BURNING THE CAPITOL

In 1814, during the War of 1812, British Admiral Cockburn (yes, that was his name) was determined to embarrass the Americans by attacking their capital.  He was also interested in revenge for the sack of York in Canada.  He brushed aside a force of militiamen (with President Madison witnessing in Read more

BUT IT STILL MOVES

In 1632, Galileo published his Dialogue on Two Chief World Systems which supported the Copernican theory that the sun was the center of the Universe and the Earth moved around it.  The book caught the attention of the Inquisition which summoned Galileo to Rome for trial.  Under threat of torture, Read more

P.S. I DIE TOMORROW

                Frederick the Great was known for the strict discipline in his army.  When his army was on the march, he ordered that all fires and lights be extinguished by a certain hour.  One night he was walking through his camp after the curfew and saw a light in a Read more