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The Davy lamp was an early safety lamp used in the mining and quarrying industries. It was designed by English chemist and physicist Sir Humphrey Davy to prevent the accidental ignition of flammable gases. This was achieved by enclosing the flame of the oil-burning lamp in wire gauze that distributed heat over a large area and brought its temperature below the ignition temperature of methane.
Why did the introduction of the Davy lamp initially lead to an increase in the rate of mining accidents: More...
2005 - The second Sudanese War ends
As an outcome, Southern Sudan is granted autonomy; in 2011, South Sudan becomes an independent nation.
1916 - The Battle of Gallipoli ends
The Gallipoli Campaign during World War I ended with the victory of the Ottoman Empire.
1861 - The first shots of the American Civil War are fired
The steamer, Star of the West, was fired upon by the Confederates as it attempted to enter Charleston Harbor.
1768 - Philip Astley opens the world's first modern circus
The British equestrian, who is considered the father of modern circus, opened a riding school in London where he also performed tricks for an audience in the afternoons.
1431 - The trial against Joan of Arc begins
She was executed on May 30, 1431, exonerated in 1456, and canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.
Historic Trivia
THE DEATH OF EDGAR ALLAN POE
On September 27, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe was supposed to travel from Richmond, Virginia, to Philadelphia. He was going to help a fellow writer edit some poetry … but Poe never made it to the City of Brotherly Love. Instead, he somehow wound up in Baltimore, Maryland. Nobody knows how he got there or what was doing there, but when he was discovered on October 3, the author was in serious trouble.
Poe was found lying in the street outside a saloon called Gunner's Hall, barely conscious and wearing somebody else's worn-out clothes. Tragically, the writer spent his last days either unconscious, or delirious. When he wasn't in a coma, he was thrashing around so badly that he had to be strapped down. And while he never could explain what had happened to him, he kept repeating the name, "Reynolds."
The writer eventually died on October 7 — since then, there have been all sorts of wild theories about the cause of his death, ranging from mercury poisoning to rabies. But while there's no shortage of speculation, there is one theory that seems more likely than the rest. Many historians think Poe was the victim of cooping. See, in the 19th century, voting was actually kind of dangerous. Crooks known as "coopers" would grab people off the streets, beat them up, and get them drunk or high on opium. The victims were then forced to vote at multiple polling places, but in order to disguise these drugged-up voters, the coopers would dress their victims in shabby disguises.
The cooping theory accounts for both Poe's change of clothes and his delirious state. Even more convincing, Poe was discovered on Election Day, in front of a saloon that doubled as a polling place.
Davy Lamp Tested at Hebburn Colliery
Why did the introduction of the Davy lamp initially lead to an increase in the rate of mining accidents: More...
2005 - The second Sudanese War ends
As an outcome, Southern Sudan is granted autonomy; in 2011, South Sudan becomes an independent nation.
1916 - The Battle of Gallipoli ends
The Gallipoli Campaign during World War I ended with the victory of the Ottoman Empire.
1861 - The first shots of the American Civil War are fired
The steamer, Star of the West, was fired upon by the Confederates as it attempted to enter Charleston Harbor.
1768 - Philip Astley opens the world's first modern circus
The British equestrian, who is considered the father of modern circus, opened a riding school in London where he also performed tricks for an audience in the afternoons.
1431 - The trial against Joan of Arc begins
She was executed on May 30, 1431, exonerated in 1456, and canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.
Historic TriviaTHE DEATH OF EDGAR ALLAN POE
On September 27, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe was supposed to travel from Richmond, Virginia, to Philadelphia. He was going to help a fellow writer edit some poetry … but Poe never made it to the City of Brotherly Love. Instead, he somehow wound up in Baltimore, Maryland. Nobody knows how he got there or what was doing there, but when he was discovered on October 3, the author was in serious trouble.
Poe was found lying in the street outside a saloon called Gunner's Hall, barely conscious and wearing somebody else's worn-out clothes. Tragically, the writer spent his last days either unconscious, or delirious. When he wasn't in a coma, he was thrashing around so badly that he had to be strapped down. And while he never could explain what had happened to him, he kept repeating the name, "Reynolds."
The writer eventually died on October 7 — since then, there have been all sorts of wild theories about the cause of his death, ranging from mercury poisoning to rabies. But while there's no shortage of speculation, there is one theory that seems more likely than the rest. Many historians think Poe was the victim of cooping. See, in the 19th century, voting was actually kind of dangerous. Crooks known as "coopers" would grab people off the streets, beat them up, and get them drunk or high on opium. The victims were then forced to vote at multiple polling places, but in order to disguise these drugged-up voters, the coopers would dress their victims in shabby disguises.
The cooping theory accounts for both Poe's change of clothes and his delirious state. Even more convincing, Poe was discovered on Election Day, in front of a saloon that doubled as a polling place.
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61-BLUES
