Catherine the Great of Russia (lived 1729-1796, ruled 1762-1796).

Aaron Burr (1756 – 1836) American politician and vice president who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel and was, for a separate reason, charged with treason but found not guilty.

Whiro, Lord of Darkness

In Maori mythology, Whiro is the embodiment of darkness and evil. He is the son of the sky father and earth mother, and brother and enemy of Tāne, god of the forests and birds. After a long and bitter war between the brothers, Tāne was victorious. Whiro and his followers were forced to go to the underworld where he reigns.

But Whiro is not quietly retired. He is viewed as a relentlessly active god, always trying to harm humans as they are the descendants of Tāne, especially through his Maike brethren, the personified forms of sickness and disease. Many offerings were made to Whiro, unsurprisingly.

Isaac Newton

A Quickly-Changing Word

The word "nice" originally mention "foolish". In the 1400s, the word came to mean "coy," then in the 1500s, "fastidious." By the 1700s, nice had assumed its modern meaning.

Where Was The Seven Years' War Fought?

Known by various names -- the Pomeranian War (Sweden), the Third Carnatic War (India), the French and Indian War (USA), La guerre de la Conquête (Quebec) -- it involved all the major European powers and spanned five continent. Which is why the conflict is sometimes called "World War Zero."

Jane Austen, The Sarcastic Social Satirist

Las Lajas Sanctuary of Colombia

Why was a cathedral built in such an odd way? Thank a miracle. Supposedly, in 1754 an Amerindian Maria Meneses de Quiñones and her deaf and mute daughter Rosa were caught in a very strong storm. They took shelter between the lajas (slabs). To Maria's surprise, she heard her daughter suddenly speaking! "The Mestiza is calling me," Rosa said, pointing to a lightning-illuminated silhouette over the laja. The Virgin Mary was given credit for the miracle and the apparition and a pilgrimage site sprang up, as did a straw-and-wood shrine. More miraculous cures were reported and more pilgrims came. Eventually a larger church was needed so the present cathedral, with its amazing architecture, was built between 1916 and 1949.

Did You Know Japan Used To Have Wild Wolves?

Unfortunately, wolves have been extinct on Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu since the 1700s, and on Hokkaido since the 1800s.

Catherine the Great, who ruled as empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796.