History Nuggets

George Palmer Ransom
On January 3, 1762, Samuel and Esther Ransom of Canaan, Connecticut, had a son, and they named him after Samuel's best friend and neighbor, George Palmer. In 1773, the family—both parents and eight children, including 11-year-old George—emigrated as...

In the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, Norwegian skiier Vegard Ulvang, called ‘the Viking’, became a national hero by winning three gold medals in the 10 km and 30 km cross-country races, and in the 4x10 cross-country relay, and a silver...

Stephen of Blois, King of England
Despite having more than twenty children, when King Henry I of England died in 1135, he had no surviving legitimate sons.  He left his kingdom to his daughter Matilda, but common citizenry and powerful nobles alike rejected her in favor of Henry's nephew...

On the morning of June 6, 1944, the invasion of Normandy was under way. An armada of landing ships chopped through the icy, stinging waters of the English Channel, ferrying thousands of troops toward the German-held beaches in a surprise attack that...