The date October 8, 1582, does not exist in the records of Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain, the result of that year’s implementation of the Gregorian calendar.
Fearing a Catholic plot, Protestant countries adopted the more accurate calendar much later. By the time Britain and its colonies got on board in 1752, eleven days had to be “disappeared.” This caused riots in some places, as people suspected some horrible chicanery — and in actual fact the inspiration for the “Give us our eleven days” protest had something to do with taxes, so it might not have been as idiotic as it now seems.
On October 8, 1793, American merchant, president of the Second Continental Congress (1775–1777) and first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, John Hancock (b. 1737), died.
1 reply on “Missing Day(s)”
According to one of the histories that I read, landlords adjusted rents pro rata for the month that lost those days. I would not be shocked to discover that taxing authorities did not.
When the calendar was changed, a question arose of what to use as dates of birth. Isaac Newton was born on 25 December according to the old calendar, but his birthday is usually commemorated on 4 January. George Washington was born on 11 February according to the old calendar, but chose to celebrate his birthdays on 22 February.