Phineas Barnum was born today in 1819. So when he said 'There's one born every minute' that was a bit of an exaggeration, wasn't it?
In other news ...
Today in 1841 Thomas Cook ran the first railway excursion in the cause of temperance. The train ran from Leicester to Loughborough and hordes of women (only men drank apparently in the Midlands in the 19th century) shouting 'Down with Demon Drink'. Later campaigns included Railways Against Dichotomy (RAT); Locomotives Against Racial Dichotomy (LARD) and Engines Against Sexual Yobbishness (EASY).
Incidentally, Thomas became the first celebrity Cook in the country*
*Ed's note: unless you include Captain James.
