› added 4 years ago

316

TIL John Quincy Adams was an avid swimmer and frequently swam in the Potomac. While president, he almost drowned when one of his swimming expeditions went awry. He continued to swim afterward, anyway, against his physician's advice.

Read more millercenter.org

via reddit.com

rRBQe TIL that according to a quarterly earnings report in 2015, around 2.1 million Americans still use AOL's dial-up services - some of which still pay a (reduced) subscription fee. It is estimated that these users live in areas without proper broadband coverage, or simply can't afford to upgrade.
1PdW TIL The Soviet Union declared war on Japan between atomic weapons being dropped.
x6B6B TIL They made some random black guy an exhibit at the Bronx Zoo in 1906. His name was Ota Benga, an African Pygmy.
6gKW TIL that in 1966 Paul McCartney penned a song under the name Bernard Webb to see if he could produce a hit without his name. It was recorded by Peter and Gordon and reached #14 on the charts.
m1p1P TIL about the year of the four emperors it was the first civil war of the Roman Empire, during which four emperors ruled in succession: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian.