User:Andrew Davidson/DYKs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Did you know that ...
- ... that Punch honoured Agnata Ramsay's exam success with a cartoon?
- ... that Alfred Clark pioneered continuity, plot, and special effects in The Execution of Mary Stuart? (click right to view)
- ... that Alfred Ezra learnt how to keep hummingbirds in captivity using baby food?
- ... that Althea McNish is not American, but she is descended from a Merikin?
- ... that a pioneer of women's rowing, Amy Gentry, assisted Barnes Wallis with his experiments to develop a bouncing bomb?
- ... that Amy Richlin teaches ancient sex?
- ... that Annie Nicolette Zadoks Josephus Jitta's unusual name inspired a book?
- ... you can buy a monkey's fist at Arthur Beale?
- ... Dr. Ben Goldacre argues in Bad Pharma that "medicine is broken," because the evidence on which it is based is systematically distorted by the pharmaceutical industry?
- ... that big-game hunter Bali Mauladad won the Shaw & Hunter trophy for leading a client to a tiny Oribi antelope?
- ... that Barbara Bradby was the first woman to ride a bicycle at Oxford University, where her academic prowess inspired a limerick?
- ... that stale beer tends to smell like cat pee and then cardboard?
- ... that Laura Ashe believes the Gawain Poet used the beheading game to criticize the emptiness of chivalry?
- ... that Bertha Bracey was a Hero of the Holocaust?
- ... that in the late 1970s Beryl Rawson used computers to analyse the family life of Roman slaves?
- ... that the Black Destroyer marked the start of science fiction's Golden Age and inspired other works including Alien?
- ... that The Black Swan at Oldstead is rated the best restaurant in the world by TripAdvisor?
- ... that Bocca di Lupo serves chocolate pudding with pig's blood?
- ... Lord High Treasurer William le Scrope was beheaded at the Bristol High Cross?
- ... the Britannia Coco-nut Dancers bang their nuts together each Easter in Bacup?
- ... that a substantially cracked Chinese brush pot was sold for £360,000?
- ... that Camilla Palmer QC founded the Women's Equality Network?
- ... that Castle Folds is surrounded by Great Asby Scar?
- ... the Chelsea Bun House sold almost a quarter of a million hot cross buns on its last Good Friday?
- ... an apprentice chinaman only earned about £25 a year in the 18th century?
- ... chinamen formed a ring at the auctions of the East India Company?
- ... that "Christmas Day in the Workhouse" was a criticism of the harsh conditions in English workhouses under the 1834 Poor Law?
- ... that Claire Ptak baked the lemon and elderflower wedding cake for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle?
- ... that the ancient Clattern Bridge was a medieval football goal and scolds were ducked there too?
- ... Cleveland Hall was the base for anarchists and international revolutionaries in London?
- ... that Colonel Johnson, who was imprisoned by the British at the age of seven, became famous for eating tomatoes?
- ... in Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes series, Dr. Watson was first told about Holmes in the Criterion Bar
- ... "I love you ... and especially you, size nine" was one of the catchphrases of Dandy Dan Daniels, one of the Good Guys?
- ... that David Nott is often styled the "Indiana Jones of surgery"?
- ... in a scientific paper, Equasy, David Nutt compared the risk of taking the drug ecstasy with the risk of horse riding?
- ... that "Papa" De Hem's oyster-house in Soho was patronised by poets, spies and rock-stars?
- ... the first female professor at Glasgow University, Delphine Parrott, was especially good at vivisecting mice?
- ... London's Denmark Street , home to several music shops, is thought to have been named after Prince George of Denmark?
- ... one of the many interpretations of the anecdotal meeting of Diogenes and Alexander was that of Samuel Johnson, who related it to wasting other people's time?
- ... that, with today's 12-round distance, the Fight of the Century may have had the opposite result and Rocky Marciano, the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated, would have lost?
- ... in Jewish mysticism, even angels cannot endure seeing the divine countenance directly?
- ... that the beer at the Dog & Bull has been blessed by the vicar of Croydon Minster?
- ... the rogues and whores who frequented the Dog and Duck caused it to lose its licence?
- ... that the first female British professor of Greek, Dorothy Tarrant, analysed Plato's style to conclude that he did not write the Socratic dialogue on beauty?
- ... pioneering petrographer Eleanora Knopf was the daughter of General Tasker H. Bliss?
- ... female physicist Elizabeth Laird came out of retirement during WWII to research radar?
- ... UBS Warburg had an email disclaimer of more than 1,000 words?
- ... the five chromolithographs in The Flask, Hampstead, a London pub, were produced by the appropriately-named artist Jan van Beers?
- ... that Foxwarren Park was the inspiration for Toad Hall, a location for Robin Hood and test site for the bouncing bomb?
- ... artist Fred Andrews made thirty thousand roof tiles for his house himself?
- ... that Full Fact fact-checked the Brexit referendum?
- ... that Queen Furra executed men for being bald, old and short?
- ... that Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn campaigned to save Gaby's Deli?
- ... Gavin Patterson, the new CEO of BT, is known for his open shirt collar?
- ... that Gilmore, the flying lion, was named after the Gilmore Oil Company?
- ... Hawksmoor serves steaks from Ginger Pig longhorns?
- ... that an MP crawled to save The Glad?
- ... the first person to isolate Vitamin E, Gladys Anderson Emerson, taught history before starting her career in biochemistry?
- ... the termite Globitermes sulphureus uses autothysis, a form of suicidal altruism, to entangle intruder ants in a sticky substance?
- ... people tend to see the world as a grey gloom when they are depressed?
- ... mathematician Grace Bates was the only woman allowed to study differential equations in her final year at college?
- ... that the Great Turnstile was originally built to keep cattle out of Holborn?
- ... the case of the Hammersmith Ghost was tried at the Old Bailey and the accused was sentenced to death by hanging and dissection?
- ... that Hanging Sword Alley was also known as "Blood Bowl Alley" after its infamous night life?
- ... freethinker Harriet Law was the only woman on the general council of the First International, and was praised by Eleanor Marx and Karl Marx?
- ... that Sir Henry Wade saved the leg of Norman Dott, who then became a surgeon too?
- ... that Hetty Reckless was born in 1776, escaped from Salem, and boasted of seeing George Washington?
- ... that in 1770, Parliament considered an act concerning high heels and now, in 2016, it is making a fresh inquiry?
- ... there were Hill Street blues in 18th-century London?
- ... the historical figure Lady Godiva probably did not ride naked through the streets?
- ... the first major idiom dictionary of American English was created for deaf people?
- ... that the Black Middens were avoided by aligning the Lights of North Shields?
- ... pedestrians walking along Malet Street hear the sound of a stick hitting an iron railing ... though there's no railing in sight?
- ... James Middleton, the brother of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, baked 21 cakes for HELLO! magazine's 21st birthday?
- ... Jean-François Autié was one of three brothers who worked as Marie Antoinette's hairdresser Monsieur Léonard, and he fled Paris to escape the guillotine?
- ... philosopher Julia Gulliver was the only woman in a department of 200 men when she studied in Leipzig?
- ... Keith Martin developed a technique for printing eye cells?
- ... that the Kepler space telescope has seen unusual patterns in the light from KIC 8462852?
- ... the ancient Scottish estate of Killiechassie, now the home of J. K. Rowling, is noted for its dovecote?
- ... that the King's Foundery for casting cannon (pictured) became the first Methodist chapel in London after a great explosion?
- ... early members of the Ladies' Scottish Climbing Club would often take off their long skirts to climb in knickerbockers?
- ... that in one study, a newt was able to regenerate the lens of its eye eighteen times?
- ... Marie Antoinette's hairdresser, Léonard Autié, invented the pouf and founded the Théâtre de Monsieur?
- ... Lilian Bland was the first woman to design and build her own aircraft, in 1910, but gave up flying when offered a motorcar instead?
- ... that Lucy Finch founded the first hospice in Malawi, a country where about a million people are living with HIV/AIDS?
- ... that classical scholar Miriam T. Griffin believes that the Roman emperor Nero was hounded by fear, panic, and persecutory delusions at the end of his reign?
- ... George Osborne, in his first speech as the new UK Chancellor, announced a new independent Office for Budget Responsibility to take the politics out of economic forecasting?
- ... that Benjamin Franklin played chess at Old Slaughter's Coffee House?
- ... not only does Paratarsotomus macropalpis run at a speed equivalent to a human running at 1,300 mph (2,092 km/h), it also does so at temperatures lethal to most animals?
- ... that the BBC is taking liberties with Parliament?
- ... celebrity chef and baker Paul Hollywood created what is thought to be the most expensive loaf of bread in Britain?
- ... "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty", the hymn that inspired Bach's cantata BWV 137, has been published in more than ten English translations?
- ... Robert Pitcairn was only fifteen when he discovered the island which is now named after him?
- ... Samuel Pepys drank purl in a bawdy house behind the House of Lords?
- ... Queen Elizabeth II has owned over 30 corgis since she ascended the throne in 1952?
- ... an unexpurgated journal of Queen Victoria records her delight that Prince Albert put on her stockings?
- ... that the renovation of the nuclear weapon arsenal of the United States resulted in the setting of Doomsday Clock two minutes closer to midnight?
- ... the cursed Ring of Silvianus may have inspired J. R. R. Tolkien to write The Hobbit?
- ... Rock on Top of Another Rock is a rock on top of another rock?
- ... a hacker tried to ransom the email account of journalist Rowenna Davis?
- ... timber from the Ruislip Woods was used in the construction of the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, the Palace of Westminster, and the manor of the Black Prince in Kennington?
- ... royal midwife Mrs. Cannon collected exotic animals and curiosities such as Oliver Cromwell's nightcap?
- ... at English fairs, women enjoyed sticking pins into Silly Billy's legs?
- ... that bouncing bomb experiments were conducted at Silvermere?
- ... Soho Pam liked to give her patrons a cuddle?
- ... spectra, London's giant tower of light, will be turned off on Monday?
- ... St Mungo's sheltered the homeless in a Marmite factory?
- ... that the headmistress of the progressive school St Trinnean's was heartbroken by its satirical parody?
- ... the meter maids in Surfers Paradise top up the parking meter rather than issuing fines?
- ... that Susanna Elm's book Virgins of God draws on little-known sources such as the Letter to the Virgins Who Went to Jerusalem?
- ... Tall Jawa is now known as "The Rock"?
- ... Simon Cowell signed the Teletubbies to his record label for their hit single "Teletubbies say Eh-oh!"?
- ... that the artist Theyre Lee-Elliott, who created the Speedbird logo, represented England at table tennis?
- ... Frederick Ashton's first ballet, A Tragedy of Fashion, was inspired by a chef who killed himself when his fish delivery was late?
- ... the wits of the Kit-Kat Club would sup their summer ale at the Upper Flask?
- ... that Jimmy Wales wants WikiTRIBUNE to counter fake news?
- ... that Martin Luther King was originally scheduled to speak at Williston High School on the day that he was assassinated?
- ... aspiring politician Will Straw is the candidate for a constituency next to his father's?
- ... Cat's Pee on a Gooseberry Bush and Goats Do Roam are examples of wine humour?
More information Contents ...
Contents |
---|
Close
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a5/Agnata_Frances_Ramsay_by_Ida_Baumann.jpg/640px-Agnata_Frances_Ramsay_by_Ida_Baumann.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/20/Honour_to_Agnata_Frances_Ramsay.png/320px-Honour_to_Agnata_Frances_Ramsay.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6c/Annie_N._Josephus_Jitta_by_Hendrik_Maarten_Krabb%C3%A9_from_the_collection_of_J.C._Zadoks.jpg/640px-Annie_N._Josephus_Jitta_by_Hendrik_Maarten_Krabb%C3%A9_from_the_collection_of_J.C._Zadoks.jpg)
![Arthur Beale](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ab/Arthur_Beale.jpg/640px-Arthur_Beale.jpg)
![Bali Mauladad](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/2a/Bali_Iqbal_crop.jpg/640px-Bali_Iqbal_crop.jpg)
![The Black Swan](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/The_Black_Swan%2C_Oldstead_-_geograph.org.uk_-_734949.jpg/320px-The_Black_Swan%2C_Oldstead_-_geograph.org.uk_-_734949.jpg)
![Sanguinaccio dolce](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/17_sanguinaccio_560x375.jpg/320px-17_sanguinaccio_560x375.jpg)
![Britannia Coco-nut Dancers](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/92/2007-05-19_Makila-dantzak-Iru%C3%B1ea_IZ_8919.jpg/640px-2007-05-19_Makila-dantzak-Iru%C3%B1ea_IZ_8919.jpg)
![Castle Folds on Great Asby Scar](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Castlefolds%2C_Great_Asby_Scar_-_geograph.org.uk_-_612587.jpg/320px-Castlefolds%2C_Great_Asby_Scar_-_geograph.org.uk_-_612587.jpg)
![Chelsea Bun House](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/Old_Chelsea_Bun_House_exterior.jpg/320px-Old_Chelsea_Bun_House_exterior.jpg)
![Clattern Bridge](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Clattern_Bridge_-_geograph.org.uk_-_664246.jpg/320px-Clattern_Bridge_-_geograph.org.uk_-_664246.jpg)
![Colonel Johnson](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/49/Robert_Gibbon_Johnson.jpg/640px-Robert_Gibbon_Johnson.jpg)
![David Nott](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7d/David_Nott_addressing_the_Keep_Her_Safe_conference_in_2013.jpg/640px-David_Nott_addressing_the_Keep_Her_Safe_conference_in_2013.jpg)
![De Hems](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/De_Hems_exterior.jpg/640px-De_Hems_exterior.jpg)
![Dog & Duck](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4c/Dog_and_Duck_tavern.jpg/320px-Dog_and_Duck_tavern.jpg)
![Foxwarren Park](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b8/Fox_Warren_1860.png/640px-Fox_Warren_1860.png)
![Fred Andrews](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Fred_Andrews_PHOTO392_48_38_crop.jpg/640px-Fred_Andrews_PHOTO392_48_38_crop.jpg)
![Gaby's Deli](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cc/Gaby%27s_Deli.jpg/640px-Gaby%27s_Deli.jpg)
![Gilmore the lion](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Roscoe_Turner_and_Gilmore_1930.jpg/320px-Roscoe_Turner_and_Gilmore_1930.jpg)
![Great Turnstile](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/11/Great_Turnstile_and_Penderel%27s_Oak.jpg/640px-Great_Turnstile_and_Penderel%27s_Oak.jpg)
![a Hawksmoor full English](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Hawksmoor%2C_Spitalfields%2C_London_%285652623969%29.jpg/640px-Hawksmoor%2C_Spitalfields%2C_London_%285652623969%29.jpg)
![A night cellar in Hanging Sword Alley](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/84/Betrayed_and_taken_in_a_Night-Cellar.png/640px-Betrayed_and_taken_in_a_Night-Cellar.png)
![Lights of North Shields](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Reaching_out_-_geograph.org.uk_-_555906.jpg/320px-Reaching_out_-_geograph.org.uk_-_555906.jpg)
![No high heels](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/No_Heels.jpg/640px-No_Heels.jpg)
![Lady Godiva](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Lady_Godiva_by_John_Collier.jpg/640px-Lady_Godiva_by_John_Collier.jpg)
![Killiechassie](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/JK_Rowling_%28Harry_Potter_Author%29%2C_Aberfeldy_Home.jpg/100px-JK_Rowling_%28Harry_Potter_Author%29%2C_Aberfeldy_Home.jpg)
![Ladies' Scottish Climbing Club](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/af/Ladies_Scottish_Climbing_Club_1909.png/320px-Ladies_Scottish_Climbing_Club_1909.png)
![Ring of Silvianus](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Vyne_Ring.jpg/640px-Vyne_Ring.jpg)
![Rock on Top of Another Rock](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b3/Rock_on_Top_of_Another_Rock.jpg/640px-Rock_on_Top_of_Another_Rock.jpg)
![Spectra](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4c/Spectra_by_the_Victoria_Tower.jpg/640px-Spectra_by_the_Victoria_Tower.jpg)
![St Trinnian's School](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Pollock_1.jpg/640px-Pollock_1.jpg)
![Surfers Paradise meter maid](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/61/Meter_maid_in_Surfers_Paradise.jpg/640px-Meter_maid_in_Surfers_Paradise.jpg)