The shortest war on record took place in 1896 when Zanzibar surrendered to Britain after 38 minutes.

In 1997, the US maintained 13,750 nuclear warheads, 5,546 of them on ballistic missiles.

The NATO attack on Serbia in 1999 during the Kosovo war killed more animals than people.

Since 1495, no 25-year period has been without war.

When killed in battle, Japanese officers were promoted to the next highest rank.

The first written account of the Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, was made in 565AD.

Beer was the first trademarked product – British beer Bass Pale Ale received its trademark in 1876.

In 1963 the French launched a cat called Feliette into space.

Julius Caesar was the first to encode communications, using what has become known as the Caesar Cipher.

The 16th century Escorial palace of King Phillip II of Spain had 1,200 doors.

Andrew Jackson was the first president to ride in a railroad train.

Martin Van Buren was the eighth president, the eighth vice president and lived to see the election of eight different presidents from eight different states.

The first president to be photographed while in office was President James K. Polk, in 1849.

The first telephone was installed in the White House when Rutherford Birchard Hayes was president.

Elizabeth Wallace, Harry Truman’s wife, was the longest living First Lady.