Curious Historical Facts

When did Cervantes and Shakespeare Die?

Cervantes and Shakespeare both died on April 23, 1616, but they did not die on the same day. Why? Because England and Spain used different calendars in the seventeenth century. There was a difference of ten days between the calendar used in England and the one used in Spain.

The Inventors of the Fork and the Handkerchief

King Richard II of England (1367—1400) is said to have invented the handkerchief. He ordered cloth to be cut into small pieces “for carrying in his hand to wipe and clean his nose.”

King Henry III of France (1551—1589) invented the fork. He was often untidy and sometimes stained his white collar when eating meat with his fingers. So he made a simple two-pronged fork from tin. He first used it in 1582, and it became popular.