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In what ironic way did the American trial lawyer and politician Clement Vallandigham die in 1871?

Answer: Vallandingham was acting for a defendant charged with murder and sought to prove that the victim could have shot himself with his own pistol. In attempting to re-enact the process, Vallandingham used a gun that he erroneously thought was unloaded and shot himself by mistake. As some posthumous compensation, the demonstration worked and the defendant was found not guilty.

Source: The Limits of Dissent by Frank L. Klement

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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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A short, sharp hit of history in video format. Acclaimed Irish playwright and novelist Oscar Wilde was the toast of London society in the 1890s until things came decidedly unstuck through an association with a young British aristocrat, Lord Alfred Douglas, known as ‘Bosie’.

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Winston Churchill (1874-1965), British statesman

Source: The Wicket Wit of Winston Churchill by Dominique Enright

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HistoryWow’s Featured Historical Figure of Note

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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