What happened on this day in history: The Nanking Massacre begins, Saddam Hussein is captured by U.S. troops, and more important events from December 13th.1784: Samuel Johnson Dies Wikimedia CommonsA portrait of Samuel Johnson created by English painter Joshua Reynolds, circa 1772. English writer Samuel Johnson, the “most distinguished man of letters in English history” and author of the Dictionary of the English Language, dies in London. Johnson had struggled with his health for years, but he declined quickly in 1784.

What happened on this day in history: Adolf Hitler is named TIME's "Man of the Year," the English serial killer known as the Yorkshire Ripper is apprehended, and more.1832: Jules Brunet, “The Last Samurai” Is Born In France Jules Brunet (front row, second to left) fought alongside Tokugawa samurai during Japan’s Boshin War. Jules Brunet is born in Belfort, France. Sent by France to teach Western war tactics to Japanese soldiers, Brunet eventually joined the fight against imperialist forces in Japan.

What happened on this day in history: Francis Scott Key writes The Star-Spangled Banner after witnessing the Battle of Baltimore, Grace Kelly dies, and more. 1321: Dante Alighieri Dies Dante Alighieri dies in Ravenna, Italy, at the age of 56 from malaria. A poet, writer, and philosopher who famously wrote the Divine Comedy, Dante passed away just hours after finishing the final part, Paradiso. 1814: Francis Scott Key Writes The Star-Spangled Banner Public DomainA depiction of the bombardment of Fort McHenry, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write The Star-Spangled Banner.

Rats have been used to torture prisoners and political enemies in many ways over the centuries — but some methods are more horrific than others.Humans have a long history of developing inventive ways to hurt each other. There’s seemingly no end to the horrifying torture devices that people have conceived. But one of the most terrifying methods of torture ever created doesn’t require a man-made device at all — it just requires a rat.

Is There A Universal Definition Of The Word, “Word”? Source: Giphy In linguistics, a word is the smallest utterance you can make that possesses some kind of meaning: either in the practical sense or the literal sense. A morpheme, while smaller and still able to communicate meaning, can’t always stand on its own conversationally. While you can see “—ness” and understand what it means (essence of), it wouldn’t be conversationally useful to you.

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Sybil Ludington https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58g3-6MUtGQ Paul Revere can’t hold a candle to Sybil Ludington. When no men were available, this sixteen-year-old girl rode her horse 40 miles to warn the Continental Army that the British had just set Danbury, Connecticut, ablaze. She left her home at about 9 pm and returned at dawn the following day. By contrast, Paul Revere only rode for three hours before being intercepted by British troops. Gen. Washington even dropped by her house after the battle at Danbury to thank her.

Known as caligae, these sandals were worn by Roman soldiers primarily in the first century C.E. and provided traction as they traveled over rough terrain.Bavarian State Office for Monument ProtectionA recreation of the Roman-era caligae, nailed sandals used to help soldiers cross more easily over difficult terrain. During a recent excavation of an ancient settlement in Obsertimm, Germany, archaeologists found the remains of a Roman-era sandal dating back 2,000 years.

These stirring Eleanor Roosevelt quotes address everything from democracy to achieving peace to making the most of your time on Earth. “Do the things that interest you and do them with all your heart. Don’t be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you.”Wikimedia Commons "The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.

Forget Jack Sparrow. These famous pirates were the swashbuckling, sword-slinging ruffians that originally made the skull and crossbones cool. History's Most Famous Pirates: François L’Olonnais François L’Olonnais was a French pirate who attacked ships and towns in the 1660s. His hatred for Spaniards was legendary and he was known for his cruelty toward Spanish prisoners of war. His savage life came to an equally savage end as he was captured, hacked to pieces, roasted over a fire, and reportedly eaten by a tribe of cannibals in the Gulf of Darien.