What Happened on July 29

Books of the Week

1954 — Tolkien's Epic 'Fellowship' Is

First volume of The Lord of the Rings appears in London; reviewers divided, with Auden praising and Wilson attacking.

LONDON, July 29 — Allen & Unwin published The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, today. The book opens with a foreword and a prologue, 'Concerning Hobbits, and other matters,' before the narrative proper, which is divided into two 'books.'

The volume is the first of three, followed by The Two Towers and The Return of the King. Tolkien, a professor at Oxford, has built a world of hobbits, wizards, and dark powers, with the number nine deliberately chosen to match and oppose the nine Black Riders, or Ringwraiths, who pursue the quest.

Reviewers have been divided. W. H. Auden and Naomi Mitchison praised the work, while critic Edmund Wilson attacked it in a 1956 review. Tolkien himself called 'The Shadow of the Past' the 'crucial chapter,' saying it changes the tone of the book.

The story follows the hobbit Frodo Baggins as he bears the One Ring toward the fires of Mount Doom, accompanied by eight companions who form the Fellowship.

• The first edition was published on 29 July 1954 in the United Kingdom.
• The volume consists of a foreword, a prologue titled 'Concerning Hobbits, and other matters', and a main narrative divided into two 'books'.
• The Fellowship of the Ring is the first of three volumes of The Lord of the Rings, followed by The Two Towers and The Return of the King.
• The number nine was chosen to match and oppose the nine Black Riders or Ringwraiths.
• The volume was praised by reviewers including W. H. Auden and Naomi Mitchison, but attacked by critic Edmund Wilson in a 1956 review.

German Politics

1921 — Hitler Named Führer of National Socialists

Hitler, who joined the party in 1919, now leads the renamed National Socialist German Workers' Party.

MUNICH, July 29 — The National Socialist German Workers' Party, once the tiny German Workers' Party that Hitler joined in 1919, has made him its Führer. The name was changed to include 'National Socialist' when he assumed leadership.

• Hitler was appointed leader of the Nazi Party in 1921, after joining its precursor, the German Workers' Party, in 1919.
• The Nazi Party's name was changed to include 'National Socialist' when Hitler became its Führer in 1921.
• Nazi propaganda depicted Hitler as the only person capable of saving Germany, with the Völkischer Beobachter claiming in December 1922 that he was the sole leader who could rescue the nation.
• Hitler's cult of personality began in the early 1920s, with a Nazi speaker comparing him to Benito Mussolini after the March on Rome in October 1922.

Shipping News

1914 — Cape Cod Canal Opens, But Narrow Channel Limits Traffic

Waterway opens today, shortening New York-to-Boston route by 62 miles.

BOSTON, July 29 — The Cape Cod Canal, connecting Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay, opened today on a limited basis, shortening the New York-to-Boston trade route by 62 miles. Accidents in the narrow channel already marred the opening day. Tolls disappointed investors despite the shortened route.

• The Cape Cod Canal opened on a limited basis on July 29, 1914, under the direction of August Belmont Jr.'s Boston, Cape Cod & New York Canal Company.
• At its opening, the canal had a maximum width of 100 feet and a maximum depth of 25 feet.
• The canal took a difficult route from Phinney Harbor at the head of Buzzards Bay.
• Several accidents occurred due to the narrow channel, limiting traffic and tarnishing the canal's reputation.
• Toll revenues failed to meet investors' expectations despite shortening the New York City to Boston trade route by 62 miles.

War in Europe

1914 — Austrian Monitor Fires First Shots of War at Belgrade

At just after 1 o'clock this morning, the 440-tonne monitor Bodrog fired on Serbian defences near Belgrade.

VIENNA, July 29 — The first shots of the great European war were fired just after 1 o'clock this morning, when the Austro-Hungarian river monitor Bodrog opened fire on Serbian defences near Belgrade. The Temes-class vessel, under Linienschiffsleutnant Paul Ekl, was based at Zemun, just upstream from the Serbian capital.

Bodrog, together with two other monitors, shelled fortifications on the Zemun–Belgrade railway bridge and Topčider Hill. The 440-tonne ship, with a crew of 77 to 79, carries two 120 mm guns in single turrets and one 120 mm howitzer, protected by armor up to 70 mm thick.

• The Austro-Hungarian river monitor Bodrog fired the first shots of World War I just after 01:00 on 29 July 1914.
• Bodrog and two other monitors shelled Serbian defences near Belgrade, including fortifications on the Zemun–Belgrade railway bridge and Topčider Hill.
• Bodrog was a Temes-class river monitor built for the Austro-Hungarian Navy, with a standard displacement of 440 tonnes and a crew of 77 to 79.
• The monitor was armed with two 120 mm L/35 guns in single turrets and one 120 mm L/10 howitzer, with armor up to 70 mm thick.
• Bodrog was based in Zemun, just upstream from Belgrade on the Danube, under the command of Linienschiffsleutnant Paul Ekl at the start of the war.

Imperial Despatch

1014 — Basil II Blinds 14,000 Captives After Kleidion Victory

Emperor's vengeance on Bulgarian host follows great mountain battle.

CLYCH, July 29 — Emperor Basil II has shattered the Bulgarian army in the mountain pass of Kleidion, near the Belasica range. The Emperor cornered the main Bulgarian host and forced battle while Tsar Samuel was absent. Byzantine arms prevailed utterly. Report spreads that Basil II ordered 14,000 prisoners blinded, sparing one eye in every hundred men. The Tsar, it is said, will blame himself for this catastrophe. From this day, men call the Emperor the Bulgar-slayer, a name that shall endure through the ages.

• The battle occurred at Kleidion (or Belasitsa) in present-day Blagoevgrad Province.
• Basil II cornered the main Bulgarian army and forced a battle while Tsar Samuel was away.
• According to later legend, Basil II blinded 14,000 prisoners, leaving one man per hundred with sight.
• According to legend, Samuel died less than three months later, on October 6, blaming himself for the defeat.
• The legend gave rise to Basil II's nickname 'the Bulgar-slayer' from the 12th century onwards.

Court Chronicle

1567 — Infant James VI Crowned King of Scots at Stirling

Thirteen-month-old anointed at Holy Rude amid Reformation rites.

STIRLING, July 29 — A babe of thirteen months, James VI, was anointed King of Scotland this day at the Church of the Holy Rude. Adam Bothwell, Bishop of Orkney, performed the coronation, and John Knox preached the sermon. The infant is the third consecutive Scottish monarch to take the throne in infancy. His mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, was compelled to abdicate on 24 July. The young king's upbringing is entrusted to the Earl and Countess of Mar at Stirling Castle, where he shall be reared in safety.

• James VI, aged thirteen months, was anointed King of Scotland at the Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling.
• Adam Bothwell, Bishop of Orkney, performed the coronation ceremony on 29 July 1567.
• John Knox preached the sermon at James VI's coronation.
• James VI's care was entrusted to the Earl and Countess of Mar for his upbringing at Stirling Castle.
• James VI was the third consecutive Scottish monarch to ascend to the throne as an infant.

Academy of Sciences

1818 — Fresnel's Memoir on Diffraction Champions Wave Theory of Light

French physicist explains fringes and rectilinear propagation to Royal Academy.

PARIS, July 29 — Augustin-Jean Fresnel, the French physicist, has submitted to the Royal Academy of Sciences a memoir on the diffraction of light, lending strong support to the wave theory. He offers the first satisfactory explanation of diffraction by straight edges and accounts for rectilinear propagation on wave principles. The colored fringes seen in shadows cast by narrow beams are likewise explained. Fresnel's double-mirror experiments, conducted as part of these studies, have provided further evidence. The Academy now weighs a theory that challenges the established particle doctrine.

• Fresnel gave the first satisfactory explanation of diffraction by straight edges and a wave-based explanation of rectilinear propagation.
• He explained the colored fringes seen in shadows of objects illuminated by narrow beams.
• He conducted double-mirror experiments as part of his diffraction studies.

Royal Wedding

1981 — 750 Million Watch Charles Wed Diana

Prince and Lady Diana married amid pageantry, with vows slip and Welsh gold rings.

LONDON, July 29 — Crowds two million strong lined the route from Clarence House as Lady Diana Spencer rode to St Paul's Cathedral to marry the Prince of Wales. An estimated 750 million television viewers worldwide watched the ceremony, while 4,000 police and 2,200 military officers managed the crowds. Diana, in her vows, reversed Charles's names, saying 'Philip Charles Arthur George' instead of 'Charles Philip Arthur George.' The wedding rings were crafted from Welsh gold from the Clogau St David's mine in Bontddu. The day's cost, including security, was later estimated at $48 million.

• The wedding took place on Wednesday, 29 July 1981, at St Paul's Cathedral in London.
• An estimated global television audience of 750 million people watched the ceremony.
• Two million spectators lined the route of Diana's procession from Clarence House, with 4,000 police and 2,200 military officers managing crowds.
• The total cost of the wedding was later estimated at $48 million, with $600,000 spent on security.
• Diana accidentally reversed Charles's names during her vows, saying 'Philip Charles Arthur George' instead of 'Charles Philip Arthur George'.

Foreign Desk

1900 — Anarchist Shoots King Umberto in Monza

Italian monarch slain by a single revolver shot as he prepared to award gymnastic prizes.

MONZA, July 29 — The throne of Italy is vacant tonight. King Umberto I was assassinated at 21:30 on July 29, 1900, by an Italian-American anarchist, Gaetano Bresci, who fired a single shot from a Harrington & Richardson revolver as the King rode through Monza to distribute medals at a gymnastics competition. The police presence was sparse, and no guard intercepted the assailant.

Bresci, who had returned from America with a revolver purchased for $7 and a one-way ticket costing $27, confronted a stranger before the deed and said: "Look at me carefully, because you will perhaps remember me for the rest of your life."

His Majesty died instantly. The assassin was seized by the crowd and is in custody.

• Bresci bought a Harrington & Richardson revolver for $7 (equivalent to $264 in 2024) and a one-way ticket for $27.
• On the day of the assassination, Bresci told a stranger, 'Look at me carefully, because you will perhaps remember me for the rest of your life.'
• Umberto was assassinated at 21:30 on July 29, 1900, while en route to hand out medals at a gymnastics competition in Monza with sparse police presence.
• Bresci was tried, convicted, and sentenced to life imprisonment in a single day on August 30, 1900.
• Criminologist Cesare Lombroso examined Bresci and found no evidence of mental illness.