Charlie was a fugitive. He had been running for a long time. It felt as if everyone had turned against him. He was at one of the lowest points of his life. […]
Fugitive Charlie’s Fearful Flight
10 Downing Street — Learn the Fun Facts Behind the Door of One of the World’s Most Famous Addresses
The plain, black door with the number 10 is deceptively nondescript. Aside from the unusual placement of the doorknob in the center of the door, it looks not much different than any […]
The Weird, Wonderful, Wacky, and Whimsical Writings of Sir Thomas Urquhart
Certain historical figures are worth studying for the sheer entertainment value. Near the top of that list would be Sir Thomas Urquhart, the Scottish author of the 17th century. What can we […]
How the Heavy-Handed Counting of an Overweight Legislator Tipped the Scales for a Weighty Law
One of the most important principles of law is the legal recourse of habeas corpus. Translated from the Latin as “to have the body,” it most commonly shows up as a judicial […]
Seven Monarchs For 465 Days
Between November 9, 1683, and February 6, 1685, (465 days), the nation now known as the United Kingdom had seven current and future monarchs alive at the same time. Charles II Born: […]
Meet the Feathered Guardians of the United Kingdom
Permanent residents of the Tower of London include six ravens. They have been seen in and around the tower since being built in 1078. They have been officially-sanctioned since the days of […]
Someone Needs to Pour Some Chlorine In That Gene Pool
Charles II of Spain (1661-1700) is widely regarded as one of the least competent kings to have reigned. He was the unhappy result of over a century of inbreeding within the Hapsburg […]
Laughing to Death Over Royalty
The Scottish aristocrat Thomas Urquhart (1611-1660) was a noted polymath and first translator of French Renaissance writer Francois Rabelais into English. It is said that one of the greatest signs of genius […]
The Liberace of the 17th Century
Duke Charles II of Brunswick (1804-73) was known as “the Duke of Diamonds” because he wore them in such profusion that he could have been mistaken for an animated chandelier. He had […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 