Topic

Biography & Personal Stories

A collection of 192 issues

An Assassin Acquitted: The Trial That Put the Armenian Genocide in the Dock

Haunted by the murder of his family during the Armenian Genocide, Soghomon Tehlirian tracked down and assassinated the genocide's chief architect, Talaat Pasha, in Berlin. His subsequent trial became an unprecedented indictment of the Ottoman government, ending in a stunning acquittal.

From Irish Exile to Spanish Power: The Incredible O'Donnell Dynasty

At 16, Joseph O'Donnell left Ireland for Spain to become a soldier. He rose to the rank of general, establishing a powerful dynasty whose journey culminated when his grandson, Leopoldo O'Donnell, became the Prime Minister of Spain in 1856.

The Strange Case of the 200 Hotel Bristols: An Aristocrat's Accidental Franchise

Discover the story behind the 200+ unconnected Hotel Bristols worldwide. They all honor the 4th Earl of Bristol, an 18th-century aristocrat and travel connoisseur whose name became an early, un-franchised brand for luxury and high standards in hospitality, long before modern hotel chains.

The Champion Who Quit: How Niki Lauda's 1977 Exit Paved the Way for a Ferrari Legend

In 1977, Niki Lauda clinched his second F1 championship for Ferrari but immediately quit the team with two races to go. His shocking departure, fueled by a fractured relationship with Enzo Ferrari, opened the door for legendary driver Gilles Villeneuve to make his Scuderia debut.

The Botanist Who Fooled the World: Jeanne Baret's Secret Circumnavigation

In 1766, French botanist Jeanne Baret disguised herself as a man to join a naval expedition. Braving immense danger, she collected thousands of plant specimens and became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe, her incredible story of deception and discovery long hidden from history.

The Tragic Final Match: How Olympic Volleyball Star Flo Hyman's Death Unmasked a Silent Killer

1984 Olympic volleyball silver medalist Flo Hyman was a giant in her sport. At 31, she collapsed and died during a match in Japan, her tragic death revealing she had undiagnosed Marfan Syndrome, a silent genetic disorder that turned her physical gifts into a fatal vulnerability.

How Faking Insanity Led a 10th-Century Scientist to Revolutionize Vision

Faced with execution by a volatile Caliph, scientist Ibn al-Haytham feigned madness. His decade-long house arrest became a period of genius, where he wrote the groundbreaking Book of Optics, forever changing our understanding of light, vision, and the scientific method itself.

The Statistician Who Beat the Lottery—And Then Gave the Secret Away

A geological statistician, Mohan Srivastava, discovered a flaw in a Canadian Tic-Tac-Toe scratch-off game, allowing him to identify winning tickets with 90% accuracy. Instead of exploiting it, he reported the flaw, finding his day job more profitable and fulfilling.

From Rom-Com Star to Rogue One: The Unheard Musical Talent of Dermot Mulroney

You know Dermot Mulroney from films like 'My Best Friend's Wedding,' but did you know he's a classically trained cellist? He has played in the orchestra for blockbuster scores like Jurassic World, Rogue One, and Spider-Man: Homecoming, a hidden talent that adds a fascinating layer to his career.