Buzz
History is shaped by influential individuals and their actions. The following historical figures have made profound impacts in areas like electricity, politics, religion, and scientific progress.
However, their journeys—both in life and death—have often taken strange and unexpected turns. While their remarkable achievements are what they are remembered for, here are 10 curious facts about these famous figures.
10. Albert Einstein’s Preserved Brain
Albert Einstein, the renowned theoretical physicist, passed away at 1:15 AM on April 18, 1955. Sadly, his final words were lost forever since the nurse at Princeton Hospital did not understand German. Later that day, Einstein was cremated in Trenton, New Jersey. His son, Hans Albert, later discovered that his father’s body had been mishandled before the cremation.
Dr. Thomas Harvey, the pathologist who performed Einstein’s autopsy, sought more than just the cause of death, which was determined to be a ruptured aorta. Hoping to make a name for himself in the medical world, Harvey decided to open Einstein’s skull before removing his brain.
In 1978, reporter Steven Levy met with Harvey and uncovered the story behind Einstein’s brain. After much persuasion, Harvey revealed that the brain was not only preserved but also sliced into 240 pieces. For two decades, the brain had been stored in a box labeled “Costa Cider.”
9. Sir Walter Raleigh’s Severed Head
Sir Walter Raleigh was a prominent English adventurer, writer, and one of the most distinguished figures of the Elizabethan period. Although he was a favorite of Queen Elizabeth I, who passed away in 1603, Raleigh was executed by beheading in 1618 for plotting against King James I.
His severed head was embalmed and given to his wife, Elizabeth, who had served as one of the queen’s ladies-in-waiting. Unable to part with him, Lady Raleigh is said to have carried his head in her red leather bag for 29 years. Eventually, his head was placed back in his tomb at St. Margaret’s Church.
8. King Henry VIII’s Grooms of the Stool
King Henry VIII of England appointed four Grooms of the Stool, whose job was to assist him with personal hygiene during his reign. These included Sir William Compton (1509–1526), Sir Henry Norris (1526–1536), Sir Thomas Heneage (1536–1546), and Sir Anthony Denny (1546–1547).
Each groom was bestowed with a knighthood. The official title of their role was the “Groom of the King’s Close Stool.” These men were tasked with attending to the king’s toilet duties, but their responsibilities also included providing water, a washbowl, and a towel for the monarch. They kept an eye on King Henry VIII’s diet and meal schedule to anticipate his needs.
The Grooms of the Stool were the king’s most trusted and intimate courtiers, often hearing his closely guarded secrets as a result of their role. Over time, the position grew in importance, as the Groom of the Stool was seen as a powerful figure due to his close association with the king.
As a result, many sought to speak with the groom to relay important matters to the king. Additionally, King Henry VIII confided his personal thoughts with the Grooms of the Stool. Each groom was given accommodations where the king stayed and was gifted with his old clothing and furnishings.
7. Thomas Edison’s Final Breath
Thomas Edison is widely regarded as America’s greatest inventor, having created groundbreaking inventions like the motion picture camera, phonograph, and a long-lasting electric light bulb. His innovations greatly influenced Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, who worked at the Edison Illuminating Company in 1896.
Ford’s ambition was realized when he had the chance to meet Edison and present his new automobile idea. Edison, impressed by Ford’s concept, offered words of encouragement that led Ford to build a prototype of the Model T. The two men also maintained a lasting friendship throughout Edison’s life.
Sadly, Edison passed away in 1931 from complications related to diabetes at his home in West Orange, New Jersey. Having shared a close friendship with the inventor, Ford allegedly persuaded Edison’s son, Charles, to hold a test tube to Edison’s mouth in order to capture his final breath.
Many people speculate that the eccentric Ford was attempting to capture Edison’s soul as it departed his body. However, the more widely believed story is that eight test tubes were kept near Edison’s bed as he passed away, and one was later sent to Henry Ford. Regardless, the last breath is now preserved at The Henry Ford Museum in Detroit.
6. King George III’s Unusual Blue Urine
Along with his famously unpredictable behavior, King George III will forever be remembered by the British as the monarch who lost America. Known to repeat himself and speak incessantly, even until foam appeared on his lips, one of the oddest facts about King George III was his reportedly blue urine.
He was posthumously diagnosed with acute intermittent porphyria, a hereditary blood disorder. This condition is believed to have caused both his erratic behavior and his unusual blue-colored urine.
5. Galileo’s Three Fingers and Tooth
Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer known for hearing about the invention of the telescope and creating his own superior version without ever seeing the original. This led to many significant astronomical discoveries, including the mountains and valleys on the Moon's surface and the phases of Venus.
The renowned inventor passed away at the age of 77 on January 8, 1642. Curiously, before his burial, three of his fingers and a tooth were removed by admirers. These body parts are now on display at the Museo Galileo in Florence, Italy.
4. Queen Victoria’s Underwear
Queen Victoria held the second-longest reign of any British monarch, ruling from June 20, 1837, until her death on January 22, 1901. After her passing, her underwear was strangely distributed among her courtiers as mementos, along with many of her other garments.
Queen Victoria’s undergarments can be easily recognized by the royal cypher embroidered on each item. In 2015, a pair of her royal cotton knickers was sold for £12,000 to a private English collector, along with stockings, nightdresses, and hats. Each piece is stamped with the initials “VR,” standing for “Victoria Regina.”
3. President William McKinley and The Handkerchief
William McKinley, the 25th president of the United States, led the nation to victory in the Spanish-American War. He was also the last president who had served in the US Civil War.
McKinley was married to Ida Saxton, whom he loved deeply throughout her long battle with illness. Despite the prevailing protocols, she often sat beside him at state dinners. McKinley, however, was careful not to display her health struggles publicly, covering her face with a handkerchief whenever she experienced an epileptic seizure.
2. President Abraham Lincoln and The Wrestling Hall of Fame
Abraham Lincoln is widely regarded as one of the greatest American presidents, so it may come as a surprise that he is honored in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. With his long limbs, Lincoln was known to be a formidable wrestler in his youth. Remarkably, he was only defeated once in 300 wrestling matches.
True to wrestling tradition, he was also known for his trash talk in the ring. In fact, his biography mentions that after winning a match, Honest Abe boldly challenged the crowd: “I’m the big buck of this lick. If any of you want to try it, come on and whet your horns.”
Unsurprisingly, no one dared to challenge the future 16th president of the United States. Thanks to his impressive wrestling skills, Lincoln was honored as an “Outstanding American” at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
1. Nikola Tesla and Pigeons
Nikola Tesla, the Serbian-American inventor renowned for his groundbreaking contributions to the modern alternating current (AC) electrical supply system, developed an unusual affection for pigeons later in life. He expressed that he loved a particular white female pigeon as one would love a human being.
Tesla even claimed that one night, the white pigeon flew into his hotel room through an open window. He believed that the bird had come to tell him she was dying. Tesla described seeing two brilliant beams of light in the pigeon’s eyes, which he said were “more intense than I had ever produced by the most powerful lamps in my laboratory.”
As the pigeon passed away in his arms, Tesla knew that his own life's work had reached its conclusion.
