Galileo Galilei causes consternation
On this day in 1564 the Italian astronomer and mathematician Galileo Galilei was born. Galileo has been called the Father of Modern Science although during... Read More
Abraham Lincoln’s oratory
On this day in 1809 the future US President Abraham Lincoln was born. From truly humble beginnings (born in a log cabin) Lincoln rose to... Read More
Sir John Suckling’s card scam
On this day in 1609 the Cavalier poet Sir John Suckling was born. A soldier as well as a poet, he is famous as the... Read More
Sir Thomas More listens to his conscience
On this day in 1478 Sir Thomas More, humanist, writer and statesman was born. More was a great scholar and a pious man who had,... Read More
Christopher Marlowe, Shakespeare’s rival
On this day in 1564 the playwright Christopher Marlowe was born. Shakespeare was born the same year and the two are often compared. Marlowe’s plays... Read More
William Burroughs invents cut-up poetry
On this day in 1914 the author William Burroughs was born. The son of wealthy parents, Burroughs was one of the group of enfants terribles... Read More
Norman Mailer, author and impaler
On this day in 1923 the American author Norman Mailer was born. Mailer was one of a group of writers that included Hunter S. Thompson,... Read More