James Cook, b. 1728. Famous English sea captain and explorer, he discovered the Hawaiian Islands and was killed in Hawaii on February 14, 1779. He also was the first European to visit New Zealand while looking for a southern continent that was believed to exist in order to keep the earth in balance. This book sounds interesting: Explorations of Captain James Cook in the Pacific As Told by Selections of His Own Journals, 1768-1779 by James Cook and edited by A. Grenfell Price. Another one for The List.

Theodore Roosevelt, b. 1858. He was the 26th president of the United States and my favorite. He was the first president to ride in an automobile, the first to submerge in a submarine, and the first to fly in an airplane. TR quotes:

“For unflagging interest and enjoyment, a household of children, if things go reasonably well, certainly makes all other forms of success and achievement lose their importance by comparison.”
“There are two things that I want you to make up your minds to: first, that you are going to have a good time as long as you live – I have no use for the sour-faced man – and next, that you are going to do something worthwhile, that you are going to work hard and do the things you set out to do.”
“Don’t hit at all if you can help it; don’t hit a man if you can possibly avoid it; but if you do hit him, put him to sleep.”
“I don’t think any President ever enjoyed himself more than I did. Moreover, I don’t think any ex-President ever enjoyed himself more.”

I think Teddy Roosevelt is so much fun to read about because he did enjoy thoroughly whatever he did. It’s a trait I could afford to emulate more often.

Dylan Thomas, b. 1914. Poem in October was written in celebration of the poet’s own thirtieth birthday.
“It was my thirtieth year to heaven
Woke to my hearing from harbour and neighbour wood
And the mussel pooled and the heron
Priested shore . . .”