Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/the-most-bizarre-historical-figures-youve-never-heard-of/
History books love their heroes and villains, their kings and conquerors. But what about the truly strange characters who slipped through the cracks? The ones who were too weird, too eccentric, or too downright unbelievable to make it into your high school textbook? These people existed, lived wild lives, and left behind stories that sound like they belong in a fever dream.
From a man who survived being hanged three times to a woman who convinced half of Europe she was a vampire, history’s oddest personalities deserve their moment in the spotlight. Let’s dive into the lives of probably never heard of.
John “Half-Hanged” Smith: The Man Who Wouldn’t Die
In 1705, a British criminal named John Smith was sentenced to hang for burglary. Simple enough, right? Except the rope snapped. They tried again. The rope snapped a second time. By the third attempt, the executioner was sweating, the crowd was going wild, and Smith was still breathing. The authorities finally gave up and pardoned him, figuring God clearly had other plans.
Smith became a minor celebrity, traveling around England sharing his story. He described seeing visions during his near-death experiences and claimed to have glimpsed the afterlife. Whether he was telling the truth or spinning a good yarn for pub money, we’ll never know. What we do know is that he lived another few decades before dying peacefully in bed,…
—-
Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-01-28 12:03:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
—-
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8