› added 12 years ago

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TIL slavery was nearly abolished in the USA in 1784, but the motion fell short by one vote

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ANR1w TIL in 1905, the Dawson City Nuggets of the Yukon Territory challenged the Ottawa Senators for the Stanley Cup. The Dawson City hockey players embarked on an arduous 3 week journey (4,000 miles) via dog sled, bicycle, foot, train, and ship. On arrival, they were were roundly defeated (9–2 and 23–2)
awRwL TIL about Styles Hutchins, the first African American man to argue a case in a Georgia court. After his success in court, his client, Ed Johnson, was lynched, and Hutchins' law firm was burned down. Hutchins fled to Illinois, where he ceased practicing law and opened a barber shop.
R7v49 TIL in 1885, British Criminal John "Babbacombe" Lee survived 3 attempts of excecution by hanging. He was dubbed 'The Man Who Could Not Be Hung'. His sentance was changed to 'Life in prison' and was released 22 years later.
7pxx TIL that at the age of 62, Wisdom the Albatross is the oldest known wild bird. Wisdom still circumnavigates the Pacific annually and just hatched her 30th child (at least) on Midway Atoll. Wisdom has flown 2 to 3 million miles since 1956. That’s equivalent to 4 to 6 trips to the Moon and back.
XEKbD TIL that Admiral Sir William James, born in 1881, was, as a young child, the model for a famous painting titled "Bubbles" which was subsequently used to advertise Pears Soap. This fame dogged him throughout his life and he was regularly nicknamed "Bubbles", much to his chagrin.