Alphons Baruch (1873 - 1967)

Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Alphons' lifetime.

In 1873, in the year that Alphons Baruch was born, on February 12th, The Coinage Act of 1873 was signed by President Ulysses S. Grant. It went into effect on April 1st and ended the use of gold and silver in the U.S. for currency - placing the country on the gold standard. The Act wasn't popular with everyone.

In 1901, Alphons was 28 years old when Edward VII succeeded Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria of England had become Queen in 1837 and reigned until her death in 1901. Her 63 year reign was the longest in history prior to Elizabeth II who recently broke her record. The time during which she led the country was known as the Victorian era and she presided over great changes in the United Kingdom, including the expansion of the British Empire and the Industrial Revolution.

In 1910, this person was 37 years old when Halley's comet, which returns past the earth every 75 - 76 years was observed photographically for the first time. Two fortuitous events occurred - photography had been invented since the last time the comet had passed and the comet was relatively close. There was panic because one astronomer claimed that the gas from its tail "would impregnate the atmosphere and possibly snuff out all life on the planet." People bought gas masks, "anti-comet pills" and "anti-comet umbrellas".

In 1952, this person was 79 years old when on February 6th, George VI of England died from a coronary thrombosis and complications due to lung cancer. His eldest daughter, age 25, immediately ascended the throne as Elizabeth II and her coronation was on June 2 1953.

In 1967, in the year of Alphons Baruch's passing, on October 2nd, Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first black US Supreme Court justice. Marshall was the great-grandson of a slave and graduated first in his class at Howard University Law School. His nomination to the Supreme Court was approved by the Senate, 69 to 11.