A Brief History On June 1, 1813, the commander of the USS Chesapeake, James Lawrence, lay dying, and uttered the immortal words, “Don’t give up the ship!” Inspiring words are not always enough, for the Chesapeake was captured in that battle and was re-rigged as the HMS Chesapeake. We list 10 of the greatest military quotations, whether they achieved their intended result or not. (We cannot claim they are the 10 greatest, because of course that is strictly a matter of opinion.) Digging Deeper 10. James Lawrence, “Don’t give up the ship!” As described above, the last order by Capt.…
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A Brief History On May 31, 455, Western Roman Emperor Petronius Maximus was stoned to death by an angry mob, an ignoble end to a world leader. Back on April 27 of this year History and Headlines featured “10 World Leaders That Met Gruesome Deaths.” We teased about a sequel and here it is, 10 more leaders that did not end well. Are there even more? Tell us who else belongs on this list. Digging Deeper 10. Petronius Maximus, 455. Not a particularly good guy himself, Maximus was probably involved in the murders of other Roman leaders including the previous…
A Brief History On May 28, 1934, the famous Dionne Quints (quintuplets) were born in an unincorporated rural area of Ontario, Canada, making them instant celebrities. Other births have also captured the imagination of the public, and here we list 10 of the most famous births. Digging Deeper 10. Prince William, 1982. The world was in love with Princess Diana, so when the Princess of Wales gave birth to William, a healthy future King of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, many people in the vast former British Empire celebrated. For some reason, many in the United States were captivated…
A Brief History On May 27, 1703, Czar Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg, Russia. At 6 feet 8 inches his height alone made him “great,” but of course there were other reasons. Over the years a variety of people have been called “The Great,” “The Greatest,” or “The Great One,” and here we list 10 of them that really are great. (Note: The Great Gatsby is not a real person, just a character from a book. Jackie Gleason, comedian, composer, television pioneer was known as “The Great One.”) Digging Deeper 10. Muhammad “The Greatest” Ali. This former Olympic and…
A Brief History On May 26, 1923, the first 24 Hours of Le Mans automobile race was held. It remains today as one of the greatest auto races and is the oldest endurance race for cars. Here we list 10 of the all time Greatest Races, with no limit as to the category. Digging Deeper 10. F1 Powerboat World Championship, 1981. A 155 mph boat that weighs only 860 pounds powered by a 400 horsepower engine, loud and exciting! The races last about 45 minutes and are run through a course incorporating several turns marked by buoys. This contest is…