August 7: On This Day in 1876 - Mata Hari

August 7, 1876: On this day, Mata Hari, which means "child of the dawn" was born Margaret Gertrude Zelle in Leewarden, Netherlands. 

Her spectacular career as a dancer, courtesan and spy made her known around the world. Probably an ineffective double-agent, she nevertheless fascinated royalty and high officials of several countries.  Arrested as a German spy (Agent H-21) in a Paris hotel on February 13, 1917, she was tried, convicted and sentenced to death. 

The greatest of her many roles was her final one - when she refused a blindfold and threw a kiss to the firing squad in Vincennes, France, on October 15, 1917.