Birth Locations – Page 147 – The Exasperated Historian

62) Peter Carl Fabergé

62) Peter Carl Fabergé

Jeweler & Mastermind behind the Fabergé Eggs

Born: 30 May 1846, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Died: 24 September 1920, Lausanne, Switzerland

Original Name: Karl Gustavovich Fabergé

In 1870, he inherited his father’s jewelry business and continued to craft jewelry, decorative works of art, and furniture. His work soon became famous around the world, and his famed Easter Eggs for the Russian Imperial Court were lauded above all else.

In 1885, Peter was appointed the official jeweler of the Russian Imperial Court. In all, he would create fifty exquisite and unique eggs for the Russian Imperial family.

By 1905, his esteem had grown that he now had workshops in Moscow, Kiev, and London, and employed over 500 people. However, the good times would not last. The Kiev workshop closed in 1910, and London during World War I in 1915. Fabergé continued to craft eggs for the Russian Imperial Family until the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, which toppled the Romanov Dynasty from the throne. During that same year, Fabergé’s assets were seized, and his studio shut down. Everything was put under control of a committee of employees. Fabergé fled Russia and died in exile in Switzerland two years later.

Badges Earned:

Find a Grave Marked

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Peter-Carl-Faberge

https://www.sothebys.com/en/artists/carl-faberge

https://www.faberge.com/the-world-of-faberge/timeline

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/17792639/carl-peter-faberg

62) Barbara Corcoran

62) Barbara Corcoran

Realty Mogul and Businesswoman who founded the Corcoran Group

Born: 10 March 1949, Edgewater, New Jersey, United States of America

She is also a Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank.

Barbara has said she had over twenty jobs before her 23rd birthday.

In 2019 she has sadly been in the news because her brother is one of the many Americans dying or falling deathly ill in a resort in the Dominican Republic.

Sources:

http://www.barbaracorcoran.com/about/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2019/06/13/shark-tank-barbara-corcoran-brother-died-in-dominican-republic/1442401001/

61) Mikhail Romanov

61) Mikhail Romanov

First ruler of the Romanov Dynasty

Born: 22 July 1596, Moscow, Russia

Died: 23 July 1645, Moscow, Russia

Better Known as: Tsar Michael of Russia

Ascended the throne at age sixteen after being chosen to rule. He ruled from 1613 to 1645. Mikhail was chosen to rule in part because of his relation to Fyodor I, the last tsar of the Rurik Dynasty. Mikhail was also related to Ivan the Terrible, as Mikhail’s grandfather’s sister was Ivan’s most beloved wife. Mikhail ascended the throne at the conclusion of what became known as the Time of Troubles in Russia; he was elected by the Zemsky Sobor—a precursor to modern Parliaments that included members from every class in Russian society, including peasants.

Mikhail was reluctant to take the throne, in part because of his young age and because of his inexperience and poor education.

Early on in his reign, he allowed family members considerable controls of affairs, which brought peace to Russia and along saw treaties made with Poland and Sweden. From 1619 to 1633, Mikhail’s father ruled alongside him and completely dominated the government, but after his father’s death, his other family members again took control of the government.

During his reign, peace was secured in his country, but diplomatic, cultural, and commercial contact with Western Europe also increased, bringing about a new era in Russian history. His reign was not all sunshine and roses though, as the government also cracked down and strengthened the use of serfdom within the country.

After Mikhail died, the throne passed to his son Alexei, and then his son—Peter the Great. The Romanov Dynasty would continue until 1918, when Tsar Nicholas II and his entire family were murdered during the Bolshevik Revolution.

Badges Earned:

Find a Grave Marked

Located In My Personal Library:

National Geographic History Magazine Article "Death of a Dynasty" sub-article "Michael the First Romanov" (July/August 2018 Edition)

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-tsar-of-Russia

https://www.rbth.com/history/326180-romanovs-how-dynasty-began

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13822566/mikhail-fedorovich-romanov

61) Sherry Lansing

Courtesy of the Sherry Lansing Foundation

61) Sherry Lansing

Former Head of Paramount and 20^th Century Fox Studios.

Born: 31 July 1944, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America

In her thirty years in the movie business she was involved in over 200 films from the business end of marketing, producing, and distribution.

In 1984 she became the first woman to head up a major motion picture studio when she took the job at 20th Century Fox. In 1992 she became chairman of Paramount Pictures and continued in that role for twelve years.

After leaving Paramount she founded the Sherry Lansing Foundation, a non-profit focused on cancer research, education, and outreach, she has sat on many different boards in the private and government fields.

Badges Earned:

Located In My Personal Library:

Backwards and In Heels by Alicia Malone

Sources:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005121/

http://www.sherrylansingfoundation.org/page.php?whPage=lansing.php

60) Owen Suskind

60) Owen Suskind

Autistic Inspiration Who Loves Movies

Born: c.1993

He has an affinity for Disney Films and has been an Inspiration for others with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Owen doesn’t just watch movies though, he also creates art relating to the films and can do impressions. He has proven that even if doctors tell you your child will never have a meaningful life you don’t have to listen to them and shut down. Owen is amazing.

I was first introduced to Owen’s story thanks to ABC 20/20, a part of which I will link in this article.

Sources:

http://lifeanimated.net/

https://vaticanconference2018.com/owen-suskind/

60) Salima Ikram

Courtesy of the American University in Cairo

60) Salima Ikram

Egyptologist and Professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo

Born: 1965, Lahore, Pakistan

She has worked in archaeology in Greece, the United States, Egypt, the Sudan, and Turkey.

Salima holds a PhD in Egyptian Archaeology from Cambridge University. Her several digs and archaeology bids in Egypt include the Animal Mummy Project, Valley of the Kings KV10/KV63 Mission, and the North Kharga Darb Ain Amur Survey. She has published many books and lectures across the world.

Salima has been interviewed in many documentaries and is usually seen as an expert when interviewed about the mummification practices.

Badges Earned:

Located in My Personal Library:

Ancient Egypt: an Introduction Divine Creatures: Animals Mummies in Ancient Egypt & Prisse D'Avennes Egyptian Art both written by Salima Ikram

Sources:

https://www.aucegypt.edu/fac/salimaikram

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7022401-ancient-egypt

59) Greg Louganis

59) Greg Louganis

Olympic Diver and HIV/AIDS Advocate

Born: 29 January 1960, El Cajon, California, United States of America

His website claims he is the best diver of all time (but to be fair, the Olympics official website also concludes the same thing).

Greg competed in the 1976, 1984, and 1988 Olympic Games for Team USA and was awarded Gold Four Times. He did not compete in the 1980 games because the United States boycotted the games that were held in Moscow, in the Communist Soviet Union.

While competing at the Seoul Olympics in 1988, Greg hit his head on the springboard and required several stitches. However, the next day he went back into the competition and won the event.

In 1994, Greg came out as gay, and the following year, in 1995, publicly announced he was HIV Positive. He has been an advocate for both LGBT+ Causes and educational awareness towards HIV/AIDS ever since.

Sources:

https://greglouganis.com/

https://www.olympic.org/gregory-louganis

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Greg-Louganis

59) Sarah Parcak

59) Sarah Parcak

She makes satellite technology look cool

Born: 1979, Bangor, Maine, United States of America

Archaeologist, Egyptologist and Professor at the University of Alabama Birmingham’s Department of Anthropology.

Sarah holds her PhD in Egyptian Archaeology from Cambridge University. She is a National Geographic Society Research Fellow. Sarah and her husband worked together on the Surveys and Excavation Projects in Egypt. Sarah wrote the first textbook on satellite archaeology and that skill is what she is typically shown doing in Documentaries on various subjects.

Sources:

https://www.uab.edu/cas/anthropology/people/faculty-directory/122-sara-h-parcak

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/space-archaeologist-sarah-parcak-winner-smithsonians-history-ingenuity-award-180961120/

58) Do Won Chang

58) Do Won Chang

Founded Forever 21 After Arriving in The United States in 1981

Born: 30 March 1954, South Korea

To be fair, Do Won Chang owned and operated the business alongside his wife, Jin Sook Chang. In 2016, Forbes estimated their combined networth at $3 Billion. Sadly, by 2019, their networth had dropped to $800 Million (each, or a combined total of approximately $1.6 Billion).

Do Won recalled that when he and his wife first arrived in America, he took a minimum wage job at a local coffee shop, making around $3 an hour. He decided to enter the clothing business when he was working as a gas station attendant. Do Won noticed that the men wearing the nicest clothes also drove the most expensive cars, and he decided the garment industry was the way to go.

In 1984, after saving $11,000, Do Won and Jin Sook opened Fashion 21 in Los Angeles. Their business operated so well they were able to open a new store every six months, and the brand soon became the now iconic Forever 21.

As previously mentioned, it has been reported Jin Sook and Do Won have lost their billionaire status (kind of, combined they still have a total networth of $1.6 Billion, but that equals $800 Million each). The clothing industry is not what it used to be, especially with online retailers now dominating the market.

Because Forever 21 is still a privately-owned entity, they do not release their sales information, but some fear they are nearing bankruptcy.

In 2020, the worst news was yet to come. In September, Forever 21 did indeed file for bankruptcy. Do Won and Jin Sook have sold the fashion magnate brand for what is being reported as a cool $81 Million. The brand is set to close 350 physical locations across the globe as the business transitions to focus on more online sales. A few physical locations will remain open, for now anyway.

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/gracechung/2016/10/05/exclusive-interview-with-one-of-americas-most-successful-immigrants-forever-21s-do-won-chang/#17289e9942ab

https://www.businessinsider.com/forever-21-jin-sook-do-won-chang-lost-billionaire-status-2019-7

58) Tatiana Proskouriakoff

58) Tatiana Proskouriakoff.

Archaeologist who was one of the first to become known for Maya studies in Mexico and Central America.

Born: 23 January 1909, Tomsk, Russia

Died: 30 August 1985, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America

Tatiana was also instrumental in decoding Mayan hieroglyphs.

She would become linked to Piedras Negras one of the most famous ancient Maya sites.

Tatiana relocated from Siberia to Ohio when she was five years old and her parents decided to stay permanently after the Bolshevik Revolution. She was the only girl in her college’s architect club in 1927.

She first traveled to Piedras Negras in 1936—her first visit to Mayan ruins. Tatiana was assigned to draw the ruins and was so good at her job she was invited back the next year. She was amazingly good at making drawings reconstructing toppled and ruined buildings.

In 1939 she was hired full time at the Carnegie Institution of Washington to work in various Mayan sites. For the next fifteen years she would visit the sites and make her famous reconstruction drawings. During this time, she also came up with her theory of how the evolution of iconography could help date the monuments that lacked a “normal” calendar system. In 1955, the Carnegie Institute of Washington decided to drop its archaeology department. Tania (as she’d begun to be called) rectified this by packing up her desk and walking down the street to the Peabody Museum—they immediately hired her to continue her work (but better as she was now a research assistant and her own boss basically!).

Besides also providing the work that would be the basis of the breakthrough on how to read the glyphs, Tania also devoted fifteen years to cleaning and restoring the plethora of jade artifacts that had been sitting in the Peabody’s warehouse for seventy years.

She died from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease; her ashes were interred at Piedras Negras.

Badges Earned:

Find a Grave Marked

Sources:

https://www.instituteofmayastudies.org/index.php/features/pioneers-in-maya-archaeology-2/tatiana-proskouriakoff

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36866471/tatiana-avenirovna-proskouriakoff