Jeanne Calment’s viager contract — a French property deal where the buyer pays until the seller dies — seemed routine in 1965. She was 90, he was 47. She lived to 122, outlasting him and forcing his estate to pay more than double the apartment’s value. A historical twist that really happened — documented, ironic, unforgettable.
The Lawyer Who Bet on Jeanne Calment’s Death — and Lost Read More
It’s a sad fact that the earthly remains of President Abraham Lincoln — often regarded as America’s greatest president — were accorded little dignity over many decades. His final resting place in Springfield, Illinois, now a site of solemn pilgrimage,
Lincoln’s Springfield Tomb: A Resting Place Disturbed Again and Again Read More
Some public figures died on the same date they were born. The match is rare, but records confirm it — from emperors to entertainers. This post lists those cases: actors, musicians, politicians, and others whose final day fell on their birthday.
Celebrities and Historical Figures Who Died on Their Birthday Read More
More executions took place inside the Tower of London during the 20th century than under the Tudors, Plantagenets, and Stuarts combined. This post traces the quiet shift — from royal spectacle to wartime secrecy — and revisits the Rifle Range, where eleven men were shot for espionage between 1914 and 1941.
Executions at the Tower of London: The 20th Century Toll Read More
In 1275, English law defined “time immemorial” as everything before July 6, 1189. This post explains why that date became the threshold of legal memory — and why the Wednesday before it, July 5, was procedurally erased.
Wednesday Just Disappeared: Legal Memory and the Birth of Time Immemorial Read More
In 1826, a ghostly sighting near a Campbelltown creek led to the discovery of Frederick Fisher’s body and the conviction of George Worrall. This post explores the blurred line between folklore and legal record, tracing how civic memory shaped one of Australia’s most enduring legends.
Fisher’s Ghost Bridge: Spectral Testimony in Colonial Australia Read More
Seven presidents elected in zero years. All died in office. The pattern held — until it fractured.
The Curse of Tippecanoe: Why Presidents Elected in Zero Years Died in Office Read More
George Washington’s survival in battle often defied logic. From the chaos of Monongahela to the daring charge at Princeton, he emerged unscathed while death claimed those around him. His men saw it. His enemies noted it. And Washington himself, though reserved, acknowledged it. Was it providence, luck — or something else?
Bulletproof George Washington: Was He Protected by Providence or Luck? Read More
