Bridget Corr (1851 - 1917)

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

In 1851, in the year that Bridget Corr was born, on May 15th, the first of many Australian gold rushes was publicized. Because the California Gold Rush had caused many Australians to emigrate to California, Australia decided that the gold found in Australia should be publicized, rather than suppressing the news as earlier finds had been.

In 1887, by the time she was 36 years old, on May 9th, Buffalo Bill's Wild West show opened in London. Founded in 1883, the show was attended - twice - by Queen Victoria and adored by audiences who thrilled to his fanciful acts portraying life in the "Wild West."

In 1897, she was 46 years old when on March 4th, William McKinley became the 25th President of the United States. He had beaten William Jennings Bryan in the 1896 election by 51% to 46.7% in the popular vote. Six months into his second term as President, McKinley was assassinated.

In 1907, at the age of 56 years old, Bridget was alive when the state of Oklahoma was admitted to the United States on November 16. Previously called "Oklahoma Territory" and "Indian Territory", the two areas were merged and Oklahoma became the 46th state. It is the 28th most populous state.

In 1917, in the year of Bridget Corr's passing, Dutch exotic dancer Mata Hari was convicted and executed as a German spy. Since Mata Hari, born Margaretha Geertruida "Margreet" MacLeod, was a citizen of the Netherlands (which remained neutral in World War 1), she could travel freely in Europe. Her travels (and her romantic entanglements) raised suspicion and she was arrested by the French and found guilty. There is still controversy about her guilt although her name has become synonymous with a seductive female spy.