An interesting historical story.
On June 28, 1880, the notorious Australian outlaw Ned Kelly was captured. Ned Kelly’s father was sent to Australia from Ireland for stealing two pigs. As a boy, the young Ned saved another boy from drowning, but his future would be focused on taking lives. The son took after Read more
Recently I started a debate over who was the best Roman general. I proposed Scipio Africanus as the best and many proposed others, particularly Julius Caesar. I think that those who support Caesar certainly have plenty of evidence to back up their choice. I will readily concede that he is Read more
One of the biggest mysteries of the 20th Century was what happened to Anastasia. Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaeuna was born on June 18, 1901. She was the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II of Russia. Her birth was a disappointment to the Czar, who was hoping for a make Read more
Catherine was the daughter of Lorenzo the Magnificent who ruled Florence. She was orphaned when both parents died within weeks of her birth. When her family was overthrown at age 8, she was taken hostage and shuffled from nunnery to nunnery. She was rescued by her uncle Pope Clement Read more
The first American flag was nicknamed the Continental Colors. It was used by the Second Continental Congress at the time of the Declaration of Independence. It had the Union Jack (the British flag design) in the upper corner and 13 red and white stripes. Surprisingly, it resembled the British East Read more
The history of the British monarchy sometimes seems like a soap opera. One juicy story is the one about “The Princes in the Tower”. It is one of the most fascinating mysteries in British history. On April 9, 1483, King Edward IV died. Since he had a son, there should Read more
Mary Ann Bickerdyke was born in Ohio in 1817. She was one of the first women to attend Oberlin College. She became a botanical doctor, using alternative medicines like herbs and plants. After the Civil War broke out, a friend who was a regimental surgeon wrote her a letter Read more
When America entered the war, the American military leaders wanted the invasion of northern France to occur in 1942 to open a second front to help take pressure of the Soviet Union and to get into the fight. Churchill and the British high command wanted to postpone the invasion and Read more
Allen Ginsberg was born on June 3, 1926. His father was a teacher who dabbled in poetry. His mother was a Marxist who suffered from schizophrenia. She spent most of her childhood in mental institutions. In high school, he was influenced by the poetry of Walt Whitman. He had some Read more