Timeline May 1909

Events in May 1909 9

• 1828 – 1909 George Meredith (1828-1909) Died 18 May 1909, aged 81 George Meredith was an English novelist and poet celebrated for works including The Egoist and Diana of the Crossways, which explored psychological realism and social satire. He also served as an influential publisher's reader who encouraged younger writers. He died at his home in Box Hill, Surrey, on 18 May 1909.
• 1860 – 1909 Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909) Died 18 May 1909, aged 48 Isaac Albéniz was a Spanish pianist and composer best known for his piano suite Iberia, a cornerstone of Spanish nationalist classical music. He achieved acclaim across Europe as both a virtuoso performer and composer before ill health curtailed his career. He died in Cambo-les-Bains, France, on 18 May 1909.
• 1909 – 1991 Edwin Land (1909-1991) Died 1 March 1991, aged 81 Inventor and Polaroid founder Edwin Land died in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He developed instant photography and held over 500 patents during his career. His Polaroid cameras made instant pictures a fixture of consumer life for decades.
• 1909 – 1984 James Mason (1909-1984) English actor with a famous voice, who moved from British melodramas to Hollywood roles in A Star Is Born, North by Northwest and Lolita.
• 1909 James Mason born in Huddersfield James Mason is born in Huddersfield.
• 1909 – 1960 Margaret Sullavan (1909-1960) American actress with a distinctive husky voice, star of The Shop Around the Corner.
• 1909 Margaret Sullavan born in Norfolk Margaret Sullavan is born in Norfolk.
• 1909 – 2015 Nicholas Winton (1909-2015) Died 1 July 2015, aged 106 Nicholas Winton was a British humanitarian who organized the rescue of 669 mostly Jewish children from Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Second World War, in an operation later dubbed the 'British Schindler' effort. His actions remained largely unknown for nearly 50 years until they were revealed on a British television program in 1988. He was knighted in 2003 for his services to humanity.
• 1909 – 1986 Benny Goodman (1909-1986) Died 13 June 1986, aged 77 American clarinetist and bandleader known as the King of Swing, who helped popularize big-band jazz in the 1930s. His 1938 Carnegie Hall concert is regarded as a landmark in bringing jazz to a mainstream concert audience. He continued performing internationally into his final years.