Re: How well I remember 1600

[Gary Karshner <karshner@STMARYTX.EDU>]

Marc,
        You came so close to one bit of science trivia. It is often stated that
Galileo died the same year that Newton was born. By your reckoning it is
true but Newton was born more then 365 days after Galileo dies.

Gary

> In the US and other former English colonies, 1700 was a leap year as well.
> The Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1582, but it wasn't adopted until
> later in many countries.
>
> England and her colonies didn't adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752.
> Apparently this caused unending confusion. People who did business on the
> Continent had to keep track of two sets of dates. Events might have
> happened on the same day, but not on the same date.
>
> For example, it is widely reported that Isaac Newton was born on Christmas
> Day 1642. That's true, sort of. He was born on December 25 in England, but
> in France he was born on January 4. Or take the usual statement that
> Shakespeare and Cervantes were born on the same day. Not true. They were
> born on the same date.
>
> So, England and the colonies celebrated a leap year in 1700. Russia didn't
> switch until after 1900.

> Marc Kossover
> marck9@mail.idt.net
Gary Karshner

St. Mary's University
San Antonio, Texas
KARSHNER@STMARYTX.EDU