In 1875 the king of Fiji brought back measles from a state visit to Australia and wiped out 25% of his own people.
Fact of the Day
Quote of the Day
"Shoot, you devil! Shoot, in the devil’s name! Shoot, or it will be worse for you!
"
~ William II reportedly speaking to the renowned bowman Walter Tirel on a stag hunt, just before Tirel missed and killed the king
On This Day
303 St George, a possibly Greek, Palestinian, or non-existent Roman soldier, was executed for preaching Christianity. He is the patron saint of Aragon, Catalonia, England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, and Russia.
1344 Or 1348. The Order of the Garter, the highest order of chivalry in England, was founded by Edward III.
1616 William Shakespeare, one of the greatest playwrights in English history, died at the age of 52 and within a month of signing his will where he was described as being 'in perfect health'.
1661 Charles II was crowned king of England, Scotland and Ireland, thereby officially restoring the monarchy. He chose St George's Day for his coronation, as did James II and Queen Anne.
1850 Poet William Wordsworth died of pleurisy, aged 80.
1915 Idealistic war poet Rupert Brooke died of an infected mosquito bite on his way to Gallipoli.
1945 Hitler's propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, and his wife committed suicide in Hitler's Berlin bunker, after killing their six children. Meanwhile, Hitler's private secretary, Martin Bormann, escaped from the bunker. He didn't make it far: his remains were discovered in Berlin in 1972.