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TIL French philosopher Voltaire was reportedly obsessed with coffee, drinking as many as 50 cups a day. This likely aided in the eccentricity of some of his writings.

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ADRmn TIL about Marjoe Gortner. Forced to be an evangelical preacher at a young age, he left his religion, but then returned to make some money. He eventually invited a documentary crew to follow him as he showed the “tricks” of his revivals. The 1972 film won an Oscar.
N76mN TIL 1783 the grand master Philodor played and won three chess games simultaneously while blindfolded. Witnesses signed affidavits since they doubted future generations would believe such a feat was possible.
A10x TIL a woman adopted by a black family in the 1940s only discovered she was white after finding her adoption papers in 2013.
b9bxa TIL that Antonio Meucci invented the telephone, not Alexander Graham Bell
mx6Gx TIL that Hatshepsut dressed as a king, even wearing a false beard as a way of asserting her authority.