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TIL that the character who sings the famous opera song “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General” was said to be modeled on the real-life Sir Garnet Wolseley. Rather than being offended by the caricature, Wolseley would sing the song to amuse his friends.

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VBWvk TIL that when Judge Alton B. Parker was offered the nomination for President in 1904 by party elders, he gave such a bland speech about foreign policy that even his own supporters were uninspired. After the speech, Parker decided to stay silent and not to comment on the major issues.
Lk7XP TIL Jiddu Krishnamurti was revered as a prophet from childhood, but during a ceremony meant to establish his messianic status to the world he shocked his followers by renouncing his "coming", dissolving their organization, repudiating organized religion, and denouncing the concept of saviors.
b6XB9 TIL that 3 sailors who died in Pearl Harbor have incorrect dates written on their gravestones. They were trapped underwater in the West Virginia battleship for 16 days after the bombing; it was largely kept a secret and most of their family members died without ever knowing the truth.
6EjQ8 TIL of the more than 750,000 drafted in the American Civl War during 1863 and 1864, only about 46,000 actually saw battle. The remaining 85% avoided the war by literally running away, finding someone else to take their place, or paying the $300 commutation fee.
0dN91 TIL that the first number in the English language that contains the letter C is one octillion.