Engraving of a young woman in a bonnet standing before a man in a wig reclining on a sofa among many cats.

NB! · Interviews · London · People · Humour

Engraving of Peg Woffington and theatre agent John Rich, who kept 27 cats

The actress Peg Woffington's first interview with the famous eighteenth-century theatrical manager John Rich. Mr Rich is best known for keeping 27 cats, with whom he is depicted in the illustration. Yours truly

NB! · Faith · The East · People · Rome

With this hand Francis Xavier baptised between 100,000 and 700,000 people in Asia in the 16th century; at times he was too exhausted to lift a finger

With this hand Francis Xavier baptised between 100,000 and 700,000 people in Asia in the 16th century; at times he was too exhausted to lift a finger. The hand that brought so many souls to Rome has itself found rest here

NB! · Moscow · Museums · People

Irina Antonova Turns 96 Today

Irina Antonova turned 96 today. Antonova gave 73 years to the Pushkin Museum, serving as its director for 52 of them

NB! · Monarchies · Mores · People

The English Princess Mary Henrietta Stuart: A Wife at Seven, a Widow at Twenty-One

NB! · Archive · People · Pop Culture

Here Hubert de Givenchy Is 21

NB! · Archive · Faith · People

The Seal of Paul II on One of His Documents

Faith · Mores · People · Rome · Humour

Pope Paul II, born Pietro Barbo, his collections, nickname and death at 54

Pope Pietro Barbo wished to take the name Formosus II, from formosus, "beautiful, handsome". On the advice of older friends, however, he chose the more neutral Paul II. Long before his papacy Pietro Barbo had earned the nickname Our Lady of Mercy (Maria Pietissima) for weeping when he

Mores · People

Mary Read and Anne Bonny, two women who became pirates in men's clothing

The Celebrated Female Pirates of the Eighteenth Century: Mary Read, Known as Mark Read, and Anne Bonny Met at Sea. Mary Read was raised as a boy from birth: her mother concealed the illegitimate daughter from the family of her late husband by passing her off as a son who

Aristocracy · Mores · People · Humour

Scottish aristocrat Jean Johnston Buchan, 80, married a fourth time in 1732, to an 18-year-old

Jean Johnston Buchan claimed that she owed her longevity to changing husbands. In 1732 the 80-year-old Scottish aristocrat married for the fourth time, her husband being an 18-year-old youth

Coming Up · London · Museums · Observations · New York · People

Jeremy Bentham's mummified body to leave London for New York for the first time in 186 years

Speaking of remains, do you remember my writing about my favourite philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, whose mummified body and head are on display at University College London? Well, for the first time in 186 years the philosopher's body will leave London and travel to the USA, where it will

Aristocracy · Monarchies · Mores · People

In 1561 a young French nobleman, Pierre de Bocosel de Chastelard, found himself in the retinue of the eighteen-year-old Mary Stuart as she returned from France to Scotland

In 1561 a young French nobleman, Pierre de Bocosel de Chastelard, found himself in the retinue of the eighteen-year-old Mary Stuart as she returned from France to Scotland. In the course of the journey Pierre grew close to the queen and won her favour, so much so that

In the Press · Books · Observations · Education · People

Sarah Bond, historian, lecturer at the University of Iowa and contributor to the American Forbes, has written a short piece on the Black classicist of the eighteenth century Francis Williams

Sarah Bond, historian, lecturer at the University of Iowa and contributor to the American Forbes, has written a short piece on the Black classicist of the eighteenth century Francis Williams. According to her, this scholar, a native of Jamaica, was known for his knowledge of mathematics and his mastery of