February 29 Leap day 1110 Sir Stuft McDuck born, chief of fictional clan McDuck. Died 1175, and left in his armor in a hall in Castle McDuck. Apparently the smell did not draw any curiosity.

1288 Scotland established leap day in history–Leap Year–and only this day, as one when a woman could propose marriage to a man. In the event he refused the proposal, the man was required to pay a fine. According to the Scottish law, any man who declined a proposal in a leap year must pay a fine, ranging from a kiss to a pair of gloves to a silk dress to £100. The leap year legend spread and soon polite society was holding leap year balls and leap year dances, organized for women to ask men to dance and to ask for a man’s hand in marriage. In the US, the tradition evolved into Sadie Hawkins Day, named after the man-chasing character in the Al Capp cartoon strip Li’l Abner and held in November. Though the day is different than the original Scottish rendition, the practice is the same: women pursue men, for a date or for marriage.

http://www.historychannel.com.au/classroom/day-in-history/458/scotland-allows-a-day-for-women-to-propose

Or so the History Channel reports.

http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2012/11/the-strange-history-and-uncertain-future-of-sadie-hawkins-day/265272/

“And how about that Sadie Hawkins Day?” says Al Capp in an article he wrote for the March 31, 1952 issue of Life. “It doesn’t happen on any set day in November; it happens on the day I say it happens.”

1528 – Patrick Hamilton, burned at the stake – Scottish religious reformer (b. 1504) 1^st Cousin, 14 times removed, of Irvan Choate.

• [Hamilton 2Stewart 2Millar 2simmons 2Choate 2Sorensen]

Master Patrick Hamilton travelled to Europe, where he met several of the leading reforming thinkers, before returning to Scotland to preach. Hamilton was tried as a heretic by Archbishop James Beaton, and burned at the stake in St Andrews, outside the front entrance to St Salvator’s Chapel. Saint Salvador was founded circa 1450 by then Bishop Kennedy (clan Kennedy and cousin of Irvan Choate) and greatly helped to spread the Reformation in Scotland. It was said that the “reek of Patrick Hamilton infected all it blew on”. Hamilton’s fortitude during martyrdom won over Alexander Ales, who had undertaken to convert him, to the Lutheran cause. Hamilton’s martyrdom is unusual in that he was almost alone in Scotland during the Lutheran stage of the Reformation. His only book, Loci communes, known as “Patrick’s Places”, set forth the doctrine of justification by faith and the contrast between the gospel and the law in a series of clear-cut propositions. It is to be found in John Foxe’s Acts and Monuments.

www.flickr.com Text below.

• The Initials on the pavement nearby mark the spot where Patrick Hamilton, member of the University, was burned at the stake on 29 February 1528, at the age of 24. On the Continent he had been greatly influenced by Martin Luther, and on his return to ST. Andrews he Began to Teach Lutheran Doctrines, having been tried and found guilty of heresy. He was condemned to death. Thus becoming the First martyr of the Scottish Reformation.

Martyrdom of Patrick Hamilton – a great-grandson of James II Stewart King of Scotland,

 James II, King, Stewart clan. The Spell of Scotland by Keith Clark, 1916 to the Lord Marischall, Boston The Page Company. P. 25.

Hamilton had studied at the Universities of Paris and Louvain, where he had become sympathetic to reformed doctrines. Hamilton returned to Scotland as a regent in the Faculty of Arts at St Andrews in June 1523. Patrick found the ‘intellectual ferment and musical activities of St Leonard’s College’ (Dunlop) were attractive to him and, after another short period abroad, this time in Wittemberg and Marburg in 1527, Patrick returned to spread Lutheran teaching.

Patrick Hamilton is executed – 1528. Patrick Hamilton becomes one of the Scottish Reformation’s first martyrs after he is burned at the stake in St Andrews for practising his Protestant beliefs. Video: The Sword and the Cross: The Great Breaking.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/the_stewarts/patrick_hamilton_is_executed/

An image of Hamilton’s face is said to have appeared miraculously on the church tower above the site of his execution. Patrick’s courageous bearing attracted more attention than ever to the doctrines for which he suffered, and greatly helped to spread the Reformation in Scotland.

Martyrdom site, St. Salvador’s College St. Andrews. Don’t step on this. By tradition, students (presumably including HRH William and Kate, Prince and Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge) at the University of St Andrews prefer not to step on the monogram of Hamilton’s initials outside St Salvator’s Chapel.

1560 The Siege of Leith, and loss of Alexander Lockhart of Barr (his daughter married Andrew Millar 2^nd, and became an ancestor of Irvan Choate 400 years later), brother of the Laird of Bar, saw the slaughter continue as defeat stared in the eyes of the French. This is the turning point in British history. Not only is it the end of the Auld Alliance with France and the completion of the Reformation in Scotland. It is the beginning of the United Kingdom. After several skirmishes the French were slowly winning, capturing the Congregation’s Guns on the Calton Hill. Even the ladders used to scale the walls were too short. They captured supplies meant for Edinburgh. The troops of the congregation now imagined that God and heaven was against them and soldiers started to desert. Not only their money to pay the soldiers was starting to run out. John Knox said, ‘’The men of war were men without God or honesty”. They had become a rabble and mutiny was threatened in the ranks. In their desperation the Lords of the congregation asked England for help and a meeting was held at Berwick and from this came money and supplies. [Lords of the congregation included Argyll, Arran, Atholl, Balnaves, Boyd, Campbell, Douglas, Drummond, Erskine, Gordon, Kirkcaldy, Lindsay, Mar, Morton, Moray, Murray, Ochiltree, Ogilvy, Rothes, Ruthven, Stewart, Willock, Wishart, and Minister Knox)]

Lockhart of Bar 1297 2Miller 2Simmons 2Choate 2Sorensen.

• Campbell Earl of Argyll 1010 2Montgomery2Blair 2Cochrane2Miller 2Simmons2Choate to zoe TOAG.

[Edinburgh from the castle, Scotland] (LOC)

The Library of Congress www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress

left foreground Royal Scottish Academy, center National Gallery

left middle tower Scott Monument 1844, right Waverley and north bridges.

Back hill – left, Calton Hill with City Observatory. Right National and Nelson’s monument.

1599 never happened in Scotland. Well, of course it wasn’t leap year either. We could expand the missing dates to every 3 out of every 4 years.

1604 Robert Bruce minister of Edinburgh. After the king’s [James 6^th] departure to England [1603] , he had some respite for about a year or more, but in the year 1605, he was summoned to compear at Edinburgh on the 29th of February, before the commission of the general assembly, to hear and see himself removed from his function at Edinburgh; they had before, in his absence, decerned his place vacant, but now they intimated the sentence, and Livingston had a commission from the king [James 6^th] to see it put in execution; he appealed; they prohibited him to preach; but he obeyed not. In July thereafter, he was advertized by chancellor Seaton, of the king’s [James 6^th] express order, discharging him to preach any more, and said, He would not use his authority in this, but only request him to desist for nine or ten days; to which he consented, thinking it but of small moment for so short a time. But he quickly knew, how deep the smallest deviation from his Master’s cause and interest might go; for that night (as he himself afterward declared) his body was cast into a fever, with such terror of conscience, that be promised and fully resolved to obey their commands no more. Biographia Scoticana: OR, A

 BRIEF HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

OF THE 

LIVES, CHARACTERS, and MEMORABLE
 TRANSACTIONS of the most eminent 

SCOTS WORTHIES, Noblemen, Gentlemen, Ministers, and others: From Mr. Patrick Hamilton, who was born about the year of our Lord 1503, and suffered martyrdom at St. Andrews, Feb. 1527, to Mr. James Renwick, who was executed in the Grass-market of Edinburgh Feb. 17, 1688. together with a succinct Account of the Lives of other seven eminent Divines, and Sir Robert Hamilton of Preston, who died about, or shortly after the Revolution. as also, An Appendix, containing a short historical Hint of the wicked Lives and miserable Deaths of some of the most remarkable apostates and bluidy persecutors in Scotland from the Reformation to the Revolution. Collected from historical Records, Biographical Accounts, and other authenticated Writings:—The whole including a Period of near Two Hundred Years. By John Howie – 178181

1692 the first warrants were issued in the Salem witchcraft trials in Massachusetts. Witch trials were popular in Scotland, and the practice continued in the colonies. [Not a practice to be a nomination for an award.]

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17203353

1700 Not leap year, no February 29^th. The number 1700 is divisible by 100, but not 400.

1751 did not occur in England, Ireland, British North America, and British colonies, as 1751 only had 282 days due to the Calendar Act of 1750. But 1751 February 29 did not occur in Scotland, either as 1751 was not the leap year.

1792 Gioachino Antonio Rossini (Giovacchino Antonio Rossini in the baptismal certificate) (29 February 1792 – 13 November 1868) was an Italian composer who wrote 39 operas and sacred music. Rossini [Elisabetta, regina d’Inghilterra, 1815]. Professor Alexander Weatherson in the 2009 Donizetti Society Newsletter wrote Scotland’s soil was about to be profaned by a stream of operas that bore the footprint of [Elizabeth’s] rival Mary Stuart. Wikipedia.

Gioachino Rossini, photographed by Étienne Carjat, 1865.

1800 Not leap year, no February 29^th. The number 1700 is divisible by 100, but not 400.

1814 Sometime this year. Sogner [Maria Stuarda ossia I carbonari di Scozia, 1814]. Italian Scots’ opera.

1828 Emmeline Blanche Woodward was born in 1828 in Petersham, Massachusetts, the daughter of David and Deiadama Hare Woodward. she married Newel K. Whitney. Whitney descended from Kerr of Midlothian and Home of Berwickshire, both families from Scotland.

The Newel K. Whitney store, Kirtland Ohio. The Prophet Joseph received the revelation on the Word of Wisdom (D&C 89). He did much of the work on the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible here.

www.lds.org/scriptures/history

Emmeline Blanche Woodward Harris Whitney Wells (February 29, 1828 – April 25, 1921) was an American journalist, editor, poet, women’s rights advocate and diarist. She served as the fifth general president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1910 until her death.

Emmeline B Wells.

1830 February 29^th did not occur this year (not a leap year)

1836 siege at The Alamo Mission San Antonio, Texas Republic (February 23 – March 6, 1836) ends at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6 with list of Scots defenders. Restored in 1847 by Colonel James Harvey Ralston.

 1936 March 2. Issue. “Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, & The Alamo” Even with the loss of the Alamo, Texas declared its independence from Mexico on March 2, 1836. On April 21 Sam Houston’s troops attacked while Santa Anna was having his siesta. The battle cry: “Remember the Alamo; Remember Goliad” has lived on. The Republic of Texas was recognized by the United States, Britain, France, Holland, and Belgium. The fledgling state soon struggled under financial problems, raids by Mexican forces, and wars with natives. In September 1836 Texas voted for annexation by the United States. U.S. congressional approval was delayed for nine years because of opposition to the extension of slavery by the Northern states. On December 29, 1845, Congress accepted the Texas State Constitution, and Texas was admitted to the Union. The Mexican War, between the United States and Mexico, followed Texas’ statehood by only a few months. U.S. success in that war established the Rio Grande River as the border between the two countries, although Texas claimed all territory between the mouth of the river to its source in southern Colorado. As part of the Compromise of 1850, Texas relinquished its claim to about half of what today is New Mexico and portions of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming for $10 million. usstampgallery.com

1844 February 29   Nauvoo, Illinois. Joseph Smith directed Brother William W. Phelps to write a reply to an article printed on January 31 in the Zanesville Gazette on Cassius M. Clay’s (a Kentucky abolitionist) speech about annexing Texas to the United States. HC 6;227. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Joseph Smith Jr. was the Prophet to restore the early Christian church on earth in Fayette, New York, in 1830. Joseph translated The Book of Mormon-Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The members are Saints (Ephesians 2:19-20). The Lord led Joseph Smith and the Saints from New York to Pennsylvania, then to Kirtland Ohio and Missouri, and on later to Nauvoo Illinois (1839-1846). Joseph Smith Junior descended from John Mack of Inverness (17^th century) and Malcom Canmore, King of Scots (11^th Century). CONVEYANCE & CONTRIBUTION: [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] SCOTS GATHER

Nauvoo Temple early drawing.

1884 The Battle of El-Teb. East of the Sudan near the Red Sea coast. The Highlanders wore grey jackets and kilts. 1st Battalion Black Watch, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders. Relief of Tokar. Major General Sir Gerald Graham.

The Black Watch storming the Mahdist earthworks at the Battle of El Teb. In January 1884 at the urging of the British Government, the Khedive appointed General Charles Gordon to oversee the evacuation of the Egyptian forces from the Sudan. General Gordon had acted as governor of the Sudan in the 1870s with considerable effect. Gordon traveled from London to Khartoum, the capital of the Sudan, arriving on 18th February 1884. On 29th February 1884 the infantry brigade formed a square and began the advance to the hamlet of El Teb, some 2 ½ miles inland along the track to Tokar, where Osman Digna’s Mahdists lay in position. The front of the square was formed by the Gordon Highlanders and the rear by the Black Watch, both in company columns of fours at company intervals. The British square halted and the infantry were ordered to lie down while the guns and machine guns fired on the Mahdists. The effect of this bombardment was to silence the Krupps. The square stood up and continued its advance under rifle fire. When the square was within two hundred yards or so of the earthworks, the Mahdist tribesmen abandoned their firearms and charged the square with spears and swords. Large numbers of the tribesmen were shot down by the infantry with rifle fire and by the Gardiner and Gatling guns of the Naval Brigade. None broke into the square. The battle was fought over the same area in which Baker Pasha’s Egyptian force had been annihilated the previous month. After the battle the Black Watch were given the role of gathering the corpses of the European officers killed in the earlier battle and burying them.

http://www.britishbattles.com/egypt-1882/el-teb.htm

Lieutenant General Sir Gerald Graham, VC GCB GCMG (27 June 1831 – 17 December 1899) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, (Graham clan). Graham urged a plan for the assistance of Gordon, which plan was not accepted.

1900 Not leap year, no February 29^th. The number 1700 is divisible by 100, but not 400.

1904 Johnny Leonard Roosevelt “Pepper” Martin (February 29, 1904 – March 5, 1965) Born in Temple, Oklahoma territory became an American professional baseball player and manager. The Wild Horse of the Osage. (clan Martin).

Pepper Martin

1940s

Scrooge in vault. (fictional clan McDuck)

2016

Rubio (Florida), Clinton (New York) , Trump (MacLeod clan, Isle of Lewis, Scotland), Sanders (Vermont), Cruz (Texas). U.S. Presidential campaign, Enquirer cover leap day, What They’re Hiding!.

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