The Dreadful Effects of Arsenic in the Eighteenth Century

When researching Mary Blandy‘s story, I wondered how common arsenic poisoning was in the eighteenth century? Could there have been a simple explanation for her father’s death? First, I wanted to find out about its historic use. History of Arsenic Use For over 3,000 years practitioners of traditional Chinese Medicine have used arsenic to treat a multitude of illnesses including…
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Calamity Jane: Most reckless and daring rider or a romantic?

One of my favourite musicals as a child was Calamity Jane. Little did I know that although most of the events in the film are fictional, Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok were real people. Martha Jane Cannary, frontierswoman, sharpshooter and tall-story teller was born on 1st May 1852 and died on 1st August, 1903. According to Calamity she was “the…
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Jeanne Baret: The greatest disguise, botany, love and a trip round the …

The greatest female sailors are casting off in their dinghies from the shores of Ekoshima in the Olympic Games. Over the last forty years, women’s sailing has hit new heights. Naomi James was the first woman to sail single-handed around the world via Cape Horn. Tracey Edwards captained the first all-female crew to circumnavigate the globe, while Ellen MacArthur broke…
Tahiti
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The Case Of Anastasia Romanov And Anna Anderson

I am sure many of you have heard the names and stories of Anastasia Romanov and Anna Anderson. Like many, I have found the story of the last days of Russian Romanov Imperial Family in 1918 fascinating – a tragic story of a gruesome family massacre. In the early 1920s, all the world knew with any certainty was that the…
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Thoughts on the painting, Sarah Campbell by Sir Joshua Reynolds

I often spend research trips buried deep in archives reading documents caked in dust. Every now and then I emerge into the light of an art gallery to learn about people and places from paintings. One of my favourite artists is Sir Joshua Reynolds. On a trip to Yale University, I had been at work in the Boswell office, studying…
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