Bertrand T Smith (1908 - 1989)

Bertrand T Smith’s biography is built and maintained by people like you. Create an online profile of Bertrand so that his life is remembered forever. If any factual information is incorrect, please edit Bertrand’s biography.

Pictures really do say a thousand words. Add photos of Bertrand during various points of his life.

1908 - In the year that Bertrand T Smith was born, a 7.1 earthquake and the resulting tsunami killed 70,000 to 100,000 people in southern Italy and Sicily. The earthquake, lasting 30 to 40 seconds, occurred in the Strait of Messina which was between the region of Calabria (at the "toe" of Italy) and the island of Sicily and destruction from it occurred in a 186 mile radius. It was the most destructive earthquake ever to hit Europe.

1921 - At the age of only 13 years old, Bertrand was alive when in May, the Emergency Quota Act - or Emergency Immigration Act - was passed. The law restricted the number of immigrants to 357,000 per year. It also established an immigration quota in which only 3 per cent of the total population of any ethnic group already in the USA in 1910, could be admitted to America after 1921. Although the Act was supposed to be temporary, it stayed in effect until 1965.

1943 - He was 35 years old when on March 31st, the Broadway musical Oklahoma! opened. Written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II (the first of their string of successful collaborations), audiences loved it. The musical ran for 2,212 performances originally and was made into a movie in 1954.

1972 - He was 64 years old when on June 17th, 5 men were arrested by police in an attempt to bug the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington D.C.’s Watergate hotel. The burglars were found to be paid by cash from a slush fund used by the Committee for the Re-Election of the President - the official organization of President Nixon's campaign.

1989 - In the year of Bertrand T Smith's passing, on March 24th, the Exxon Valdez, an oil tanker, struck a reef in Alaska's Prince William Sound and oil began spilling out of the hold. The oil would eventually contaminate more than a thousand miles of coastline. It is estimated that over 10.8 million gallons of crude oil spilled into the Sound - killing 100,000 to 250,000 seabirds, over 2,800 sea otters, about 12 river otters, 300 harbor seals, 247 bald eagles, and 22 orcas - as well as an unknown number of salmon and herring.

Who was Bertrand’s parents? Did he get married and did they have children? Share Bertrand’s family tree to share his legacy and genealogy pedigree.

What do you remember about Bertrand T Smith? Share your memories of special moments and stories you have heard about him. Or just leave a comment to show the world that Bertrand is remembered.