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TIL James Smithson sent the US $500,000 (1.5% the federal budget) in the 19C to found an institution "for the creation and diffusion of knowledge." The Smithsonian is today the world's largest museum complex; all are free of charge and open to the public, and James Smithson never visited the US.

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PYpAL TIL of Red Cell, a team led by the original commander of SEAL Team 6 to test the security of government installations. Red Cell would sneak into military bases, steal classified information, kidnap high ranking officers and admirals, and even plant bombs near Air Force One.
M7P9W TIL In 2020, the wine market was expected to be worth $418 billion with experts estimating that around 20% of all the wines sold around the world are counterfeit.
v7r TIL that when the ancient Dutch government wanted to diversify their crops no one would plant the potato because it tasted too plain. So the king made it a royal food and banned the common people from obtaining seeds, which made everyone go and plant potatos.
neVlP TIL about Luke "Milky" Moore. He abused a bank error to overdraft $1.5million and spent it on cars, drugs, and sex before he was caught and sent to jail. He successfully argued his own case and was released without having to pay any of it back.
yQBAX TIL Spreuerhofstraße is, according to Guinness World Records, the world's narrowest street, found in the city of Reutlingen, Germany. It ranges from 31 centimetres (12.2 in) at its narrowest to 50 centimetres (19.7 in) at its widest