Famous Women of History

The link below is to an article that considers the famous women of history.

For more visit:
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/16/influential-women-in-history-overlooked-nefertiti

Famous Women of WWI

The link below is to an article that looks at 10 famous women of World War I.

For more visit:
http://mashable.com/2014/07/29/heroic-women-wwi/

Article: Historical Attempts to Steal Documents

The link below is to an article that looks at six examples of attempts to steal famous documents.

For more visit:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/50503/6-people-who-tried-steal-famous-documents

Article: Famous People Who Died Penniless

The link below is to an article that looks at 10 famous people who died penniless, including Sammy Davis Jr., Judy Garland and Vincent van Gogh.

For more visit:
http://www.paydayloan.co.uk/Fun-Stuff/famous-people-who-died-penniless.html

Article: Famous Photo Hoaxes From History

The link below is to an article that looks at 10 famous photo hoaxes from history.

For more visit:
http://www.flavorwire.com/333176/10-of-the-most-famous-photo-hoaxes-through-history

Article: Origins of the Hokey Pokey

Here at History for Today, I like to look into the more famous and well known epochs of history, but also the obscure and sometimes trivial bits of history that can easily be forgotten or overlooked. The article linked to below has a look at the ‘Hokey Pokey’ – you know, ‘you put your …’ 

For more visit:
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/116014

Today in History: 15 April 1912

The Titanic Sinks

On this day in 1912, the luxury liner and so-called unsinkable Titanic sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg.

 

ABOVE: RMS Titanic

ABOVE & BELOW: Launch of the Titanic

ABOVE: Grand Dining Room of the Titanic

ABOVE: Cross Section of the Titanic

ABOVE: Illustration of the Scene of Disaster

ABOVE & BELOW: The Titanic Sinking

The article below deals with some myths surrounding the Titanic:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17515305

The link below is to an article with some rare photos of the Titanic:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/thefalafel/11-never-seen-before-pictures-of-the-titanic-4x8q

A letter from one of the victims, penned before he boarded the Titanic has been found. The letter by Robert Douglas Norman can be read at the link below:
http://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2012/04/09/titanic-discovery-victims-letter-discovered-in-national-archive/

Historic records can be viewed online for free until the 31st May 2012. For more information visit:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/records-of-the-tragedy-free-to-view-online-1-2224066

ABOVE: Captain of the Titanic – Captain E. J. Smith

ABOVE: Titanic Lifeboat

ABOVE: The Carpathia Rescued Survivors and
BELOW: Titanic Lifeboat Alongside the Carpathia

ABOVE: Titanic Survivors – Ida & Jean Hippach

ABOVE: J Bruce Ismay, Chairman of the White Star
Line who Survived

For more on those who died on the Titanic and those who survived visit:
– http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Seven-Famous-People-Who-Missed-the-Titanic.html
– http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0409/1224314547372.html

Here’s an article on pets on the Titanic:
http://www.neatorama.com/2012/04/11/the-dogs-aboard-the-titanic/

The video below is a simulation of how the Titanic is believed to have sunk:

For more, visit:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Why-the-Titanic-Still-Fascinates-Us.html

– http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/
– http://www.titanic.com/
– http://www.titanic1.org/
– http://www.titanic-titanic.com/
– http://www.the-titanic.com/Home.aspx
– http://www.titanicinquiry.org/

A museum exhibit on the Titanic has opened. See the link below for more info:
http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=54653

Marking the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, the feature film ‘Titanic’ is being released in 3D.

There is also a memorial cruise being organised.

For news on the cruise visit:
– http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/titanic-memorial-cruise-sets-sail-4
– http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation-world/sns-rt-us-britain-titanicbre8370bx-20120408,0,1524453.story
– http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=54652
– http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/UK-and-world-news/Titanic-memorial-cruise-sets-sail-602490.xnf

The book, ‘The Titanic for Dummies,’ by Stephen Spignesi was released in January 2012. For more on the book visit:

– http://www.courant.com/features/hc-titanic-for-dummies-0407-20120406,0,1506075.story

Article: Lewis and Clark

The following article reports on the adventures of Lewis and Clark, the famous explorers of North America.

For more, visit:
http://www.neatorama.com/2012/04/06/postcards-from-the-edge-of-america-the-adventures-of-lewis-clark/

Today in History: 25 January 1759

Robert Burns Day/Burns Night – Burns Supper

This day is known as Robert Burns Day in Scotland, which is of course the day on which the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns, was born. Burns was born on this day in 1759.

Wherever Robert Burns is remembered, a Burns Supper is generally held on or about Robert Burns Day/Night. These suppers usually include a haggis, Scotch whisky and the reading/recitation of poetry written by Robert Burns.

For more on  Burns Suppers visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burns_supper

For a book by Thomas Carlyle, ‘Burns,’ visit:
http://www.archive.org/details/burns01carl

Today in History – 20 April 1770

Captain James Cook: Off the East Coast of New Holland

Captain James Cook had already made a name for himself in Canada with the Royal Navy during the Seven Years’ War prior to his first voyage of discovery. In 1766, the Royal Society hired Captain Cook to travel to the Pacific Ocean in order to observe and record the passing of Venus across the sun in Tahiti. It was on his return journey to England, having completed his primary mission and having mapped New Zealand by circumnavigation, that he and his crew decided to return via the east coast of New Holland.

The Endeavour reached the south-east coast of Australia on the 19th April 1770. On the 20th April Cook was off the east coast of what is now known as New South Wales. By doing so, he became the first European to discover and observe the east coast of New Holland (Australia). On the 23rd April 1770 he made his first observations of Australian Aborigines. On the 29th April Captain Cook made his famous landing at Botany Bay, which he named after the unique plant specimens found there by botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander.