Coordinates	29°57′53″N90°4′14″N
Static image
Static image caption	Aerial photograph of Wells
Country	England
Latitude	51.2073
Longitude	-2.6519
Official name	Wells
Population	10,406
population ref
Shire district	Mendip
Shire county	Somerset
Region	South West England
Constituency westminster	Wells
Post town	WELLS
Postcode area	BA
Postcode district	BA5
Dial code	01749
Os grid reference	ST545455 }}

Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406,, it has had city status since 1205. It is the second-smallest city in England, following the City of London, though St David's in Wales is the smallest city in the United Kingdom.

The name Wells derives from the three wells dedicated to Saint Andrew, one in the market place and two within the grounds of the Bishop's Palace and cathedral. There was a small Roman settlement around the wells, but its importance grew under the Saxons when King Ine of Wessex founded a minster church in 704, around which the settlement grew. Wells became a trading centre and involved in cloth making before its involvement in both the English Civil War and the Monmouth Rebellion during the 17th century. In the 19th century, transport infrastructure improved with stations on three different railway lines.

The cathedral and the associated religious and architectural history have made Wells a tourist destination, which provides much of the employment. The city has a variety of sporting and cultural activities and houses several schools including The Blue School, a state coeducational comprehensive school originally founded in 1654 and the independent Wells Cathedral School, which was founded in 909 and is one of the five established musical schools for school-age children in Britain. The historic architecture of the city has also been used as a location for several films and television programmes.

History

The city was a Roman settlement but only became an important centre under the Saxons when King Ine of Wessex founded a minster church in 704. Two hundred years later, this became the seat of the local bishop; but in 1088, this had been removed to Bath. This caused severe arguments between the canons of Wells and the monks of Bath until the bishopric was renamed as the Diocese of Bath and Wells, to be elected by both religious houses. Wells became a borough some time before 1160 when Bishop Robert granted its first charter. Fairs were granted to the City before 1160.

Wells was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ''Welle'', from the Old English ''wiells'', which was not listed as a town, but included four manors with a population of 132, which implies a population of 500–600. Earlier names for the settlement have been identified which include ''Fontanetum'', in a charter of 725 granted by King Ina to Glastonbury and ''Fontanensis Ecclesia''. ''Tidesput'' or ''Tithesput furlang'' relates to the area east of the bishops garden in 1245. An established market had been created in Wells by 1136, and it remained under episcopal control until its city charter from Elizabeth I in 1589.

During the English Civil War, Parliamentarian troops used the cathedral to stable their horses and damaged much of the ornate sculpture by using it for firing practice. William Penn stayed in Wells shortly before leaving for America, spending a night at The Crown Inn. Here he was briefly arrested for addressing a large crowd in the market place, but released on the intervention of the Bishop of Bath and Wells.

During the Monmouth Rebellion the rebel army attacked the cathedral in an outburst against the established church and damaged the west front. Lead from the roof was used to make bullets, windows were broken, the organ smashed and horses stabled in the nave. Wells was the final location of the Bloody Assizes on September 23, 1685. In a makeshift court lasting only one day, over 500 men were tried and the majority sentenced to death.

There was a port at Bleadney on the River Axe in the 8th century that enabled goods to be brought to within of Wells. In the Middle Ages overseas trade was carried out from the port of Rackley. In the 14th century a French ship sailed up the river and by 1388 Thomas Tanner from Wells used Rackley to export cloth and corn to Portugal, and received iron and salt in exchange. Wells had been a centre for cloth making, however in the 16th and 17th centuries this diminished, but the town retained its important market focus.

Wells has had three railway stations. The first station, Priory Road, opened in 1859 and was on the Somerset Central Railway (later the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway) as the terminus of a short branch from Glastonbury. A second railway, the East Somerset, opened a branch line from Witham in 1862 and built a station to the east of Priory Road. In 1870, a third railway, the Cheddar Valley line branch of the Bristol and Exeter Railway from Yatton, reached Wells and built yet another station, later called Tucker Street. Matters were somewhat simplified when the Great Western Railway acquired both the Cheddar Valley and the East Somerset lines and built a link between the two that ran through the S&DJR;'s Priory Road station. In 1878, when through trains began running between Yatton and Witham, the East Somerset station closed, but through trains did not stop at Priory Road until 1934. Priory Road closed to passenger traffic in 1951 when the S&DJR; branch line from Glastonbury was shut, though it remained the city's main goods depot. Tucker Street closed in 1963 under the Beeching Axe, which closed the Yatton to Witham line to passengers. Goods traffic to Wells ceased in 1964. A Pacific SR West Country, West Country Class steam locomotive no 34092 built by the British Railways Board was named ''City of Wells'' following a ceremony in the city's Priory Road station in 1949. It was used to draw the Golden Arrow service between London and the Continent. It was withdrawn from service in 1964, and rescued from a scrapyard in 1971. It is now undergoing a complete restoration on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in Yorkshire.

During World War II, Stoberry Park in Wells was the location of a Prisoner of War camp, housing Italian prisoners from the Western Desert Campaign, and later German prisoners after the Battle of Normandy. Penleigh Camp on the Wookey Hole Road was a German working camp.

City status was confirmed and formalised by Queen Elizabeth II by letters patent issued under the Great Seal dated 1 April 1974.

Governance

Wells City Council has sixteen councillors, elected from three wards: Central, St.Thomas and St.Cuthbert. It was previously known as Wells Municipal Borough. The City Council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council's operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. They also evaluate local planning applications and work with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. This includes City Centre management including CCTV, an alcohol ban and regulating street trading permissions including the two funfairs held in the Market Place in May and November each year and the Wells In Bloom competition.

The city council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of city facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. They are involved in the management of the Community Sports Development Centre at the Blue School, the skateboard park and allotments in the grounds of the Bishop's Palace, Burcott Road and Barnes Close. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council. The Wells city arms show an ash tree surrounded by three wells, with the Latin motto ''Hoc fonte derivata copia'' (the fullness that springs from this well).

The Town Hall was built in 1778, with the porch and arcade being added in 1861 and the balcony and round windows in 1932. It is a Grade II listed building. It replaced the former on the site of the Market and Assize Hall in the Market Place, and a Canonical House also known as 'The Exchequer', on the authority of an Act of Parliament dated 1779. The building also houses the magistrates courts and other offices. The Assize court last sat here in October 1970.

Wells elects five councillors to Mendip District Council from the same three wards as are used for the City Council. The Mendip District was formed on April 1, 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. The district council is responsible for local planning and building control, local roads, council housing, environmental health, markets and fairs, refuse collection and recycling, cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism.

Wells has one councillor on the Somerset County Council, which is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such as education, social services, libraries, main roads, public transport, policing and fire services, trading standards, waste disposal and strategic planning. Wells is part of the UK Parliament constituency of Wells. The current Member of Parliament is Tessa Munt of the Liberal Democrats. Wells is within the South West England constituency of the European Parliament which elects six Members of the European Parliament using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.

Wells is twinned with Bad Dürkheim in Germany and Paray-le-Monial in the Burgundy region of France. , The Rifles and Harry Patch have the Freedom of the City.

Geography

Wells lies at the foot of the southern escarpment of the Mendip Hills where they meet the Somerset Levels. The hills are largely made of carboniferous limestone, which is quarried at several nearby sites. In the 1960s, the tallest mast in the region, the Mendip UHF television transmitter, was installed on Pen Hill above Wells.

The water from the springs fills the moat around the Bishops Place and then flows into Keward Brook, which carries it for approximately a mile west to the point where the brook joins the River Sheppey in the village of Coxley.

Along with the rest of South West England, the Mendip Hills have a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of England. The annual mean temperature is about 10 °C (50 °F) with seasonal and diurnal variations, but due to the modifying effect of the sea, the range is less than in most other parts of the United Kingdom. January is the coldest month with mean minimum temperatures between 1 °C (34 °F) and 2 °C (36 °F). July and August are the warmest months in the region with mean daily maxima around 21 °C (70 °F). In general, December is the dullest month and June the sunniest. The south west of England enjoys a favoured location, particularly in summer, when the Azores High extends its influence north-eastwards towards the UK.

Cloud often forms inland, especially near hills, and reduces exposure to sunshine. The average annual sunshine totals around 1600 hours. Rainfall tends to be associated with Atlantic depressions or with convection. In summer, convection caused by solar surface heating sometimes forms shower clouds and a large proportion of the annual precipitation falls from showers and thunderstorms at this time of year. Average rainfall is around 800–900 mm (31–35 in). About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, with June to August having the lightest. The predominant wind direction is from the south west.

Demography

The population of the civil parish, recorded in the 2001 census, is 10,406. Their average age is 44 years with 2,602 of the people being over the age of 65 years. 4,208 of the population are considered to be economically active. Within the 1,702 people living in the central ward 1,690 are white, and the predominant religion is Christian. Similar profiles are seen amongst the 4,577 people living in St Cuthberts Ward, and the 4,126 living in St Thomas's ward.

Economy

Following construction of the A39/A371 bypass, the centre of town has returned to being a quiet market city. It has all the modern conveniences plus shops, hotels and restaurants. Wells is a popular tourist destination, due to its historical sites, its proximity to Bath, Stonehenge and Glastonbury and its closeness to the Somerset coast. Also nearby are Wookey Hole Caves, the Mendip Hills and the Somerset Levels. Somerset cheese, including Cheddar, is made locally. Wells is part of the Wells & Shepton Mallet Travel to Work Area which also includes Glastonbury, Cheddar and surrounding areas.

Transport

Wells is situated at the junction of three numbered routes. The A39 goes north-east to Bath and south-west to Glastonbury and Bridgwater. The A371 goes north-west to Cheddar and east to Shepton Mallet. The B3139 goes west to Highbridge and north-east to Radstock. Wells is served by FirstGroup bus services to Bristol, Bath, Frome, Shepton Mallet, Yeovil, Street, Bridgwater, Taunton, Burnham on Sea and Weston-super-Mare, as well as providing some local service. Some National Express coach services call at Wells. The bus station is in Princes Road. The Mendip Way and Monarch's Way long-distance footpaths pass through the city, as does National Cycle Route 3.

Education

The Blue School, founded in 1654, is a state coeducational comprehensive school and has been awarded Specialist science college status. It has 1,453 students aged 11–18 of both sexes and all ability levels.

Wells Cathedral School, founded in 909, is an independent school that has a Christian emphasis and is one of the five established musical schools for school-age children in Britain. The school teaches over 700 pupils between the ages of 3 and 18. The school's boarding houses line the northern parts of the city and the music school retains close links with Wells Cathedral. The primary schools in Wells are Stoberry Park School, St Cuthbert's Church of England Infants School, St Joseph and St Teresa Catholic Primary School, and Wells Central CofE Junior School.

Culture

Wells and Mendip Museum includes many historical artefacts from the city and surrounding Mendip Hills. Wells is part of the West Country Carnival circuit.

The Wells Film centre shows current releases and, in conjunction with the Wells Film Society shows less well known and historical films. The previous cinema, The Regal in Priory Road, closed in 1993 and is now Kudos Nightclub. It was built in 1935 by ES Roberts from Flemish bond brickwork with Art Deco features. It is a Grade II listed building, and was on the Buildings at Risk Register until its restoration which included the restoration and repair of the stained glass façade. Wells Little Theatre is operated by a voluntary society which started in 1902. In 1989 they took over the old boy's building of Wells Blue School, where they put on a variety of operatic and other productions.

Religious sites

A walled precinct, the Liberty of St Andrew, encloses the twelfth century Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace, Vicar's Close and the residences of the clergy who serve the cathedral. Entrances include the Penniless Porch The Bishop's Eye and Brown's Gatehouse which were all built around 1450.

The cathedral is of the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells. Wells has been an ecclesiastical city of importance for hundreds of years. Parts of the building date back to the tenth century, and it is a grade I listed building. It is known for its fine fan vaulted ceilings, Lady Chapel and windows, and the scissor arches which support the central tower. The west front is said to be the finest collection of statuary in Europe, retaining almost 300 of its original medieval statues, carved from the cathedral's warm, yellow Doulting stone. The Chapter House, at the top of a flight of stone stairs, leading out from the north transept is an octagonal building with a fan-vaulted ceiling. It is here that the business of running the cathedral is still conducted by the members of the Chapter, the cathedral's ruling body. Wells Cathedral clock is famous for its 24-hour astronomical dial and set of jousting knights that perform every quarter hour. The cathedral has the heaviest ring of ten bells in the world. The tenor bell weighs just over 56 CWT (6,272 lb, 2,844 kg).

The Bishop's Palace has been the home of the bishops of the Diocese of Bath and Wells for 800 years. The hall and chapel date from the 14th century. There are of gardens including the springs from which the city takes its name. Visitors can also see the Bishop's private chapel, ruined great hall and the gatehouse with portcullis and drawbridge beside which mute swans ring a bell for food. The Bishop's Barn was built in the 15th century.

The Vicars' Close is the oldest residential street in Europe. The Close is tapered by to make it look longer when viewed from the bottom. When viewed from the top, however, it looks shorter. The Old Deanery dates from the 12th century, and St John's Priory from the 14th.

The Church of St Cuthbert (which tourists often mistake for the cathedral) has a fine Somerset stone tower and a superb carved roof. Originally an Early English building (13th century), it was much altered in the Perpendicular period (15th century). The nave's coloured ceiling was repainted in 1963 at the instigation of the then Vicar's wife, Mrs Barnett. Until 1561 the church had a central tower which either collapsed or was removed, and has been replaced with the current tower over the west door. Bells were cast for the tower by Roger Purdy.

Sport

The city has two football clubs, one being Wells City F.C., past winners of the Western League. The oldest football club in Wells though is Belrose FC who play their football in the Mid-Somerset Football League at Haybridge Park. Wells Cricket Club runs eight sides across senior, junior and ladies cricket. Wells Wanderers Cricket Club are based in Meare.

Mid Somerset Hockey Club and Wells City Acorns Hockey Club both play on the Astroturf pitches at the Blue School, where several other sports clubs are based. Wells Leisure Centre has a swimming pool, gymnasium, sports hall, sauna, steam room, relaxation area and solarium. The 18 hole Wells Golf Club is on the outskirts of the city and also has a driving range.

In popular culture

Elizabeth Goudge used Wells as a basis for the fictional cathedral city of Torminster, in her book ''City of Bells''

Wells has been used as the setting for several films including: ''The Canterbury Tales'' (1973), ''A Fistful of Fingers'' (1994), ''The Gathering '' (2002), ''The Libertine'' (2005), ''The Golden Age'' (2007), and ''Hot Fuzz'' (2007) The cathedral interior stood in for Southwark Cathedral during filming for the ''Doctor Who'' episode ''The Lazarus Experiment''.

Notable people

Herbert E. Balch – cave explorer and founder of Wells Museum. His name was given to Balch Road, a council estate that was built in the 1950s. Mary Bignall-Rand – Gold medalist and world record breaker in the long jump at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Harry George Crandon – awarded the Victoria Cross during the Boer War. Sir Chris Clarke – county councillor for Wells from 1985 to 2005. Alexander Davie – born in Wells 1847, became 7th Premier of British Columbia. Roger Hollis – Director General of MI5. John Holloway – Governor of Newfoundland (1807–1809) and Admiral of the Blue. John Keate – born in Wells 1773, went on to become headmaster at Eton where he restored discipline with the birch, and once flogged 80 boys in one day. James Keene – professional footballer formerly of Portsmouth FC, playing for IF Elfsborg in Sweden. Harry Patch – last trench veteran of World War I, and at 111, briefly the oldest man in Europe and 3rd oldest man in the world. He was born in the nearby village of Combe Down and at the time of his death in July 2009 he was living in local care home Fletcher House. Hugh of Wells – native of Wells, Bishop, elder brother of Jocelin of Wells. Jocelin of Wells – native of Wells, Bishop, aided in creation of Magna Carta and largely responsible for the construction of the cathedral. Edgar Wright – film and television director. Directed ''Hot Fuzz'', which was filmed in the city.

See also

Visitor attractions in Somerset

References

External links

Wells City Council

Category:Mendip Hills Category:Prisoner of war camps in the United Kingdom Category:Monarch's Way Category:Civil parishes in Somerset Category:Cities in South West England Category:Market towns in Somerset Category:Mendip

ca:Wells cs:Wells cy:Wells de:Wells es:Wells eo:Wells eu:Wells fa:ولز، انگلستان fr:Wells (Angleterre) it:Wells la:Wellae nl:Wells (Engeland) ja:ウェルズ (イングランド) no:Wells nn:Wells pnb:ولز (برطانیہ) pl:Wells (Anglia) ro:Wells ru:Уэлс simple:Wells fi:Wells tl:Wells tr:Wells vo:Wells (Somerset) war:Wells zh:韋爾斯 (薩默塞特郡)

Coordinates	29°57′53″N90°4′14″N
name	Archduke Franz Ferdinand
succession	Archduke of Austria-Este
reign	1889–1914
reign-tpe	Pretendence
predecessor	Francis II As Archduke of Austria-Este Also Francis V as Duke of Modena
successor	Charles
birth date	December 18, 1863
birth place	Graz, Austrian Empire
death date	June 28, 1914
death place	Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary
spouse	Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg
issue	Princess Sophie von HohenbergMaximilian, Duke of HohenbergPrince Ernst von Hohenberg
house	House of Habsburg-Lorraine
father	Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria
mother	Princess Maria Annunciata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
religion	Roman Catholic
signature	Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria Signature.svg }}

{{infobox austriaemperorstyles| royal name	Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este| dipstyleHis Imperial and Royal Highness| offstyleYour Imperial and Royal Highness| altstyleSir|}}

Franz Ferdinand (18 December 1863 – 28 June 1914) was an Archduke of Austria-Este, Austro-Hungarian and Royal Prince of Hungary and of Bohemia, and from 1889 until his death, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne. His assassination in Sarajevo precipitated Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia. This caused the Central Powers (including Germany and Austria-Hungary) and the Allies of World War I (countries allied with Serbia) to declare war on each other, starting World War I.

He was born in Graz, Austria, the oldest son of Archduke Karl Ludwig of Austria (younger brother of Franz Joseph and Maximilian) and of his second wife, Princess Maria Annunciata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. When he was only twelve years old, his cousin Duke Francis V of Modena died, naming Franz Ferdinand his heir on condition that he add the name Este to his own. Franz Ferdinand thus became one of the wealthiest men in Austria.

Heir presumptive

In 1889, Franz Ferdinand's life changed dramatically. His cousin Crown Prince Rudolf committed suicide at his hunting lodge in Mayerling, leaving Franz Ferdinand's father, Archduke Karl Ludwig, as first in line to the throne. However, his father renounced his succession rights a few days after the Crown Prince's death. Henceforth, Franz Ferdinand was groomed to succeed. Despite this burden, he did manage to find time for travel and personal pursuits - for example, the time he spent hunting kangaroos and emus in Australia in 1893, and the return trip to Austria sailing across the Pacific on the RMS ''Empress of China'' from Yokohama to Vancouver.

Military career

Franz Ferdinand, like most males in the ruling Habsburg line, entered the army from a young age. He was frequently and rapidly promoted, given the rank of lieutenant at age fourteen, captain at twenty-two, colonel at twenty-seven, and major general at thirty-one. While never receiving formal staff training, he was considered eligible for command and at one point briefly led the primarily Hungarian 9th Hussar Regiment. In 1898 he was given a commission "at the special disposition of His Majesty" to make inquiries into all aspects of the military services and military agencies were commanded to share their papers with him.

He exerted influence on the armed forces even when he did not hold a specific command through a military chancery that produced and received documents and papers on military affairs. This was headed by Alexander Brosch von Aarenau and eventually employed a staff of sixteen..

By 1913 Franz Ferdinand, as heir to the elderly emperor, had been appointed inspector general of all the armed forces of Austria-Hungary (''Generalinspektor der gesamten bewaffneten Macht''), a position superior to that previously held by Archduke Albrecht and including presumed command in wartime.

Marriage and family

In 1895 Franz Ferdinand met Countess Sophie Chotek at a ball in Prague. To be an eligible marriage partner for a member of the Imperial House of Habsburg, one had to be a member of one of the reigning or formerly reigning dynasties of Europe. The Choteks were not one of these families, although they did include among their ancestors, in the female line, princes of Baden, Hohenzollern-Hechingen, and Liechtenstein. One of Sophie's direct ancestors was Albert IV, Count of Habsburg; he was descended from Elisabeth of Habsburg, a sister of King Rudolph I of Germany. Franz Ferdinand was a descendant of King Rudolph I. Sophie was a lady-in-waiting to Archduchess Isabella, wife of Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen. Franz Ferdinand began to visit Archduke Friedrich's villa in Pressburg (now Bratislava). Sophie wrote to Franz Ferdinand during his convalescence from tuberculosis on the island of Lošinj in the Adriatic. They kept their relationship a secret for more than two years.

Deeply in love, Franz Ferdinand refused to consider marrying anyone else. Pope Leo XIII, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and the German Emperor Wilhelm II all made representations on his behalf to Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, arguing that the disagreement between Franz Joseph and Franz Ferdinand was undermining the stability of the monarchy.

Finally, in 1899, Emperor Franz Joseph agreed to permit Franz Ferdinand to marry Sophie, on condition that the marriage would be morganatic and that their descendants would not have succession rights to the throne. Sophie would not share her husband's rank, title, precedence, or privileges; as such, she would not normally appear in public beside him. She would not be allowed to ride in the royal carriage or sit in the royal box.

The wedding took place on 1 July 1900, at Reichstadt (now Zákupy) in Bohemia; Franz Joseph did not attend the affair, nor did any archduke including Franz Ferdinand's brothers. The only members of the imperial family who were present were Franz Ferdinand's stepmother, Princess Maria Theresa of Braganza, and her two daughters. Upon the marriage, Sophie was given the title "Princess of Hohenberg" (''Fürstin von Hohenberg'') with the style "Her Serene Highness" (''Ihre Durchlaucht''). In 1909, she was given the more senior title "Duchess of Hohenberg" (''Herzogin von Hohenberg'') with the style "Her Highness" (''Ihre Hoheit''). This raised her status considerably, but she still yielded precedence at court to all the archduchesses. Whenever a function required the couple to gather with the other members of royalty, Sophie was forced to stand far down the line of importance, separated from her husband.

Franz Ferdinand's children were:

Princess Sophie von Hohenberg (1901–1990), married Count Friedrich von Nostitz-Rieneck (1891–1973)

Maximilian, Duke of Hohenberg (1902–1962), married Countess Elisabeth von Waldburg zu Wolfegg und Waldsee (1904–1993)

Prince Ernst von Hohenberg (1904–1954), married Marie-Therese Wood (1910–1985)

Character

The German historian Michael Freund described Franz Ferdinand as "a man of uninspired energy, dark in appearance and emotion, who radiated an aura of strangeness and cast a shadow of violence and recklessness ... a true personality amidst the amiable inanity that characterized Austrian society at this time." As his sometime admirer Karl Kraus put it, "he was not one who would greet you ... he felt no compulsion to reach out for the unexplored region which the Viennese call their heart." His relations with Emperor Franz Joseph were tense; the emperor's personal servant recalled in his memoirs that "thunder and lightning always raged when they had their discussions." The commentaries and orders which the heir to the throne wrote as margin notes to the documents of the Imperial central commission for architectural conservation (where he was Protector) reveal what can be described as "choleric conservativism."

Franz Ferdinand had a fondness for trophy hunting that was excessive even by the standards of European nobility of this time. In his diaries he kept track of an estimated 300,000 game kills, 5,000 of which were deer. A small fraction of the trophies were on exhibit at his Bohemian castle at Konopiště which he also stuffed with various antiquities, his other great collection passion.

Political views

Historians have disagreed on how to characterize the political philosophies of Franz Ferdinand, some attributing generally liberal views on the empire's nationalities while others have emphasized his dynastic centralism, Catholic conservatism, and tendency to clash with other leaders. Yet his feelings towards the Hungarians were less generous; he regarded Magyar nationalism as a revolutionary threat to the Habsburg dynasty and reportedly became angry when officers of the 9th Hussars Regiment (which he commanded) spoke Magyar in his presence - despite the fact that it was the official regimental language. He further regarded the Hungarian branch of the Dual Monarchy's army, the Honvédség, as an unreliable and potentially threatening force within the empire, complaining at the Hungarians' failure to provide funds for the joint army and opposing the formation of artillery units within the Hungarian forces.

He also advocated a careful approach towards Serbia - repeatedly locking horns with Franz Conrad von Hötzendorf, Vienna's hard-line Chief of the General Staff, warning that harsh treatment of Serbia would bring Austria-Hungary into open conflict with Russia, to the ruin of both Empires.

He was disappointed when Austria-Hungary failed to act as a Great Power, such as during the Boxer Rebellion; in 1900 other nations, including, in his description, "dwarf states like Belgium and Portugal", sent troops to protect Westerners and punish the Chinese, but Austria-Hungary did not.

Franz Ferdinand was a prominent and influential supporter of the Austro-Hungarian Navy in a time when sea power was not a priority in Austrian foreign policy and the Navy was relatively little known and supported by the public. After his assassination in 1914, the Navy honoured Franz Ferdinand and his wife with a lying in state aboard the SMS Viribus Unitis.

Assassination

On Sunday, 28 June 1914, at approximately 1:15 pm, Franz Ferdinand and his wife were killed in Sarajevo, the capital of the Austro-Hungarian province of Bosnia and Herzegovina, by Gavrilo Princip, 19 at the time, a member of Young Bosnia and one of a group of assassins organized by the Black Hand. The event led to a chain of events that eventually triggered World War I.

The couple had previously been attacked when a grenade was thrown at their car. Ferdinand deflected the grenade and it detonated far behind them. He is known to have shouted in anger to local officials, "So you welcome your guests with bombs?!"

The royal couple insisted on seeing all those injured at the hospital. After travelling there, Franz and Sophie decided to go to the palace, but their driver took a wrong turn onto a side street, where Princip spotted them. As the car was backing up, Princip approached and shot Sophie in the abdomen and Franz Ferdinand in the jugular. He was still alive when witnesses arrived to render aid. His dying words to Sophie were, 'Don't die darling, live for our children.' Princip had used the Browning .32 ACP cartridge, a relatively low-power round, and a pocket-sized FN model 1910 pistol. The archduke's aides attempted to undo his coat but realized they needed scissors to cut it open. It was too late; he died within minutes. Sophie also died en route to the hospital.

A detailed account of the shooting can be found in ''Sarajevo'' by Joachim Remak:

One bullet pierced Franz Ferdinand's neck while the other pierced Sophie's abdomen. ... As the car was reversing (to go back to the Governor's residence because the entourage thought the Imperial couple were unhurt) a thin streak of blood shot from the Archduke's mouth onto Count Harrach's right cheek (he was standing on the car's running board). Harrach drew out a handkerchief to still the gushing blood. The Duchess, seeing this, called: "For Heaven's sake! What happened to you?" and sank from her seat, her face falling between her husband's knees.

Harrach and Potoriek ... thought she had fainted ... only her husband seemed to have an instinct for what was happening. Turning to his wife despite the bullet in his neck, Franz Ferdinand pleaded: "''Sopherl! Sopherl! Sterbe nicht! Bleibe am Leben für unsere Kinder!'' - Sophie dear! Don't die! Stay alive for our children!". Having said this, he seemed to sag down himself. His plumed hat ... fell off; many of its green feathers were found all over the car floor. Count Harrach seized the Archduke by the uniform collar to hold him up. He asked "''Leiden Eure Kaiserliche Hoheit sehr?'' - Is Your Imperial Highness suffering very badly?" "Es ist nichts - It is nothing" said the Archduke in a weak but audible voice. He seemed to be losing consciousness during his last few minutes, but, his voice growing steadily weaker, he repeated the phrase perhaps six or seven times more.

A rattle began to issue from his throat, which subsided as the car drew in front of the Konak bersibin (Town Hall). Despite several doctors' efforts, the Archduke died shortly after being carried into the building while his beloved wife was almost certainly dead from internal bleeding before the motorcade reached the Konak.

The assassinations, along with the arms race, nationalism, imperialism, militarism, and the alliance system all contributed to the Origins of World War I, which began less than two months after Franz Ferdinand's death, with Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia. The assassination of Ferdinand is considered the most immediate cause of World War I.

Franz Ferdinand is interred with his wife Sophie in Artstetten Castle, Austria. Video: Franz Ferdinand's Funeral

Present-day commemorations

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his Castle of Artstetten were selected as a main motif for the Austrian 10 euro The Castle of Artstetten commemorative coin, minted on 13 October 2004. The reverse shows the entrance to the crypt of the Hohenberg family. There are two portraits below, showing Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg.

See also

List of heirs to the Austrian throne

Ancestry

{{ahnentafel-compact5 |style=font-size: 90%; line-height: 110%; |border=1 |boxstyle=padding-top: 0; padding-bottom: 0; |boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc; |boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9; |boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc; |boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc; |boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe; |1= 1. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria |2= 2. Archduke Carl Ludwig of Austria |3= 3. Princess Maria Annunciata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies |4= 4. Archduke Franz Karl of Austria |5= 5. Princess Sophie of Bavaria |6= 6. Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies |7= 7. Maria Theresa of Austria |8= 8. Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor |9= 9. Maria Teresa of the Two Sicilies |10= 10. Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria |11= 11. Caroline of Baden |12= 12. Francis I of the Two Sicilies |13= 13. Maria Isabella of Spain |14= 14. Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen |15= 15. Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg |16= 16. Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor |17= 17. Maria Louisa of Spain |18= 18. Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies |19= 19. Marie Caroline of Austria |20= 20. Count Palatine Frederick Michael of Zweibrücken |21= 21. Countess Palatine Maria Franziska of Sulzbach |22= 22. Margrave Charles Louis of Baden |23= 23. Landgravine Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt |24= 24. Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies (=18) |25= 25. Maria Carolina of Austria (=19) |26= 26. Charles IV of Spain |27= 27. Maria Luisa of Parma |28= 28. Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor (=16) |29= 29. Maria Louisa of Spain (=17) |30= 30. Frederick William, Duke of Nassau |31= 31. Burgravine Louise Isabelle of Kirchberg }}

References

Notes

External links

Archduke Francis Ferdinand d'Este (in Czech language)

Francis Ferdinand at Findagrave.com

Category:1863 births Category:1914 deaths Category:1914 crimes Category:Roman Catholic monarchs Category:Austrian Roman Catholics Category:Hungarian Roman Catholics Category:Archdukes of Austria Category:Attempted assassination survivors Category:Assassinated royalty Category:Austro-Hungarian Army officers Category:Austro-Hungarian people of World War I Category:Bohemian princes Category:Deaths by firearm in Bosnia and Herzegovina Category:Extra Knights Companion of the Garter Category:House of Austria-Este Category:House of Habsburg-Lorraine Category:Hungarian princes Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary Category:Knights of the Golden Fleece Category:Knights of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation Category:People from Graz Category:Burials at the Imperial Crypts, Vienna

ar:فرانز فرديناند ast:Franz Ferdinand (archiduque) be:Франц Фердынанд bs:Franjo Ferdinand Austrijski bg:Франц Фердинанд ca:Francesc Ferran d'Àustria ceb:Franz Ferdinand sa Awstriya cs:František Ferdinand d'Este cy:Franz Ferdinand da:Franz Ferdinand de:Franz Ferdinand von Österreich-Este et:Franz Ferdinand el:Φραγκίσκος Φερδινάνδος της Αυστρίας es:Francisco Fernando de Austria eo:Franz Ferdinand d'Este eu:Franz Ferdinand Austriakoa fa:آرشیدوک فرانتس فردیناند fr:François-Ferdinand d'Autriche fy:Franz Ferdinand fan Eastenryk ga:Ard-diúc Franz Ferdinand na hOstaire gl:Francisco Fernando de Austria ko:오스트리아 대공 프란츠 페르디난트 hr:Franjo Ferdinand id:Franz Ferdinand dari Austria is:Frans Ferdinand erkihertogi it:Francesco Ferdinando d'Asburgo-Este he:פרנץ פרדיננד, ארכידוכס אוסטריה ka:ფრანც ფერდინანდი (ავსტრია-უნგრეთი) ku:Franz Ferdinand krc:Франц Фердинанд la:Franciscus Ferdinandus (archidux Austriae) lv:Francis Ferdinands lt:Pranciškus Ferdinandas hu:Habsburg–Lotaringiai Ferenc Ferdinánd főherceg mk:Франц Фердинанд ms:Archduke Franz Ferdinand dari Austria nah:Franz Ferdinand nl:Frans Ferdinand van Oostenrijk-Este ja:フランツ・フェルディナント・フォン・エスターライヒ＝エステ no:Franz Ferdinand av Østerrike-Este pl:Franciszek Ferdynand Habsburg pt:Francisco Fernando da Áustria-Hungria ro:Arhiducele Franz Ferdinand al Austriei ru:Франц Фердинанд sa:फ़्रान्ज़ फर्डिनान्ड sco:Airchduke Franz Ferdinand o Austrick simple:Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria sk:František Ferdinand d'Este sl:Franc Ferdinand sr:Франц Фердинанд sh:Franjo Ferdinand fi:Franz Ferdinand sv:Franz Ferdinand tl:Artsiduke Franz Ferdinand ng Austria ta:பிரான்ஸ் பேர்டினண்ட் tt:Эрцгерцог Франц-Фердинанд th:อาร์คดยุคฟรานซ์ เฟอร์ดินานด์แห่งออสเตรีย tr:Franz Ferdinand (Avusturya Arşidükü) uk:Франц Фердинанд vi:Thái tử Franz Ferdinand của Áo fiu-vro:Franz Ferdinand war:Arkoduke Franz Ferdinand han Austrya zh:弗朗茨·斐迪南大公

Coordinates	29°57′53″N90°4′14″N
name	Dawn Wells
birth name	Dawn Elberta Wells
birth date	October 18, 1938
birth place	Reno, Nevada, U.S.
occupation	Actress
years active	1961–present
website	http://www.dawn-wells.com/ }}

Dawn Elberta Wells (born October 18, 1938) is an American actress known for playing Mary Ann Summers on the sitcom ''Gilligan's Island'' during its run from 1964 until 1967.

Early life

Wells was born in Reno, Nevada. Growing up, Wells attended Reno High School. She later attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, where she majored in chemistry. She transferred to the University of Washington in Seattle, where she graduated in 1960 with a degree in theater arts. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.

In 1959, Wells was crowned Miss Nevada and represented her state in the 1960 Miss America pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Career

After moving to Hollywood, she began appearing in guest roles in such television series as ''77 Sunset Strip'', ''The Cheyenne Show'' on ABC, ''Maverick'' on ABC, and ''Bonanza'' on NBC, before the role of Mary Ann on ''Gilligan's Island''. She reprised her role in the various ''Gilligan's Island'' reunion specials.

Wells starred with Michael Dante in the independent film ''Winterhawk'' (1975), playing a Western settler kidnapped by a Native-American chief. She continued guest starring in various television series.

Following ''Gilligan's Island'', Wells embarked on a very successful theater career that is still going strong to this day. She has appeared in nearly 100 theatrical productions as of July 2009. She spent the majority of the 1970s and 1980s touring in musical theatre productions. She also had a one-woman show she performed at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 1985.

In the 1990s, she became a spokesperson for Western Union, Cuisinart, Long John Silver's, Coca-Cola and 1800collect.

In 1993, Wells published ''Mary Ann's Gilligan's Island Cookbook'' with co-writers Ken Beck & Jim Clark, including a foreword by Bob Denver.

In 2005, Wells consigned for sale her original gingham blouse and shorts ensemble from her signature role. A Beverly Hills auction house, Profiles in History, sold it for $20,700.

In 2008, Wells came to Los Angeles to join Sherwood Schwartz, the creator of ''Gilligan's Island'' for the celebration of Schwartz' entry into the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Personal life

She was married to Larry Rosen, a talent agent, from 1962 to 1967. The couple had no children.

Wells spent summers in her early years in the Teton Valley of eastern Idaho, and relocated there in the 1990s. In Idaho, she runs a successful business, Wishing Wells Collections, making clothing for people with limited mobility. She is the founder of the Idaho Film and Television Institute, a not-for-profit (501c3) educational organization with "A vision of education, technical training and economic development in Southeastern Idaho." She organized SpudFest, a regional annual family movie festival, and has been a spokesperson for Idaho Potatoes.

Wells continues to lend her support to the Denver Foundation, a charity chaired by Dreama Denver, widow of Wells' ''Gilligan’s Island'' co-star Bob Denver. In November 2009, she appeared at the Denver Foundation's Christmas Wish Celebrity Auction, helping to raise funds for the disabled and disadvantaged in West Virginia.

While driving home from her birthday party celebration on October 18, 2007, Wells was observed swerving across the roadway and was arrested by Idaho police. Wells plead guilty to one count of reckless driving, was fined and served six months' unsupervised probation. In a statement, Wells admitted swerving, saying she was reaching for her car heater controls. Wells lost a speaking engagement because of the incident.

Partial filmography

''The Everglades'' (1961) (part of Piney)

''The Cheyenne Show'' (1961) TV episode 102: "Lone Patrol" (Part of Sarah Claypool)

''Maverick'' (1961) TV episode 105: "The Deadly Image" (Part of Caprice Rambeau)

''Bonanza'' (1962) TV episode: "The Way Station" (part of Marty Johnson)

''Palm Springs Weekend'' (1963)

''The New Interns'' (1964)

''Gilligan's Island'' (1964–1967)

''Bonanza'' (1968) TV episode: "The Burning Sky" (part of Moon Holt)

''Winterhawk'' (1975)

''The Town That Dreaded Sundown'' (1976)

''Return to Boggy Creek'' (1977)

''Rescue from Gilligan's Island'' (1978)

''The Castaways on Gilligan's Island'' (1979)

''High School U.S.A.'' (1983)

''ALF'' (1987) TV episode: "Somewhere Over the Rerun. aka. The Ballad of Gilligan's Island" (part of Mary Ann)

''The Princess and the Dwarf'' (1989)

''Soulmates'' (1992)

''Space Ghost Coast to Coast'' (1994) one episode: herself

''Lover's Knot'' (1996)

''Super Sucker'' (2002)

''Forever for Now'' (2004)

''Cyber Meltdown'' (2005)

References

External links

Category:1938 births Category:American television actors Category:Miss America delegates Category:People from Teton County, Idaho Category:People from Reno, Nevada Category:Reno High School alumni Category:Stephens College people Category:University of Washington alumni Category:Living people Category:Actors from Nevada Category:Actors from Idaho

de:Dawn Wells fr:Dawn Wells ms:Dawn Wells nl:Dawn Wells sv:Dawn Wells

Coordinates	29°57′53″N90°4′14″N
name	Emily Wells
background	non_vocal_instrumentalist
born	November 20Amarillo, Texas
instrument	Violin, Piano, Glockenspiel, Guitar, Banjo
genre	Folk, Folk rock, Folktronica, Acoustic
occupation	Musician
years active	1999-present
notable instruments	}}

Emily Wells (born November 20) is a violinist whose style "merge[s] ... hip-hop and classical". She also uses many other instruments in her work, including glockenspiels, analog synthesizers, and even toy pianos and other toy instruments. In live performances, she does not use any pre-recorded loops, rather she creates her loops while performing. Her first violin was a "plastic violin from Michael's."

Biography and Musical Career

Emily Wells was born in Amarillo, Texas to a French horn teacher. In 1990 she moved with her family to Indianapolis, Indiana, where she lived until she began traveling in 2000. While traveling, she made her "home base" primarily in New York, where she now once again resides, after an 8-year residence in Los Angeles.

She began playing the violin at age 4 and began releasing albums on her own. In 2000, she "took up" with Epic Records but did not actually sign with them.

She has released numerous unofficial releases, starting at age 13 with a cassette tape (producing 100 copies), but her "official" releases are ''Symphonies'', ''Sleepyhead'', and ''Dirty''.

Television and Media

On September 17, 2009, Wells was interviewed and performed “Symphony 1 in the Barrel of a Gun” on Last Call with Carson Daly.

Collaborations

''Dirtbike 1/3'', Buck 65 (August 2008)

"Symphony #3" from ''Sympanies'', Dwight Farrell (AKA Count Bass D)

Discography

!Name	!Label	!Year
Midori Sour	Self-Released	1999
Music for Geek Love		2004
Making Static		2005
Beautiful Sleepyhead & the Laughing Yaks	Edub Productions	2007
The Symphonies: Dreams Memories & Parties	Creative Control Records	2008
Dirty (EP)		2009

References

External links

Emily Wells at Facebook

Category:Living people Category:1981 births Category:American violinists Category:Musicians from Texas

ro:Emily Wells

Coordinates	29°57′53″N90°4′14″N
name	Junior Wells
background	solo_singer
birth name	Amos Wells Blakemore Jr.
born	December 09, 1934
died	January 15, 1998
origin	Memphis, Tennessee or West Memphis, Arkansas
instrument	Vocals, harmonica
genre	Blues
years active	1950s1997
label	States, Chief, Profile, Delmark, Vanguard, Telarc
associated acts	The AcesJunior Wells Chicago Blues BandBuddy Guy
website	Delmark Records official website
notable instruments	}}

Junior Wells (December 9, 1934January 15, 1998), born Amos Wells Blakemore Jr., was a Chicago blues vocalist, harmonica player, and recording artist. Wells, who was best-known for his performances and recordings with Muddy Waters, Earl Hooker, and Buddy Guy, also performed with Bonnie Raitt, The Rolling Stones, and Van Morrison.

Life and career

Junior Wells was possibly born in Memphis, Tennessee and raised in West Memphis, Arkansas, though other sources report his birth was in West Memphis. Initially taught by his cousin, Junior Parker, and Sonny Boy Williamson II, Wells learned how to play the harmonica by the age of seven with surprising skill. He moved to Chicago in 1948 with his mother after her divorce and began sitting in with local musicians at house parties and taverns. Wild and rebellious but needing an outlet for his talents, he began performing with The Aces (guitarist brothers Dave and Louis Myers and drummer Fred Below) and developed a more modern amplified harmonica style influenced by Little Walter. In 1952, he made his first recordings, when he replaced Little Walter in Muddy Waters' band and appeared on one of Waters' sessions for Chess Records in 1952. His first recordings as a band leader were made in the following year for States Records. In the later 1950s and early 1960s he also recorded singles for Chief Records and its Profile Records subsidiary, including "Messin' with the Kid", "Come on in This House", and "It Hurts Me Too", which would remain in his repertoire throughout his career. His 1960 Profile single "Little by Little" (written by Chief owner and producer Mel London) reached #23 in the Billboard R&B; chart, making it the first of two Wells' singles to enter the chart.

Junior Wells worked with guitarist Buddy Guy in the 1960s, and featured Guy on guitar when he recorded his first album, ''Hoodoo Man Blues'' for Delmark Records. Wells and Guy supported the Rolling Stones on numerous occasions in the 1970s. Although his albums ''South Side Blues Jam'' (1971) and ''On Tap'' (1975) proved he had not lost his aptitude for Chicago blues, his 1980s and 1990s discs were inconsistent. However, 1996's ''Come On in This House'' was an intriguing set of classic blues songs with a rotating cast of slide guitarists, among them Alvin Youngblood Hart, Corey Harris, Sonny Landreth and Derek Trucks. Wells made an appearance in the film ''Blues Brothers 2000'', the sequel to ''The Blues Brothers'', which was released in 1998.

Wells continued performing until he was diagnosed with cancer in the summer of 1997. That fall, he suffered a heart attack while undergoing treatment, sending him into a coma. Wells died after succumbing to lymphoma on January 15, 1998 and was interred in the Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago.

Album discography

''Hoodoo Man Blues'' † (1965)

''It's My Life, Baby!'' † (1966)

''Chicago/The Blues/Today!'' vol. 1 † (1966)

''On Tap'' (1974)

''You're Tuff Enough'' (1968)

''Coming at You'' † (1968)

''Live at the Golden Bear'' (1969)

''Southside Blues Jam'' † (1969)

''Buddy and the Juniors'' † (1970)

''In My Younger Days'' (1972)

''Buddy Guy & Junior Wells Play the Blues'' † (1972)

''Live At Montreux'' † (1977)

''Blues Hit Big Town'' (1977)

''Pleading the Blues'' † (1979)

''Got To Use Your Head'' (1979)

''Drinkin' TNT 'n' Smokin' Dynamite'' † (1982)

''The Original Blues Brothers'' (1983)

''Messin’ With The Kid, Vol 1'' (1986)

''Universal Rock'' (1986)

''Chiefly Wells'' (1986)

''Harp Attack!'' (1990)

''1957-1966'' (1991)

''Alone & Acoustic'' † (1991)

''Undisputed Godfather of the Blues'' (1993)

''Better Off with the Blues'' † (1993)

''Messin’ With The Kid 1957-63'' (1995)

''Everybody's Getting' Some'' (1995)

''Come on in This House'' (1996)

''Live at Buddy Guy's Legends'' (1997)

''Keep On Steppin’: The Best Of…'' (1998)

''Best Of The Vanguard Years'' (1998)

''Masters'' (1998)

''Buddy Guy & Junior Wells'' † (1998)

''Last Time Around –- Live at Legends'' (1998)

''Junior Wells & Friends'' (1999)

''Every Day I Have The Blues'' (2000)

''Calling All Blues'' (2000)

''Buddy Guy & Junior Wells'' † (2001)

''Best Of..'' (2001)

''Live at Theresa's 1975'' (2006)

:(† featuring Buddy Guy)

See also

Chicago Blues Festival

References

External links

Centerstage Chicago Obituary

Elvis Pelvis Obituary

Island Net Obituary

Category:1934 births Category:1998 deaths Category:African American musicians Category:Blues Hall of Fame inductees Category:Blues revival musicians Category:American blues harmonica players Category:Deaths from lymphoma Category:Harmonica blues musicians Category:People from Memphis, Tennessee Category:People from West Memphis, Arkansas Category:People from Chicago, Illinois Category:Chicago blues musicians Category:Vanguard Records artists

ca:Junior Wells de:Junior Wells es:Junior Wells fr:Junior Wells it:Junior Wells he:ג'וניור ולס ja:ジュニア・ウェルズ pl:Junior Wells pt:Junior Wells fi:Junior Wells