The prosecution mounted a brilliant case against Thomas Paine’s publisher. The first witness the attorney General called was Henry Ben Raven, who, as stated earlier, had purchased a copy of Thomas Paine’s book from Daniel Isaac Eaton’s shop. Continue reading “Daniel Isaac Eaton, Thomas Paine’s publisher, accused of blasphemy”
Category: historical
bookmark_borderA historical look at climate change
“It keeps getting colder and colder.” Some people tell me. Yet others complain that we just aren’t as prepared for a cold spell as we used to be.
The Spectator carries an article that says “Snow, what snow?” which claims that “Heathrow ruined thousands of peoples’ plans” by playing it safe. Yet the Expresso states that the “Cold wave has already cause 470 deaths” in Europe.
Is this climate change? Or are we just forgetting our history?
bookmark_borderA Man of Science
a tale by Candy Korman
The men were celebrating. Pushing the Americans back at Queenston Heights on the Niagara front was, no doubt, a decisive moment in the combat, but there was no telling what turns the war would take. Continue reading “A Man of Science”
bookmark_borderGreat Snakes! Australia in January 1812.
“A snake of the diamond kind has been lately killed at Blackwattle swamp, the length of which was 10 feet 4 inches, and its largest circumference five inches.” the Sydney Gazette reported on January 4th, 1812.
A woodcutter was going about his business, when he turned around and saw the “monstrous” creature. Naturally the woodcutter was afraid of snakes, so he whacked the animal on the head.
That didn’t stop the snake much, so the woodcutter ran for his life. Continue reading “Great Snakes! Australia in January 1812.”
bookmark_borderThe Parliament that Shook the World
7 January 1812 opened the sixth session of the fourth parliament of the United Kingdom.
Significant debates were held concerning constitutional change, including Catholic Emancipation, and changes to Parliament itself. Continue reading “The Parliament that Shook the World”
bookmark_border1812, When Big Banks Could Go Bankrupt
2nd of January, 1812. London was the world’s financial capital, and “Boldero and Lushington” were one of the biggest and best known financial firms in 19th century London.
The firm started in 1738, under the name of “Thomas Miners.” In 1742, when Charles Boldero joined the firm, it became “Miners and Boldero.” As the Boldero family’s influence in the firm increased, so did both their fortunes.
So it was a huge surprise when, on January 2nd 1812, Boldero, Lusington, Boldero and co. stopped making payments. Continue reading “1812, When Big Banks Could Go Bankrupt”
bookmark_borderThe first of all Human Rights
Human rights seem to be falling out of favor. I’ve heard old men deride them, as if they were some new legislative fashion akin to political correctness or “austerity” with their pensions.
Recent events in Europe, with the so-called European Court of Human Rights, have tried to bend the meaning of “human rights” in that political direction. Many forget that the tradition of human rights goes back to long before Eleanor Roosevelt.
Continue reading “The first of all Human Rights”
bookmark_borderHave A Presidential Christmas
This Christmas, you may be hearing rumors that Santa Claus was invented to sell Coca Cola. Well, Christmas is much older the Republican Party. It’s even older than the Pope.
The Founding Fathers inherited the tradition from the European ancestors, but in 1776 Washington’s army had little to celebrate. Continue reading “Have A Presidential Christmas”
bookmark_borderNever eat eggs with an angry stomach.
Paul from Belgium keeps telling me that eggs are dangerous. I never believed him, as he enjoys crepes and cakes of all kinds.
However, the following story from 1897 (printed in the St. Louis Republic in and reprinted in the Norfolk Virginian) proves that, in 19th century America at least, eating eggs could be deadly.
bookmark_borderCareers with History: Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States
Thomas Woodrow Wilson’s name is often used to sell history degrees. Wilson was the only President ever to earn a PhD. Yet he didn’t learn to read until he was ten years old.
Continue reading “Careers with History: Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States”