Andrew Jackson had his enemies, like the entire Whig Party, but it was a lunatic who tried to take him out. Richard Lawrence came to America from England at age 12. He grew up to become a house painter, but as an adult he began to evidence bizarre behavior, Read more…
Caligula was one of the most famous evil Roman emperors. His depravity has been well chronicled. For example, he supposedly proposed that his favorite horse Incitatus be appointed as consul. He killed his sister who he had impregnated. These are famous anecdotes, but what about his death? In 41 Read more…
Jan. 21, 1918 is the birthday of a hero of WWII who would have remained unknown if not for a spectacular mini-series. In 1990, historian Stephen Ambrose sat down with Dick Winters to interview him about his WWII experiences for a book about the war. It was Winters who suggested Read more…
On Jan. 20, 1870, Victoria Woodhull and her sister open the first stock brokerage firm run by women. Victoria Woodhull had a tough childhood. Her father was a small-time criminal and the family lived in poverty. At age 13, she and her sister would conduct seances and turn the money Read more…
There have been at least five movies on the “Mutiny on the Bounty”. William Bligh became the poster boy for tyrannical captains. He is depicted as mistreating his crew with his unreasonable discipline to the point where they justifiably mutiny against him. Led by the saintly Fletcher Christian. Be Read more…
America had Tokyo Rose and Great Britain had Lord Haw Haw. William Joyce was born in Brooklyn. His Irish immigrant family moved back home when he was a child. His family was anti-independence and he joined the British Intelligence agency as a teenager. He participated in the Irish War Read more…
He was born on Jan. 12, 1893 to a wealthy diplomat. After six weeks, his mother left him with another woman so she could join her husband in Haiti. He did not see his parents for another three years. His godfather was a Jewish businessman. His family lived in the Read more…
Today is the anniversary of the birth of my favorite suffragist. Alice Paul was born on Jan. 11, 1885. Although not as well known as Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman-Catt, she arguably was more important in getting women suffrage. She certainly is a more appealing character for modern women. Read more…
One of America’s greatest scientists was born on Jan. 10, 1864. Here are the notes I gave to my American History classes. born a slave raised by ex-slave owner after being orphaned graduated from college became director of agricultural research at Tuskegee University under Booker T. Washington developed many products Read more…
Israel Putnam was born on Jan. 7, 1718. He parents opposed the Salem Witch Trials. They signed a petition to exonerate the elderly Rebecca Nurse, but it failed. When he reached adulthood, he bought farmland in Connecticut. He became famous in the area when he crawled into a Read more…