RETROBITUARIES

Miguel Hermoso Cuesta via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0

Occultist, Charlatan, Adventurer—Who Was Count Cagliostro?

He was one of the most talked-about men in Europe of the 18th century, but he's still hard to pin down.

Chloe Effron // Wikimedia Commons (Londonderry), iStock (Background)

Annie Londonderry, First Woman to Cycle Around The World

It was a feat of physical endurance, mental fortitude, and entrepreneurial creativity—back when even being a woman on a bike was controversial.

Sword Swallowers Association International // Public Domain

Edith Clifford, the Early 20th Century's Most Amazing Female Sword Swallower

She was a rock star of the late Victorian circus, but gave it all up to run a grocery store.

Bibliothèque nationale de France via Wikimedia // Public Domain

Rasputin’s Daughter Maria Was as Fascinating as the ‘Mad Monk’ Himself

As a lion tamer in the 1930s, Maria Rasputin mesmerized beasts just as her father once mesmerized men.

Benjamin F. Powelson, National Portrait Gallery, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Olive Oatman, the Pioneer Girl Abducted by Native Americans Who Returned a Marked Woman

A Mormon teenager traveling through the American Southwest in the mid-19th century was abducted by Native Americans. Her life was never the same.

Jeanne Baret, First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe

A notable botanist, she sailed round the world dressed as a man. The ruse worked, at least for a while.

Thomas Farrell, the Man Who Built the World

In our Retrobituaries series, we spotlight those departed whose lives are insufficiently celebrated. Here is a look at the life of Major General Thomas Farrell, who died at 75 in 1967.

Theodore Maiman, Inventor of the Laser

In our Retrobituaries series, we highlight interesting people who are no longer with us. Today let's explore the life of Theodore Maiman, who died at 79 in 2007.

Ruth Fertel, founder of Ruth’s Chris Steak House

In our Retrobituaries series, we highlight interesting people who are no longer with us. Today let's explore the life of Ruth Fertel, who died at 75 in 2002.

Edsger Dijkstra, Computer Scientist

In our Retrobituaries series, we highlight interesting people who are no longer with us. Today let's explore the life of Edsger Dijkstra, who died at 72 in 2002.

Albert Ellis, Pioneering Psychologist

In our Retrobituaries series, we highlight interesting people who are no longer with us. Today let's explore the life of Albert Ellis, who passed away in 2007 at the age of 92.

Chuck Jones, animator of Looney Tunes

Here are a few things you might not have known about the man behind Bugs Bunny.

Leonard Stringfield, Ufologist

How to spot a UFO from the ground: Look up. Do you see something that you cannot identify? You have spotted a UFO. Leonard Stringfield did a little better than that. Back in his Air Force days, he was a passenger on a cargo plane flying from Ie Shima to T

José Capablanca, World Chess Champion

Born in Havana in 1888, former world chess champion José Capablanca is generally considered to be one of the top five players of all time.

Thinkstock (main); gelsenzentrum.de (inset)

Arthur Eichengrün, Inventor of Aspirin

In 1896, chemist Arthur Eichengrün brought forth a miracle—a pure acetylsalicylic acid with medical applications. This was a few years before Lizzie Magie invented the board game Monopoly, and if only the two knew each other, they might have had a lot to

Frank Wisner, Father of American Covert Operations

The first CIA men had to be really smart or a slightly crazy. Frank Wisner, the father of American covert operations, was both.

Chris Latta, voice of Starscream and Cobra Commander

Children of the 1980s know few voices better than that of Chris Latta, who played the roles of both Starscream and Cobra Commander. Latta, who was sometimes credited as Christopher Collins, was a voice, stage, and screen actor who died in 1994. Here are a

Jack Cover, Inventor of the Taser

You might not know Jack Cover, but you’re probably familiar with the Taser, a device he invented to help stop airplane hijackings. His contributions didn’t stop there, and the next time you resist arrest, you can tell the cops not only where the Taser the

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Magie, Inventor of Monopoly

In 1904, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Magie designed a board game to demonstrate the tragic effects of land-grabbing. She named her grim reflection of life The Landlords’ Game, but you probably know it better as Monopoly.