Happy Halloween

 This is my history of Halloween Happy Halloween

Jonas Salk

 Jonas Salk the man who invented a polio vaccine was born on 28 October 1914. His invention saved many people from a terrible disease.

Isaac Singer

 Isaac Singer was born on 27 October 1811. He didn't actually invent the sewing machine but he made the first practical version. It was a huge success. https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-clothes/

Dr Guillotin

 When I was a boy my dad told me that Dr Guillotin invented the guillotine and he was the first person executed by it. He was executed for inventing such an inhumane machine. I thought that was really funny, but of course, it isn’t true. Mechanical beheading devices were used long before the French Revolution. (One was recorded in Dublin in 1307). But in 1790 Joseph-Ignace Guillotin argued that such a device should be used as a humane method of executing people. (And it was humane compared to most methods!) His idea was adopted and the device was named after him. Dr Guillotin died of natural causes in 1838.

The Hungarian Revolution

 The Hungarian Revolution began with a demonstration in Budapest on 23 October 1956. The people rebelled against Communism. However, the Russians eventually crushed the revolt. https://localhistories.org/a-brief-history-of-hungary/ 

The mythical 'curse of Tutankhamun'

 One silly and persistent myth is that there was a curse on Tutankhamun's tomb and after it was opened in 1922 there was a series of mysterious deaths. In fact, most of the people involved lived for a long time afterward and were quite old when they died (bearing in mind that life expectancy in the early 20th century was considerably shorter than it is today!). In many cases, they lived longer than would be expected at that time.

Touch screens

 This is an interesting article about the invention of touch screens 

Beer Flood

 On 17 October 1814 a giant wooden vat of beer in a London brewery burst. The rush of liquid caused other vats to burst in a domino effect. An estimated 135,000 gallons of beer escaped. The sheer weight of beer gushing along the street caused severe damage to several houses. One unfortunate woman was washing pots at a public water pump by a brick wall. The rush of liquid caused the wall to collapse on her. Altogether the flood of beer killed 8 people.

Buriton

 7 years ago I made this video about the charming village of Buriton, near Petersfield in Hampshire 

Verdi

 The great composer Giuseppe Verdi was born on 10 October 1813 This is my favourite music by him - the anvil chorus  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEMMVHAINFM

Corporal punishment in Ireland

 I found this interesting video about corporal punishment in Ireland in the 1950s

Vodka

 4 October is World Vodka Day. https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-drinks/

Ethiopia

 On 3 October 1935 the Italians invaded Ethiopia