› added 5 years ago

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TIL in 1913 Bulgaria went to war against its own allies from the First Balkans War, facing off against a combined strength double its own. Unsurprisingly, it failed.

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wLmL1 TIL that George Washington ordered a ceasefire during the Revolutionary War to return a lost dog to its owner, Sir William Howe, a British general. The dog was found wandering the battlefield and was fed and cleaned before being returned to Howe.
lwbK TIL Bill Gates rented out every hotel room on the island of Lanai, Hawaii, and chartered all nearby helicopters to not fly for the day for his wedding.
rRPB1 TIL that German chemist Friedrich Wöhler was the first person to synthesize an organic compound in 1828 by accidentally crystalizing urea. This refuted a widespread belief (vitalism) that organic compounds contained a mysterious, soul-like "vital spark" and could never be synthesized.
pYMBN TIL that Artaxerxes II (Arses), who ruled Persia from 405–358 BC, fended off his brother’s coup, the Great Satraps’ Revolt, and even reconquered Babylon—all while restoring major capitals.
MALa TIL George Washington died from a “sore throat”, even after three doctors administered care, all of whom bled him for multiple pints of blood (two pints in the last bleed alone).