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1284 – In yet another armed encounter between the Italian states, the Republic of Pisa is defeated in the Battle of Meloria by the Republic of Genoa, thus losing its naval dominance in the Mediterranean. 1890 – The electric chair is used for the first time, to execute murderer William Kemmler in New York. More…
Scurvy has blighted humanity down through the centuries but was particularly prevalent in ships’ crews. The British navy discovered that lime juice was an antidote to the disease. What year was this introduced and what did this lead to in terms of an alternative description, sobriquet if you will, for the English?
