1815: Napoleon’s Bravest Marshal – Michel Ney
Marshal Michel Ney was one of Napoleon’s closest associates. Napoleon declared him marshal in 1804, simultaneously with the declaration of the French Empire. On that occa...
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343: Why is St Nicholas the Symbol of a Good Giver?
This day is known among Christians as the day of St. Nicholas the saint who, in the fourth century, died a martyr’s death in a dungeon after severe torture. St. Nicholas...
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1901: The Origins of Walt Disney
On this day is the anniversary of Walt Disney’s birth. He was born in Chicago to an Irish father. It is interesting that the surname Disney comes from the French d’Isigny...
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1791: The Mysterious Death of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
On this day, at 1:00 am, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died under mysterious circumstances, at the age of only 35 years. A short time before his death, Mozart was suffering fro...
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1154: The Only Englishman Ever Elected Pope
On this day, the only English pope in the whole history of the Catholic Church was elected. His birth name was Nicholas Breakspear, and as pope he took the name of Adria...
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1829: Burning Widows at Stake Banned
For centuries there was a custom in India of burning widows on the funeral pyre of their deceased husband. At first, the widows were not required to do so, but that act w...
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1154: The only Englishman Ever Elected Pope
On this day, the only English pope in the whole history of the Catholic Church was elected. His birth name was Nicholas Breakspear, and as pope he took the name of Adrian...
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1967: First Heart Transplant Performed in Africa
The first successful heart transplant was performed on this day in 1967 by the South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard. Before that, he spent a few years experimenting w...
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