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TIL Benjamin Franklin once sent classified letters to American revolutionaries detailing how the Brittish were attempting to decrease American morale by gradually suppressing basic liberties, effectively making Franklin one of the first American “whistle-blowers”.

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5Y6j9 TIL There are no reports throughout history of any one finding buried treasure, pirate or not. "In reality, pirates burying treasure was rare. Buried treasure is a literary trope commonly associated with depictions of pirates, criminals, and Old West outlaws. "
j6kpj TIL that over 20 detached human feet have been discovered on the coasts of the Salish Sea in the Pacific Northwest, many of which were found in sneakers, rendering the feet buoyant enough to wash up on shore, as well as limiting the degree of decomposition; one such discovery dates back to the 1800s
l75Z1 TIL that Bruce Willis has a music album with a song that made it to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Respect Yourself”.
p8GD8 TIL the founder of the Smithsonian, James Smithson, was a British scientist who willed his fortune to his nephew and in the event his nephew died with no heirs, to the US government to found an "Establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men"; having never visited the US.
Brk1r TIL Child prodigy Edmund Thomas Clint died at age 6 but still drawn over 25,000 paintings during his life.