Thursday, 28 August 2025

Martha Place

I wrote an article about Martha Place. In 1899, she became the first woman to be executed in the electric chair


Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Rhazes

 The famous Persian physician Al-Razi, known in the West as Rhazes, was born on 27 August 885. He had a huge influence on medicine in the Middle Ages.

Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Polly Nicholls

 Mary Ann (Polly) Nichols, who many believe was the first victim of Jack the Ripper, was born on 26 August 1845. She died in 1888. I looked for a meme, but they all propagate the myth that he was a 'toff' in a top hat. In reality, several witnesses saw a man with the victims shortly before they were killed. They all described a similar individual, and he wore ordinary working clothes. He was completely nondescript and probably lived and worked in the area.

Sunday, 24 August 2025

Nazi Euthanasia

 In 1939, Hitler began a euthanasia programme for the disabled. It was called Aktion T4. Victims were gassed using carbon monoxide gas. The bodies were then cremated. The family were informed that the victim had died of some natural cause. But the news leaked out. On 24 August 1941, Hitler ordered an end to the gassings, partly because of the opposition from the churches. However, euthanasia of the disabled continued ad hoc using drug overdoses, until the German surrender in 1945. About 250,000 people were murdered. Aktion T4 provided a blueprint for the Jewish Holocaust.

Friday, 22 August 2025

Here Come The Tudors!

 For all you lovers of Tudor history, I wrote a book in three parts. The first part is a description of life in Tudor England. The second part is a brief history of Tudor England. The third part is a description of Tudor Portsmouth and Tudor Southampton.

Thursday, 21 August 2025