People

Category Archives: People

Sarah Hale, Author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb”, Was Largely Responsible for the Establishment of the United States’ Thanksgiving Holiday

November 19, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out Sarah Josepha Hale, author of Mary Had a Little Lamb, was largely responsible for the establishment of the United States’ Thanksgiving Holiday. Hale, one of the great women in American history, campaigned for nearly 20 years to get Thanksgiving made a national holiday. It previously was only celebrated, as we think of it, in New England; […]

The Actor Who Played “Scotty” on Star Trek Was Shot Six Times on D-Day

November 16, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out the actor who played “Scotty” on Star Trek, James Doohan, was shot six times storming Juno beach on D-Day. Doohan, a Canadian, after leading his men through a mine field on Juno beach and personally taking out two German snipers in the process, eventually took four rounds in one of his legs; one in his hand, […]

David Letterman Started His Broadcasting Career as a Radio Newscaster

November 2, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out David Letterman started out his broadcasting career as a radio newscaster. This was at the WBST radio station, which, at the time, was a college run 10 watt radio station and is now an Indiana public radio station. After being fired from that radio station for making fun of classical music, he helped found another campus […]

John Wilkes Booth’s Brother Saved Abraham Lincoln’s Son’s Life Shortly Before Lincoln Was Assassinated

November 1, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Robert Lincoln's Mansion, Manchester Vermont

As a general rule, historical anecdotes that seem a little “too perfect,” like “John Wilkes Booth’s brother saved the life of Abraham Lincoln’s son shortly before Lincoln was assassinated,” when researched thoroughly almost never turn out to be true. This, however, is one of the exceptions to that rule and it was no less than Robert Todd Lincoln himself who, in […]

Johnny Appleseed Was a Real Person

October 29, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out Johnny Appleseed was a real person. His real name was John Chapman and his real story is actually nearly as interesting as the legends that have since developed. John Chapman made a quite successful business out of traveling around and planting apple orchards wherever he thought pioneers were going to settle in-mass a few years after […]

Harry Houdini Piloted the First Airplane That Flew Over Australia

October 21, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out Harry Houdini piloted the first controlled airplane flight over Australia. Houdini initially became fascinated by aviation in 1909, purchasing a French Voisin biplane for $5000 and subsequently hiring a full time mechanic to maintain it. In his first flight attempt, he crashed the plane, but with the help of his mechanic, fixed it up and made […]

Woody Harrelson’s Father Was a Contract Killer

October 18, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out Woody Harrelson’s father, Charles Voyde Harrelson, was a contract killer. Charles Harrelson is most noted for having been convicted of assassinating U.S. District Judge John H. Wood, Jr. outside of a parking lot in San Antonio, Texas, as well as being convicted of killing a grain dealer, Sam Degalia, Jr., for money. In the latter case, […]

Tim Allen Was a Convicted Drug Dealer Before Becoming Famous

September 17, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out Tim Allen was a convicted drug dealer before becoming famous. On October 2, 1978, shortly after beginning his stand up comedian career while working at an advertising firm, Allen was caught by drug sniffing dogs at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport transporting about 650 grams (1.4 pounds) of cocaine. In exchange for not having to go to […]

The Guy Who Invented One of the First Artificial Hearts Was Also the Voice of Gargamel on the Smurfs, Winnie the Pooh, and Tigger Too

September 3, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out the guy who invented one of the first artificial hearts was also the voice of Gargamel on the Smurfs; Mr. Owl on the Tootsie Pop commercials; Winnie the Pooh; and Tigger too. The man was Paul Winchell, who is perhaps best remembered for hosting the Winchell-Mahoney Time children’s show in the 1960s with his ventriloquist dummies […]

George Washington Carver Did Not Invent Peanut Butter

August 5, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out, contrary to popular belief, George Washington Carver did not invent peanut butter. The earliest reference to peanut butter being made goes all the way back to the Ancient Incas and the Aztecs, though whether they were the first or not isn’t known (peanuts themselves are known to have been cultivated as far back as 7000-8000 years […]

Sullivan Ballou’s Letter

July 21, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out about Sullivan Ballou’s letter to his wife written just a few days before the first major land battle of the American Civil War, the First Battle of Bull Run, fought this day (July 21) in 1861 in Manassas, Virginia. Ballou was a major in the U.S. Army and a member of the Rhode Island Volunteers. Before […]

There Was Once a Woman Who Had Immortal Cells

May 10, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out there was once a woman who had immortal cells. These immortal cells have multiplied to the point that if you were to weigh all of them that live today, they’d weigh about 50 million metric tons, which is about as much as 100 Empire State Buildings. So who was this woman and why are scientists keeping […]

Hitler was a Vegetarian

March 24, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out that Hitler was a vegetarian. Now he wasn’t always a vegetarian. In fact, it was later in his life that he became one. Around the same time he was killing millions of Jews and millions more from other cultural backgrounds and trying to take over the world. Coincidence? I think not! According to transcripts translated by […]

Napoleon Bonaparte Having Been Short is a Myth

March 23, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out that Napoleon Bonaparte was not in fact especially short. The myth that he was short stems primarily from the fact that he is listed as 5 feet 2 inches tall at the time of his death. However, this is 5 feet 2 inches in French units. In modern international units, he was just shy of 5 […]

A Japanese Soldier Who Continued Fighting WWII 29 Years After the Japanese Surrendered, Because He Didn’t Know

February 9, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out about a Japanese soldier who continued fighting World War II a full 29 years after the Japanese surrendered, because he didn’t know the war was over. Hiroo Onoda is a Japanese citizen that originally worked at a Chinese trading company. When he was 20 years old, he was called to join the Japanese army. He promptly […]

Simo Häyhä, “White Death”, Sniped Over 542 Soviet Soldiers in WWII

January 29, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out Simo Häyhä, arguably the greatest sniper to ever live, sniped over 542 invading Soviet soldiers in World War II using nothing but a bolt action rifle that had no scope. He also has the distinction of having recorded the highest known number of confirmed kills by any sniper in any major war; with the runner up […]

In WWI, Alvin York Captured 132 German Soldiers Pretty Much Single Handed

January 24, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out that in WWI Alvin York almost single handedly captured 132 German soldiers using nothing but a rifle and a pistol, while the German soldiers having among them 32 machine guns along with rifles and pistols and the advantage of being above him in the biggest of the forays. And did I mention York was out in […]

The Record for the Most Babies Born to One Woman is 69

January 11, 2010 Daven Hiskey

Today I found out that the record for most babies born to one woman is 69. Yes, you read that correctly 69! Who was this amazing woman with apparently a womb of steel and a vagina her husband just couldn’t say no too? We don’t really know. (anti-climactic I know) Her husband is the one whose name has lived on […]

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