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TIL that when French forces led by King Francis I attacked Arles in southern France in 1536, the word "grenade" was first used. Firepots, kegs, jars, and glass globes were used to make the first grenades. The Germans quickly began using two grenade variants (stick and egg).

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GY19J TIL that in 1869, Republican President Ulysses S. Grant tried to annex the Dominican Republic to use it as a safe haven for blacks fleeing persecution. Although the D.R. agreed to the annexation treaty, it ultimately failed to pass the Senate.
QNvlM TIL that during the Falklands War, landmines unintentionally created safe havens for penguins. Too light to trigger the mines, they thrive and breed in these protected areas.
yO4e TIL 1997 Britain required civilians to surrender almost all privately owned handguns to the police. More than 162,000 handguns and 1.5 million pounds of ammunition were confiscated, however the British homicide rate continued to increase, rising 50% by 2002
D1EBP TIL that John Paul Jones, the “Father of the American Navy”, a legendary admiral after whom warships were named, was born simply “John Paul”. He added “Jones” when he joined the U.S. Navy because he was a criminal fugitive from England.
9YKX6 TIL 165 victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima sought refuge in Nagasaki where they were bombed again 3 days later.