Historical Figures
From Musketeers to Nazis, Archimedes to Harriet Tubman, these famous historical figures changed the course of history -- for better or worse.
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7 Reasons Alexander the Great Was, Well, Great
Not only did Alexander rule a territory of three continents, he founded 70 cities and even had Aristotle for a teacher.
6 Famous Outlaws of the Wild, Wild West
You know most of their names, but here are the fascinating stories of how six criminal masterminds of the old West lived and died.
How the Queen Fell in Love With Corgis
Since Queen Elizabeth received her first corgi at age 7, it's been an 80-plus-year love affair. But not everyone appreciates the breed's "barkiness."
The Mysterious Disappearance of Ambrose Bierce
Literary heavyweight Ambrose Bierce mysteriously disappeared in 1914 leaving behind a trail of myths and legends, but little evidence as to his fate.
Anne Frank's Diary Is Still Spilling Its Secrets
Since "The Secret Annex" was first published in 1947, scholars have dissected every page and entry of Anne Frank's diary to put Anne and her work into a proper perspective. In doing so, a new image of Anne slowly has emerged.
The Cold-blooded Assassination of Outlaw Jesse James
Well before he died, Jesse James was a legend. He was a hero even to the man who shot him in the back.
George P. Burdell: The Georgia Tech Student Who Never Existed
George P. Burdell has registered for classes, signed petitions and even lettered in football and basketball, but on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta, he is the man who never was.
How Billy the Kid Really Died
Billy the Kid, whose legal name was Henry McCarty, was almost certainly killed by Lincoln County, New Mexico, Sheriff Pat Garrett, though questions have always lingered about what really happened.
Coconut Man: August Engelhardt Founded a Cult Based on His Favorite Fruit
In 1902, a young German set out for the South Seas, determined to live solely on coconuts and the sun. He even attracted a following. Then everything went to pieces.
Aristides de Sousa Mendes Saved Thousands From Holocaust, But Lost All
The story of the "Portuguese Oskar Schindler" who lost everything trying to save thousands during the Holocaust is finally being told by descendants of those he saved.
Mrs. Cheng: The Most Successful Pirate in History
She commanded as many as 70,000 other pirates, became fabulously wealthy and yet managed to retire without being captured or imprisoned. So how did she do it?
Why André the Giant Was Larger Than Life
André the Giant made his wrestling debut at New York City's Madison Square Garden. He went on to become one of WWE's biggest stars before his untimely death in 1993.
How Did Bonnie and Clyde Really Die?
We know they died in a hail of gunfire, but who set this criminal couple up and how many shots were fired?
Hedwig Kohn: The Physics of Determination
Meet this female German physicist who survived the Nazis and became a ground-breaker in combustion science and plasma physics.
How Onesimus, a Slave in Colonial Boston, Helped Stop a Smallpox Epidemic
He taught the colonists about the process of inoculation, helping to save countless lives.
From Slave to Millionaire Philanthropist: The Biddy Mason Story
Her owners nearly tricked her out of freedom in California but the cavalry rode to her rescue. She later became one of the wealthiest and most generous African-Americans in the state.
Where in the World Is Myspace Tom?
Myspace took the world by storm and Tom was everyone's first friend. But when we all left the platform, we all left Tom, too. So where did he go?
The Ballad of the Pickled Whaling Captain from Connecticut
This is the strange-but-true story of Capt. Sluman Gray, who died at sea and was preserved in barrel of rum. What would become of this soused specimen?
Did an Eye Deformity Affect da Vinci's Painting?
Do da Vinci's self-portrait paintings, such as "Salvator Mundi," betray the artist's condition?
How a Lone Sculptor Gave New Faces to Injured Soldiers of WWI
Anna Coleman Ladd's Studio for Portrait Masks created new faces for at least 185 disfigured soldiers and paved the way for modern facial prosthetic techniques.
The Family Feud That Spawned Adidas and Puma
Germany's Adolph and Rudolph Dassler fell out so badly, they had to start two separate shoe companies.
Gregor MacGregor's Swindle: The Country That Never Existed
Scotsman Gregor MacGregor was a world-class con man who convinced hundreds of people to invest in the mythical country of Poyais.
Who Decides Which Americans Lie in State?
Lying in state beneath the U.S. Capitol Rotunda is an honor that has been bestowed on only 32 people in history, but who decides which Americans are so honored?
The Scandal of the Cross-Dressing Men of Victorian England
When police in Victorian England arrested two popular male cross-dressers, it resulted in one of the more scandalous trials of the era.
This 'Enchantress of Numbers' Was the World's First Computer Programmer
Ada Lovelace was the daughter of famed poet Lord Byron. But she moved out of her father's shadow to make a name in numbers, not words.
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