Music on the Mary Rose

 Francesca Raine wrote this article about music on the Mary Rose,  Henry VIII's warship

Martha Place

Martha Place was the first woman to be executed by the electric chair. She murdered her stepmother and attempted to murder her husband. 

Martha was born on 8 September 1849 in New Jersey, USA. Her birth name was Martha Garrettson. Martha married Wesley Savacool, and they had a son. But the marriage was short-lived. Wesley left, and Martha could not look after her son. So she agreed to have him adopted. 

In 1893, she married William Place. He had a teenage daughter named Ida from a previous marriage, and it seems Martha was very jealous of her. She resented the girl because she was very popular and she was close to her father. She also wanted her son to come and live with them, but Place refused, much to Martha’s annoyance. The couple grew apart. 

On 7 February 1899, Martha had a row with 17-year-old Ida. Martha threw carbolic acid in Ida’s face. She then killed the girl by suffocating her. attacked William Place with an axe when he came home from work. Place managed to escape and summon help. 

When William Place came back from work, Martha attacked him with an axe. Fortunately, William survived. Martha ran upstairs, perhaps thinking William was dead. He managed to stumble outside, where neighbours saw him and called the police.

The police found Martha unconscious. She had attempted to kill herself by turning on gas taps. The police also found the dead body of Ida Place. Martha was, at first, taken to a hospital, but when she recovered, she was charged with the murder of Ida and the attempted murder of William.

At her trial, Martha claimed to be innocent. However, not surprisingly, the jury did not believe her and she was found guilty. Martha was sentenced to death. The governor of the state of New York, Theodore Roosevelt, refused to commute her sentence to life imprisonment. On 20 March 1899, Martha Place was executed in the electric chair at Sing Sing prison. 

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.

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.

Prehistoric Jericho

I wrote an article about prehistoric Jericho 

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.

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.

Myths About Women's Clothes

 I found an interesting video that debunks myths about 19th century women's clothes 

USS Constitution

 On 19 August 1812 the frigate USS Constitution defeated a British ship in battle. It earned the nickname Old Ironsides. It's now a museum in Boston. https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/

The Last Teenager Hanged in Britain

 On 22 December 1960 19-year-old Anthony Miller was hanged for murder in Glasgow. He was the last teenager to be hanged in Britain. 

India Independence Day

 15 August is India Independence Day. This is my history of India. 

The last executions in Britain

On 13 August 1964, the last executions in Britain were carried out when Gwynne Evans and Peter Allen were hanged in separate prisons. The death sentence for murder was abolished for a trial period of 5 years in 1965. It was permanently abolished for murder in 1969.

Here Come the Tudors!

 For all you lovers of Tudor history, I have written a new book. It's called Here Come the Tudors! and it includes a description of life at the time and a history of Tudor England. It also includes a look at Tudor Portsmouth and Tudor Southampton.

A History of Women from Ancient Times to Today

 I wrote another book. I called it A History of Women From Ancient Times to Today. When I read about the history of women I was amazed at how many prominent women there were in the past, who are largely overlooked today. Many women philosophers, writers, mathematicians, scientists, artists and musicians were famous in their own day but have been largely overlooked today. In my book I try to redress the balance. It's available from Lulu Books. 

Passion Fruit Day

 9 August is National Passion Fruit Day. This is my history of fruit. 

A History of Southeast Hampshire

 I published another book, a collection of histories and towns and villages in Southeast Hampshire 

A Parade of Killers

 I wrote another book about true crime. I called it A Parade of Killers. 

Roma Holocaust Memorial Day

2 August is Roma Holocaust Memorial Day. The Nazis hated the Roma and they murdered hundreds of thousands of them.