The Year Without Summer, as 1816 was later known as, was caused by a now obscure volcano in Indonesia called Mount Tambora, which erupted with a force that outdid the almost mythic proportions Krakatoa has developed in the imagination.
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George Smith Patton Jr. -- a four-star general at the end of his career -- is arguably a prime example of the right man in the right place at the right time. Then again, maybe he just hit his head too often.
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Whitney Houston's life was filled with tragedy, including struggles with addiction and grappling with the downsides of fame. She dealt with heartbreak and personal issues while also fighting roadblocks in her career. This is the tragic real-life story of Whitney Houston.
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Daltrey's father was absent, serving in the Second World War, for the first few years of Roger's life. Food shortages had their effect on many children, including Roger, who suffered from Rickets, a condition caused by Vitamin D deficiency.
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Joni Mitchell has been a musical force for decades, but her life hasn't always been easy. From heartbreak to failing health, this is her tragic story.
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Sonny and Cher brought love, laughter, and light to people. But fans would also languish over Sonny and Cher as their public life included much tragedy.
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From 1975 to 1978, the years of the Cambodian genocide, over a million people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge in over 20,000 mass graves.
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From the Jackson 5 to the King of Pop, the Jacksons are one of the most famous families in music history, but their story is full of secrets and tragedies.
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Lololol la la la, trolololo la ... No, those aren't the copy-pasted words of a gleefully spastic Reddit reply. They're the actual lyrics to Soviet-born Eduard Anatolyevich Khil's 1976's unintentional meme-inspiring mega-hit, "I Am Very Glad, As I'm Finally Returning Back Home."
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On January 4, 1970, Keith Moon, the drummer of the British rock band The Who, accidentally ran over Neil Boland, his chauffeur and bodyguard, killing him.
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It's not surprising Rage Against the Machine, with their politically charged music, would encounter strife and challenges during their career.
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Lucille Ball is considered one of comedy's greatest legends, but the actress didn't have an easy-going life. Here is the tragic real-life story of Lucille Ball.
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From their hardscrabble upbringing to their legendary legal troubles, the story of the Marx Brothers isn't all chuckles and pratfalls.
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October 2003 was going well for Elliott Smith. But that all collapsed on October 21, 2003 when Elliott Smith's partner, Jennifer Chiba, called 911 to collect Smith.
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Laura Ingalls Wilder, the woman behind the Little House books really was born in the time of westward expansion -- February 7, 1867, outside Pepin, Wisconsin
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Woody Guthrie was a giant of Western American folk music, looming large in the American imagination. But the man who helped pioneer resistance music was also unfairly blacklisted and didn't have an easy life. Here's the tragic story of Woody Guthrie.
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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a pop culture icon, but things didn't turn out so well for many of the film's actors.
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No one who died in the 1959 plane crash, that day the music died, was an old man. The pilot, Roger Peterson, was just 21. Buddy Holly was 22; J.P. Richardson, "The Big Bopper," was the old man on the plane, at 28. Youngest of all was a rising star of Chicano rock -- Ritchie Valens. He was 17.
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Away from the characters of Inspector Clouseau or Chance the Gardener, Peter Sellers was a troubled man. Here are some tragic details about Peter Sellers.
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The Doors' history, like the era during which they played, was fraught with tension and destruction. This is the tragic real-life story of the Doors.
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When we think of Aaron Burr, all we know is that he killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. But Aaron Burr had a tragic story in his own right.
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Alexander Hamilton has long been renowned as one of America's Founding Fathers, but he hasn't received quite as much attention in history as fellow founders. Lin-Manuel Miranda's epic rap-musical isn't entirely historically accurate, but it's close-ish. Here's the real story of Alexander Hamilton.
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Cass Elliot is remembered for a few things, especially: Great voice, fun to be around, but, well, chubby
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Despite his mental health struggles, Vincent Van Gogh painted amazing works throughout his short life. This is the tragic real-life story of Vincent Van Gogh.
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In the predawn morning of of December 4, 1969, 14 police officers surrounded 2337 W. Monroe St, the Black Panther stronghold in Chicago. The raid about to be carried out was organized specifically to kill Fred Hampton.
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Here's a look at the sometimes difficult and challenging life of John Candy.
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As dramatic as the French Revolution was, the Tribunal had no interest in drama. Instead, they sentenced Marie Thérèse Louise to death, at the hands of the crowd.
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