October 22 - This day in history

[alyn]

October 22, 1978 Pope John Paul the II is inaugurated as Pope.

[youpiao]

Oct 22, 1797: The first successful (operative word “successful”) parachute descent is made by Andre-Jacques Garnerin, who jumps from a balloon at some 2,200 feet over Paris.

Burundi, Scott Nr 1073d (2012)

[youpiao]

Oct 22, 1883: The New York Metropolitan Opera House stages its first opening night, with a production of Gounod’s “Faust.”

USA, Scott Nr 2054 (1983)


The Met was formed in 1880, in response to the elitism of the existing Academy of Music subscribers, who looked down on (and excluded) the newly wealthy New York industrialists like Morgan and Vanderbilt. The upstart opera house was an immediate success, and three years later the fat lady sang for the Academy of Music.

[youpiao]

Oct 22, 1836: Sam Houston is sworn in as the first president of the Republic of Texas.

USA, Scott Nr 1242 (1964) which also marks the first appearance of Mr. ZIP on US stamp sheets. (Mr ZIP’s rookie stamp. )