The temperature on September 22, 1909 was between 7.4 °C and 21.7 °C and averaged 15.2 °C. There was 8.9 hours of sunshine (73%). The average windspeed was 3 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the east. Source: KNMI
January 16 » Ernest Shackleton's expedition finds the magnetic South Pole.
March 10 » By signing the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909, Thailand relinquishes its sovereignty over the Malay states of Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis and Terengganu, which become British protectorates.
March 23 » Theodore Roosevelt leaves New York for a post-presidency safari in Africa. The trip is sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution and National Geographic Society.
April 18 » Joan of Arc is beatified in Rome.
August 7 » Alice Huyler Ramsey and three friends become the first women to complete a transcontinental auto trip, taking 59 days to travel from New York, New York to San Francisco, California.
September 23 » The novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra (The Phantom of the Opera), by Gaston Leroux, is published as a serialization in Le Gaulois.
Day of marriage July 20, 1936
The temperature on July 20, 1936 was between 11.9 °C and 20.1 °C and averaged 15.8 °C. There was 0.5 mm of rain during 1.3 hours. There was 10.6 hours of sunshine (66%). The average windspeed was 4 Bft (moderate breeze) and was prevailing from the southwest. Source: KNMI
July 21 » Spanish Civil War: The Central Committee of Antifascist Militias of Catalonia is constituted, establishing an anarcho-syndicalist economy in Catalonia.
August 10 » Spanish Civil War: The Regional Defence Council of Aragon is dissolved by the Spanish Republic.
August 30 » The RMS Queen Mary wins the Blue Riband by setting the fastest transatlantic crossing.
September 9 » The crews of Portuguese Navy frigate NRPAfonso de Albuquerque and destroyer Dão mutinied against the Salazar dictatorship's support of General Franco's coup and declared their solidarity with the Spanish Republic.
September 10 » First World Individual Motorcycle Speedway Championship, Held at London's (England) Wembley Stadium
October 27 » Mrs Wallis Simpson obtains her divorce, which would eventually allow her to marry King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, thus forcing his abdication from the throne.
Day of death January 14, 1940
The temperature on January 14, 1940 was between -4.9 °C and 0.8 °C and averaged -0.7 °C. There was 0.4 mm of rain during 0.1 hours. The average windspeed was 1 Bft (weak wind) and was prevailing from the west-southwest. Source: KNMI
In The Netherlands , there was from August 10, 1939 to September 3, 1940 the cabinet De Geer II, with Jonkheer mr. D.J. de Geer (CHU) as prime minister.
In The Netherlands , there was from September 3, 1940 to July 27, 1941 the cabinet Gerbrandy I, with Prof. dr. P.S. Gerbrandy (ARP) as prime minister.
February 16 » World War II: Altmark incident: The German tanker Altmark is boarded by sailors from the British destroyer HMSCossack. 299 British prisoners are freed.
May 24 » Acting on the orders of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, NKVD agent Iosif Grigulevich orchestrates an unsuccessful assassination attempt on exiled Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky in Coyoacán, Mexico.
June 14 » The Soviet Union presents an ultimatum to Lithuania resulting in Lithuanian loss of independence.
June 18 » The "Finest Hour" speech is delivered by Winston Churchill.
September 15 » World War II: The climax of the Battle of Britain, when the Royal Air Force shoots down large numbers of Luftwaffe aircraft.
November 18 » World War II: German leader Adolf Hitler and Italian Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano meet to discuss Benito Mussolini's disastrous Italian invasion of Greece.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: James Downs, "Downs Tree", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/downs-tree/I312392304932.php : accessed January 30, 2026), "Jimmie Curtis Downs (1909-1940)".
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