› added 6 years ago

708

TIL “Amazing Grace” was written by a repentant slave trader who hoped “it will always be a subject of humiliating reflection to me.”

Read more loc.gov

via reddit.com

nKXr TIL that a gymnast born with no legs and abandoned by her parents at birth was inspired by an Olympic gymnast who turned out to be her biological sister!
rRn81 TIL that early refrigerating systems would use toxic substances like sulphur dioxide, ammonia and methyl chloride as coolants. Methyl chloride was also a gas used during WW1
neEXB TIL: Dwayne Johnson "aka: The Rock" began his acting and wrestling career after being cut from the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He would later say "Sometimes, your biggest dreams that don’t come true are the best things that never happened."
epKWL TIL fracking likely caused two of the largest earthquakes east of the Rocky Mountains
GXLg TIL that the actor who played Crabbe in the Harry Potter series was arrested for growing cannabis,participation in the 2011 England riots, and possession Molotov cocktail.