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TIL: A chemistry professor imported coca leaves to Germany that he gave his student to analyze. The student isolated a compound that had "a bitter taste, promote the flow of saliva and leave a peculiar numbness, followed by a sense of cold when applied to the tongue.” The compound was cocaine.

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6E0Ml TIL of the Petticoat Affair, where the wives of every member of Andrew Jacksons Cabinet ostracized John Eaton and his wife Peggy from social events. Martin Van Buren had to resign as Secretary of State in order to resolve the issue.
l7eaK TIL a Canadian pigeon, Beach Comber, arrived in Britain from Dieppe, France carrying a message from the Army alerting commanders of their landing there, marking the start of the Dieppe Raid. It's the only Canadian war pigeon ever to be awarded a Dickin Medal, one of only three animals so honored.
78rdM TIL Public DNA records can be used to find distant relatives of criminals, from which investigators can build a family tree and catch said criminals
5V1bD TIL that Paine Wingate was a founding father who attended the Continental Congress, served in both the Senate and the House, and died at age 98. (After being born in 1739, the same decade as Washington)
jNpPa TIL that the character Guinan in Star Trek:TNG, played by Whoopi Goldberg, was named after an American actress, producer and entrepreneur, Texas Guinan. A colorful character who would greet her speakeasy’s patrons, “Hello, Sucker! Come on in and leave your wallet on the bar."