Aug 2,1886 (http://www1.sympatico.ca/news/otd/images/otd.98.08.02.b.lg.gif) J. A. D. McCurdy 1886-1961 flier, aviation pioneer, was born on this day in 1886 in Baddeck, Nova Scotia; died in Montreal June 25, 1961. McCurdy joined Casey Baldwin and Alexander Graham Bell in founding the Aerial Experimental Association. He took over 200 short flights with Curtis and others in the US, and on Feb 23, 1909, made Canada's first controlled powered flight, and the first in the British Empire, on the Silver Dart from the ice of Baddeck Bay. During World War II, he was Canada's Assistant Director of Aircraft Production. ------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aug 2, Charles Le Moyne 1626-1685 solider, seigneur, patriarch, was born on this day in 1626 in Dieppe France; died in Montreal Feb 1685. LeMoyne came to New France at age 15 to work for the Jesuits in Huronia. He became skilled in native dialects, and fought fiercely agains the the Iroquois during their attacks on Montreal, winning a patent of nobility in 1668. He was given the barony of Longueuil in 1672, and Châteauguay in 1673, and was made Governor of Montreal in 1683. His 12 sons all had prominent careers in New France and abroad. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aug 2, Marie-Anne Lagimodière née Gaboury 1780-1875 pioneer, grandmother of Louis Riel, was born on this day in 1780 in Maskinongé Quebec; died in St-Boniface Manitoba Dec 14 1875. Lagimodière married fur trader Jean-Baptiste Lagimodière in 1806 and travelled to Red River and Fort Edmonton with him. In 1807 she gave birth to a daughter reine, who was the first legitimate white child born in the West. Another daughter Julie, was the mother of Louis Riel -------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aug 2,1754 - Pierre Charles L’Enfant architect, engineer, Revolutionary War officer: designed the plan for city of Washington D.C.; died June 14, 1825 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aug 2,1834 - Frederic Bartholdi sculptor: Statue of Liberty, Lion of Belfort; died Oct 4, 1904 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------