.
1975
Elizabeth Ann Seton
Pope Paul VI