March 30th Through History

Explanation: The purchase of Alaska for 7.2 million dollars was long mocked under the nickname of "Seward's Folly", named after Secretary of State William Seward who signed the agreement. Today, Alaska is the largest state in the United States and contains immense natural resources, particularly oil.

Explanation: The Sicilian Vespers was a popular uprising against the rule of the Angevins (the French dynasty of Anjou) which began in Palermo at vespers on Easter Monday. About 8,000 French were massacred. This event notably inspired an opera by Giuseppe Verdi entitled "Les Vêpres siciliennes" (1855).

Explanation: Vincent van Gogh was born in Zundert in the Netherlands and died in Auvers-sur-Oise in France at the age of 37. He sold only one painting during his lifetime. Today, his works are among the most expensive in the world. His painting "The Sunflowers" was sold for 22.5 million pounds sterling at Christie's in London on 30 March 1987, on the very day of his birthday.

Explanation: Ieoh Ming Pei, known as I.M. Pei, was a Chinese-American architect born in China in 1917 and who died in 2019 at the age of 102. His glass and steel pyramid in the heart of the Cour Napoléon of the Louvre was very controversial when it was designed, but has now become an iconic symbol of Paris. It is composed of 673 diamonds and 70 triangles in glass.

Explanation: It was from 1349, following the sale of the Dauphiné to France by Humbert II, that the direct heirs to the throne of France received the title of "Dauphin". This title was notably borne by the future Louis XVI or by the son of Napoleon I. The last Dauphin was Louis, son of Charles X, who abdicated in 1830.

Explanation: Eric Clapton, nicknamed "Slowhand", is considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He was a member of legendary groups such as The Yardbirds, Cream and Blind Faith, before pursuing a brilliant solo career. His song "Tears in Heaven" (1992) was written in tribute to his deceased son. He is the only musician to have been inducted three times into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Explanation: John Hinckley Jr. fired six shots at Ronald Reagan in Washington D.C., also wounding press secretary James Brady, a Secret Service agent and a police officer. Hinckley claimed to have acted to impress actress Jodie Foster, with whom he was obsessed. Reagan survived and recovered from his wounds. Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Explanation: The Treaty of Paris of 30 March 1856 ended the Crimean War (1853-1856) which pitted Russia against a coalition formed by the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Sardinia. This treaty neutralised the Black Sea, protected the Ottoman Empire and forced Russia to cede the mouths of the Danube. Florence Nightingale distinguished herself during this war by reforming military nursing care.

Explanation: IKEA was founded in Sweden by Ingvar Kamprad in 1943, when he was only 17 years old. The name IKEA is an acronym made up of his initials (I.K.), the name of his family farm Elmtaryd (E) and his native village Agunnaryd (A). The headquarters are now in the Netherlands. IKEA has become the largest furniture retailer in the world with more than 400 stores in some fifty countries.

Explanation: Paul Verlaine is one of the most important Symbolist poets of the 19th century. He is notably famous for his collection "Romances sans paroles" (1874) and for his tumultuous relationship with Arthur Rimbaud, whom he wounded with a pistol shot in Brussels in 1873. His poem "Il pleure dans mon cœur" and his art of musicality have made him one of the masters of modern French poetry.