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In 1674 British diarist Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) received a diplomatic gift from Samuel Martin, the English consul in Algiers. What was it?

Answer: A Lion. Pepys kept it at his house in Westminster and wrote to Martin to inform him that the lion was “as tame as you sent him, and as good company.”

Source: Samuel Pepys and His Books by Kate Loveman

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1908 – King Carlos I of Portugal and his heir, Prince Luis Filipe are assassinated by Republican sympathizers in Lisbon.

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Source: The Wicket Wit of Winston Churchill by Dominique Enright

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Marcus Porcius Cato (234-149BCE)

Roman statesman, soldier and writer of virtue, simplicity and wisdom. He condemned the luxury of his time and was nicknamed “the censor”. He became Consul in 195BCE, took part in the defeat of Hannibal at Zama, held command in Sardinia and Spain, and in 191 BCE assisted the Greeks in overthrowing Antiochus III at Thermopolyae.

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