Jan Morris, English-Welsh historian and author
(Catharine) Jan Morris (born James Humphry Morris; 2 October 1926 – 20 November 2020) was a Welsh historian, author and travel writer. She was known particularly for the Pax Britannica trilogy (1968–1978), a history of the British Empire, and for portraits of cities, including Oxford, Venice, Trieste, Hong Kong and New York City. She published under her birth name, James, until 1972, when she had gender reassignment surgery after transitioning from male to female.
As James Morris, she was a member of the 1953 British Mount Everest expedition, which made the first ascent of the mountain. She was the only journalist to accompany the expedition, climbing with the team to a camp at 22,000 feet, and using a prearranged code to send news of the successful ascent, which was announced in The Times on the day of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.
1926Oct, 2
Jan Morris
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Events on 1926
- 16Mar
Robert H. Goddard
History of Rocketry: Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket, at Auburn, Massachusetts. - 4May
1926 United Kingdom general strike
The United Kingdom general strike begins. - 18May
Aimee Semple McPherson
Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson disappears in Venice, California. - 14Jun
League of Nations
Brazil leaves the League of Nations - 20Aug
NHK
Japan's public broadcasting company, Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai (NHK) is established.