Historical
Transatlantic Migration from England During the 17th Century
The story of the Pilgrim Fathers, who sailed across the Atlantic in the Mayflower from Plymouth (England) to the New World in 1620, is well known, but what is not so widely appreciated is that this was just the start of a virtual torrent of emigration from England to the colonies during the rest of the century.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
Events leading to the 1917 "October Revolution" in Russia
The October Russian Revolution, which actually took place on 6th and 7th November 1917 (the discrepancy was brought about by differences between the Julian and Gregorian calendars), had causes that went back many years and many events can be cited as contributory factors.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
Robert E Lee was born after his mother was buried alive
In the course of history, we find that every action indeed has a reaction and this story illustrates how true that is. If it were not for the decision made by a quick thinking caretaker, then United States history as we know it, related to the Civil War would have been altered drastically. There is an old saying that truth is stranger than fiction and this is true in the case of Confederate General Robert E Lee. The events that will be shared here took place 15 months prior to his birth and ensured his place in the Confederacy.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in FYI
Elegabalus, Emperor of Rome
One would hardly expect many Roman emperors to make an appearance in a comic opera, but anyone who has seen “The Pirates of Penzance” by Gilbert and Sullivan might have been puzzled by the claim of Major-General Stanley that he can “quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus”. Even though the name is more usually given as Elagabalus, not many opera-goers will know to whom he is referring, or what crimes he might have committed.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
Frank and Jesse James were once Robin Hood in the midst of their crime sprees
There are many legends and myths within the truth regarding the infamous outlaws who were the James brothers Frank and Jesse. They were the sons of a preacher who turned to a life of crime. Jesse was shot down at the age of 34 but Frank, after serving a stint in prison moved in with his mother and lived to be 72 years old. The siblings were part of the James/Younger gang which had fluctuating membership over the years but at one point consisted of Jesse and Frank, along with the Younger brothers Cole, John, Bob, and Jim.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in FYI
Edward the Black Prince
Edward the Black Prince should have become King of England but died before his father (King Edward III), so the throne passed to his less worthy son, who reigned as King Richard II. Edward represents many people’s idea of a knight from the period when chivalry was at its height. Indeed, Chaucer’s “perfect gentle knight”, from the Canterbury Tales, written not long after Edward’s death, could have been a nostalgic (and doubtless sanitised) portrait of the Black Prince.
By John Welford5 years ago in FYI
‘The Wreck of the Titan’ foretold the sinking of the Titanic
The RMS Titanic was a luxury steamship, that sank in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912. This tragedy took place during the ship's maiden voyage in the North Atlantic off the coast of Newfoundland. The Titanic ran into an iceberg with 2,240 passengers and crew on board. More than 1,500 people lost their lives in the disaster and countless articles, movies, and books, have been produced and written on the subject. There is one publication however that was penned 14 years prior to the Titanic sinking. Some believe this was a premonition of future events but the author has another explanation.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in FYI
