---
title: "40 Interesting Facts About History"
url: https://www.kickassfacts.com/history-facts/
date: 2022-01-24
modified: 2022-01-24
lang: en
author: "jazz"
description: "In the Liberian General Election (1927), there were 15,000 voters but the winner received 243,000 votes. It made it the Guinness Book of Records as the most fraudulent election reported in history."
categories:
  - "Fact List"
  - "General Knowledge"
  - "History"
image: https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/history-article.jpg
word_count: 1776
---

# 40 Interesting Facts About History

Here are 40 Interesting Facts About History.

## 1-5 Interesting Facts About History

![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Emperor-Caligula.jpeg)

1. An ancient Roman oracle once prophesied that "Caligula had no more chance of becoming emperor than of riding a horse across the Bay of Baiae". After becoming emperor, Caligula ordered ships to construct the largest pontoon bridge in history and rode his horse across the Bay of Baiae. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula#Construction)

2. A depressed Manchester teen used several fake online personas to convince his best friend to murder him, and after surviving the attack, he became the first person in UK history to be charged with inciting their own murder. - [Source](https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2005/02/bachrach200502)

3. Psychologist László Polgár theorized that any child could become a genius in a chosen field with early training. As an experiment, he trained his daughters in chess from age 4. All three went on to become chess prodigies, and the youngest, Judit, is considered the best female player in history. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A1szl%C3%B3_Polg%C3%A1r)

4. When released in France in 2007, Ratatouille was not only praised for its technical accuracy and attention to culinary detail, it also drew the 4th highest opening-day attendance in French movie history. - [Source](https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/french-find-ratatouille-ever-so-palatable/)

5. Out of all the species that ever lived throughout all of Earth’s history, only a fraction of a percent have been fossilized. Even fewer are discovered by humans. Most of life’s history will be forever unknown - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fossil)

## 6-10 Interesting Facts About History

![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/bobby-fischer.jpeg)

6. Several computer algorithms have named Bobby Fischer the best chess player in history. Years after his retirement Bobby played a grandmaster at the height of his career. He said Bobby appeared bored and effortlessly beat him 17 times in a row. "He was too good. There was no use in playing him". - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Fischer#Sudden_obscurity)

7. Otis Redding was just 26 when he died in a plane crash. He recorded "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" days before the crash and, despite his young age, is considered one of the most influential musicians in American history. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_Redding)

8. In 1835, President Andrew Jackson successfully paid off the debt of the United States. The only time in history this has ever been accomplished. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_public_debt#1790s_to_1834)

9. During the exceptionally cold winter of 1795, a French Hussar regiment captured the Dutch fleet on the frozen Zuiderzee, a bay to the northwest of the [Netherlands](https://www.kickassfacts.com/55-amazing-netherlands-facts/). The French seized 14 warships and 850 guns. This is one of the only times in recorded history where calvary has captured a fleet. - [Source](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/only-time-history-when-bunch-men-horseback-captured-naval-fleet-180961824/)

10. Scientists have been able to track the history of the AIDS virus. Through research, they believe 'patient zero' lived Cameroon in Africa, and contracted the disease around 1908, after hunting a chimp and being infected with SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus). - [Source](https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/radiolab/segments/169885-aids)

## 11-15 Interesting Facts About History

![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Krakatoa_eruption.jpeg)

11. The loudest sound in recorded history was the Krakatoa volcanic eruption in 1883. The sound was so loud that it ruptured the eardrums of people 40 miles away, traveled around the world 4 times, and was clearly heard 3,000 miles away. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1883_eruption_of_Krakatoa)

12. The Lord of the Rings trilogy received a total of 475 film awards out of 800 nominations, making it the most awarded film series in cinematic history. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accolades_received_by_The_Lord_of_the_Rings_film_series)

13. Eric Moussambani had never seen an Olympic-sized swimming pool before the 2000 Olympics. He recorded the slowest time in 100m freestyle history at 1:52.72, however won his heat as all other competitors false-started. He is now a national hero, the head swimming coach of Equatorial Guinea. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Moussambani)

14. Benjamin Bolger is a man with dyslexia who possesses 14 degrees. He's one of the most credentialed perpetual students in human history. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bolger)

15. The operation of the largest fraud in US history was fairly simple. Bernie Madoff deposited all his investors' money into his Chase bank account and paid them off as necessary. At its height, his account balance was over $5 billion. The scheme collapsed when he ran out of money. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Madoff#Investment_scandal)

## 16-20 Interesting Facts About History

![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Lewis_Hamilton.jpg)

16. Lewis Hamilton pledged £20m ($27.5m) to set up the Hamilton Mission in an effort to improve groups who are underrepresented in motorsports due to its extremely high-cost entry barrier. Out of the 770 drivers in F1 history, he is the only black driver. - [Source](https://www.espn.in/f1/story/_/id/31895117/hamilton-pledges-20m-new-charity-mission-44)

17. In 1927, during the worst flood in the history of the Mississippi River Valley, Herbert Hoover and the Red Cross set up "concentration camps" comprised of African Americans forced to work at gunpoint on the levee, and created a media campaign to cover it up. - [Source](https://historicalreview.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/McMurchy.pdf)

18. Texas A&M University offers a class on Texas Barbecue that teaches the history of BBQ, cooking methodology, flavorings and seasonings, and different types of BBQ. The class is offered in the fall and is held on Friday afternoons. - [Source](https://bbq.tamu.edu/ansc-117-texas-barbecue/)

19. The Mexican Constitution was the first document in history that said every person has the right to an education. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Mexico#Article_1)

20. The longest kill shot in military history is claimed by an unnamed Canadian soldier from Joint Task Force 2 (JFT2), who hit the target from 3,450 meters. His heartbeat could have made him miss his target. Canadian soldiers currently claim three of the top five longest confirmed shots recorded. - [Source](https://globalnews.ca/news/3552281/snipers-canadian-military/)

## 21-25 Interesting Facts About History

![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Charlie_Chaplin.jpeg)

21. Charlie Chaplin openly pleaded against fascism, war, capitalism, and WMDs in his movies. He was slandered by the FBI & banned from the USA in '52. Offered an Honorary Academy Award in '72, he hesitantly returned & received a 12-minute standing ovation; the longest in the Academy's history. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Chaplin)

22. The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack album reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, becoming the first soundtrack album in history consisting entirely of previously released songs to top the chart. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardians_of_the_Galaxy_(soundtrack))

23. Adam Rainer was born a dwarf (measuring 4'8" at the age of nineteen) and died a giant (measuring 7'8'' at the age of fifty-one). He is the only person in history to have been classified as both. - [Source](https://www.businessinsider.com/adam-rainer-was-both-a-dwarf-and-a-giant-2015-1?IR=T)

24. Grigori Perelman is the only person in history to have solved one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems. After solving the Poincaré conjecture Perelman was offered the Field's Medal and $1 million prize money, he declined them both. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grigori_Perelman)

25. Hans Heyer is a German racing driver who managed to sneak onto the grid at the 1977 German Grand Prix that he failed to qualify in and was not noticed until his gearbox broke down on lap 10, gaining him the dubious credit of being the only man in Formula 1 history to be awarded a DNQ, DNF, and DSQ in the same race. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Heyer)

## 26-30 Interesting Facts About History

![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/maxi-trial.jpeg)

26. Italy built an entire courthouse to prosecute the Mafia. They charged 475 members in a trial that lasted from 1986 to 1992. To date, it is one of the biggest trials in history. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxi_Trial)

27. A Man paralyzed from the waist down made history by walking again using a mind-controlled implant to power his legs. - [Source](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/paralysed-man-walks-mind-controlled-implat-spinal-cord-surgery-us-minnesota-snowmobile-accident-a8552726.html)

28. In 2000, The Guinness Book of World Records cited Michael Jackson as the most philanthropic pop star in history. He gave over $300 million dollars to charity in his life and visited hospitals and orphanages at every stop of his tours handing out gifts and making donations. - [Source](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/michael-jacksons-forgotten-humanitarian-legacy_b_59c7c8d3e4b08d661550436a)

29. In 1999, hackers revealed a security flaw in Hotmail that permitted anybody to log in to any Hotmail account using the password 'eh'. At the time it was called "the most widespread security incident in the history of the Web". - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outlook.com)

30. The longest war in recorded history lasted 335 years and 19 days. It was between the Dutch and the Isles of Scilly, there were no casualties, and the Dutch actually forgot about the conflict until a Scilly historian contacted them about it in 1985. A treaty was signed between them in 1986. - [Source](https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/the-335-year-war-between-the-netherlands-and-the-tiny-isles-of-scill.html)

## 31-35 Interesting Facts About History

![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/J_Paul_Getty.jpeg)

31. Oil magnate J. Paul Getty, one of the richest humans in history, was so miserly that he laundered his own shirts by hand, reused envelopes and paper, made all the phones in his home coin-operated, and stood in line for hours for show tickets to save 50 cents. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Paul_Getty)

32. The Dutch East India Company was the most valuable company in history. Worth 78 Million Dutch Guilders, adjusted to dollars it was worth $7.4 Trillion. - [Source](https://finance.yahoo.com/photos/most-valuable-companies-ever-adjusted-for-inflation-1351801906-slideshow/most-valuable-companies-in-history-adjusted-for-inflation-photo--1113431046.html)

33. In the Liberian General Election (1927), there were 15,000 voters but the winner received 243,000 votes. It made it the Guinness Book of Records as the most fraudulent election reported in history. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1927_Liberian_general_election)

34. The largest movement of physical wealth in history was during WWII, Operation Fish had 186,332 gold bars and more than 8 million ounces of gold coins sent to [Canada](https://www.kickassfacts.com/canada-facts/) from the [UK](https://www.kickassfacts.com/30-kickass-and-interesting-facts-about-london/) with not even one crate or treasury bill going missing. - [Source](https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/business-industry/guarding-the-gold)

35. Sweden's early history is largely unknown because there are no written documents from Sweden before the 12th century. On its formation, a Swedish history book simply states: "How and when the Swedish kingdom appeared is not known." - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_by_date_of_formation#cite_note-96)

## 36-40 Interesting Facts About History

![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Indian_Army.jpg)

36. During WWII, India produced the largest volunteer army in world history, over 2.5 million men. Winston Churchill called their bravery "Unsurpassed", with at least 38 Indians awarded the Victoria Cross or the George Cross. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Army_during_World_War_II)

37. The worst maritime disaster in US history was Steamboat Sultana, where 1192 souls perished after its boilers exploded just outside Memphis. Not very many people heard about it since news coverage focused on the killing of John Wilkes Booth the previous day.

38. The worst maritime disaster in US history was Steamboat Sultana, where 1192 souls perished after its boilers exploded just outside Memphis. Not very many people heard about it since news coverage focused on the killing of John Wilkes Booth the previous day. - [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultana_(steamboat))

39. The USS William D. Porter was the only vessel in US Navy history to have its entire crew placed under arrest after accidentally firing a live torpedo at a vessel carrying the President of the United States and the Secretary of State. - [Source](https://taskandpurpose.com/history/wwii-naval-ship-unlucky-almost-killed-fdr/)

40. The very first strike ever recorded in history started in 1152 BC. During the reign of Rameses III in Ancient Egypt, while building a royal necropolis, the workers felt they were being underpaid, so they organized a massive strike. Their wages were actually increased and workers returned to work. - [Source](https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/today-in-labor-history-first-recorded-strike-in-egypt-maybe-ever/)