![](http://web.archive.org./web/20230713104415im_/https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/h7vP9jisku3G5FrwqrBFfCbzOVRfl2Zbo_OkK5PswBA.jpg)
TIL about Albert Severin Roche, a distinguished French soldier who was found sleeping during duty and sentenced to death for it. A messenger arrived right before his execution and told the true story: Albert had crawled 10 hours under fire to rescue his captain and then collapsed from exhaustion. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by Huge_Buddy_2216
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20230713104415im_/https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/XWIfPn69evBxFkOu4-2zgR1vAu0PpN-gj0Ur6qqWJ8o.jpg)
TIL Alex Ovechkin was such a highly regarded NHL prospect that the Florida Panthers attempted to draft him in the 9th round of the 2003 draft, despite the fact that he was born two days after the eligibility cutoff date. The Panthers argued he should be eligible taking leap years into consideration. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by samuraisports37
TIL anyone in the world, any age, can receive a personalized letter from Santa Claus in Canada for free if they write him and mail the letter to: Santa Claus, North Pole, H0H 0H0, Canada. Schools classrooms can get a poster sized letter with all students name on it too. (canadapost-postescanada.ca)
submitted by UbiquitousBagel
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20230713104415im_/https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/f5PMINFBJNywmHmcR00fKhggUpI2aNyrzlNyjARfQhY.jpg)
TIL On The Cure's first big tour Robert Smith pulled double duty after the guitarist for headliner Siouxsie and the Banshees quit. Smith opened as lead singer and guitarist with The Cure and then played lead guitar for the Banshees. He said the experience heavily influenced The Cure's future sound. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by Bluest_waters
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20230713104415im_/https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/OYVl5b-APQ1wi9RK9i_TaZK2naNYq0fwebUFfUcVWHg.jpg)
TIL Gaetan Dugas, supposed "Patient Zero" of the US AIDS epidemic, wasn't that, according to a 2016 genetic study. The "0" was originally letter "O" for "Out of California" in a 1984 study, and because he was more helpful in naming partners, there was likely also "ascertainment bias" in blaming him. (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted by thinkofanamefast
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20230713104415im_/https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/wUBDyLGeW9ksDRisvVTP30F6bj0obwxID04al25gT4I.jpg)
TIL about the Battle of Christiana, in which a group of armed freedmen fought a party of federal marshals to defend escaped slaves, killing the slaves former owner who had shouted; "I will have my property, or go to hell!". Everyone involved was later acquitted and the slaves escaped to Canada. (christianahistoricalsociety.com)
submitted by Observer_from_Orion
TIL that Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia were cousins and exchanged conciliatory personal telegrams as World War I broke out between their countries. The messages were in informal English (a language they shared), signed “Willy” and “Nicky”. (wwi.lib.byu.edu)
submitted by a2soup
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20230713104415im_/https://b.thumbs.redditmedia.com/YweFpRi6MOC4Ae_f8xiugKq0rinao9M81ZIHKQfqQWk.jpg)
TIL Rocky Aoki, founder of Benihana restaurants, didn't know how to cook, was a Hall of Fame Wrestler, won a world title in backgammon, was deep-sea treasure hunter, set a record for the longest balloon flight, raced cars and boats, founded a softcore porn mag and is DJ Steve Aoki's dad. (vehicule-magazine.com)
submitted by gonejahman