When Donald Gagne was born on 19 February 1927, in Eureka, Humboldt, California, United States, his father, Joseph Thomas Gagne, was 26 and his mother, Florence I. Herron, was 24. He had at least 2 daughters with Thelma Christina "Dolly" Fraser. He died on 23 February 1979, at the age of 52.
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13 million people become unemployed after the Wall Street stock market crash of 1929 triggers what becomes known as the Great Depression. President Herbert Hoover rejects direct federal relief.
The Star-Spangled Banner is adopted as the national anthem.
Alcatraz Island officially became Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary on August 11, 1934. The island is situated in the middle of frigid water and strong currents of the San Francisco Bay, which deemed it virtually inescapable. Alcatraz became known as the toughest prison in America and was seen as a “last resort prison.” Therefore, Alcatraz housed some of America’s most notorious prisoners such as Al Capone and Robert Franklin Stroud. Due to the exorbitant cost of running the prison, and the deterioration of the buildings due to salt spray, Alcatraz Island closed as a penitentiary on March 21, 1963.
Some characteristic forenames: French Armand, Lucien, Marcel, Andre, Fernand, Normand, Donat, Jacques, Rosaire, Adrien, Cecile, Emile.
Altered form (Gagné) of French Gasnier, a cognate of Garnier . Compare Gagner 1, Gagnier 1, Gonia , and Gonyer .
French (Gagné): occupational name for a farmer or peasant, derived from Old French gaaignier ‘to cultivate or work (the land)’. Compare Gagner 3 and Gagnier 2.
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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