Fri, 9 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT
Blood was an Irish-born adventurer who served under Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. In 1663 he tried to seize the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from Dublin Castle, and in 1670 he attempted to assassinate the Duke of Ormonde. A year later, Blood and three accomplices made an infamous attempt to steal the Crown Jewels of England. Having befriended the jewel keeper, Blood arranged a private viewing, during which time the men made off with the treasures. Why did the king pardon Blood?
Thu, 8 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT
Lavoisier was a French nobleman known today as the "father of modern chemistry." He stated the first version of the Law of Conservation of Matter, co-discovered and named oxygen, wrote the first detailed list of elements, and introduced the metric system. Lavoisier also worked to improve economic and social conditions in France, holding various government posts. He was beheaded during the Reign of Terror because, as a member of the farmers general, one of his duties was to do what?
Wed, 7 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT
The Lusitania was a British ocean liner that was sunk off the Irish coast by a German u-boat during WWI. The ship sank quickly?its submersion took only 18 minutes?and resulted in the loss of nearly 1,200 lives, among them approximately 100 children. The question of whether contraband munitions were being transported aboard the vessel when it was attacked, causing a possible secondary explosion, has been a hotly debated issue. What have dive teams recently revealed about the ship's cargo?