Best of The History Guy: Weird Biography

From The History Guy Vaults, four classic episodes about some of histories oddest personalities. Nearly a full hour of the History Guy.
00:00 - The Exploits and Ailments of Sir Evelyn Wood
16:04 - The Imposter Princess
31:15 - The Misadventures of Truman C Everts
46:21 - A Ghoul, a Ghost and a Grisly Murder: The Legend of Dr. Joseph McDowell
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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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All events are portrayed in historical context and for educational purposes. No images or content are primarily intended to shock and disgust. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Non censuram.
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[@russnelson8373]

Maybe instead of a hour-long special this man's history should be taught in every school in America he seems to tell it like it is

[@pooryorick831]

That Guy Evelin Wood sounds like the Black Knight in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." He'd get his arms and legs cut off and would still be shouting Come back and fight you yellow bastards!" Obviously oblivious to pain. 😂

[@Ioughtaknowbetter]

I would actually be very involved in history if I had history teachers like this. Thank you for bringing to my late middle-age what I missed in high school

[@kylebarnette8277]

Same. The older I get the more wildly interesting things I’ve learned about history, truth truly is stranger than fiction. It almost feels like it’s made boring on purpose in schools, like how does one manage to make the impossible feats and failures of mankind throughout history feel tedious?

[@Ioughtaknowbetter]

@@kylebarnette8277 honest-to-god all of my high school history teachers seem to think that teaching history consisted of forcing your students to memorize dates

[@kylebarnette8277]

@@Ioughtaknowbetter that does seem to be the focus, although I would argue that remembering exact dates is the least important aspect of history, and def the least engaging aspect. Much more insightful to study the context, life experience, motivation etc of historical figures. Whoops, I’ve rambled a bit, I just absolutely love these history vids lol

[@oldmanriver1955]

I hope I was just like this. I taught History 47 yrs and loved pointing out the funny little quirky things and strange coincidences

[@kylebarnette8277]

@@oldmanriver1955 I’m gonna go out on a limb here, and say that if it meant enough to continue 47 years and you aren’t browbeaten into cynicism …. I’ll bet you were a good teacher. I always found that teachers who didn’t just mindlessly read some pre-arranged curriculum, and actually put in effort and enthusiasm to be quite successful.

[@briangarrow448]

I have a couple of photographs of my great grandfather who served in the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders as a young volunteer from Scotland. The photos were taken by a photographer who ran a small business in Gibraltar in the 1880’s. In 1881 my grandfather was in Gibraltar on leave before he shipped out to defend the Empire, and he was photographed in the studio of Cavilla & Bruzon, located on Main Street in Gibraltar. He was a dashing young lad of 18 years, wearing his kilt and the rest of his uniform. I would love to find out where his regiment was posted during his career. I know he was back in Scotland by 1889, when my grandmother was born. And that’s my history lesson from my family to the viewers of the History Guy.

[@kevinvilmont6061]

Cool

[@jb6027]

Just a point of order, the English pronounce the men's name Evelyn with a long e, "Eevelyn". The American pronunciation Evelyn ,with a short e, is used for women's names..

[@banditeastlick2471]

This episode was a real treat

[@FranssensM]

Brilliant presentation from THG. Thank you from England for continuing to do these. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@SteveMoser]

That Mr. Wood didn't succumb from infection or gangrene is incredible.

[@joelbrown3479]

...another BRILLIANT COLLECTION of... HISTORY THAT DESERVES TO BE REMEMBERED THANKS😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@annekabrimhall1059]

I believe you’ve left out an important detail. In those days one’s accent showed whether you were wealthy or poor. She couldn’t have accomplished what she did with a common accent, so not only was she a charmer, but good with elocution.

[@forced-into-Google-Handle]

Haven't started listening to the story but I'm sure I'll enjoy it because of the constant high quality of HG. One thing I'm obliged to point out since I listen to so much KZbin is the amazing, amazing sound quality of this cast. I listen to a few other casts mostly history since I'm listening at work it's a bit of a pain with background noise but HG is always so easy to listen to because the recording is really excellent!! This convenience puts HG at the very top of History❤❤🎉

[@petemelbourne42]

There is a pub in the town where I grew up, Chelmsford in Essex, UK. called The Sir Evelyn Wood. I always wondered where the name came from. Chelmsford is about 10 miles from Braintree where he was born.

[@carywest9256]

When l saw that name Evelyn Wood, reminded me of a skit off of one Cheech &Chong's albums titled Evelyn Wood's Speed Reading Class.

[@lefty-bw1zp]

@@carywest9256 Until I heard this video, I always associated the name Evelyn Wood with speed reading.

[@LazyIRanch]

@@carywest9256 Evelyn Wood's Speed Reading courses and books were really a thing! I'm old enough to remember the commercials.

[@sarahcoleman3125]

I'm surprised that Dr. McDowell hasn't been claimed as an Addams'. He sounds like he'd fit in with the fictional macabre family. 😂

[@terracottaneemtree6697]

Dr. McDowel was probably a Jesuit himself, roll-playing. His emphasis on military and a past President was kiss-up to Washington, DC🫡 to get money to pay for a new building. Voila, and the Medical Society is born - one foot in Washington DC and the other foot wherever their lord leads them🫣. WTF And then came pharma 🤥and their Pinocio noses get bigger and bigger.

[@eetadakimasu]

Whenever I have a bad day/week/month, I'm gonna remember this guy!

[@jessietaylor385]

Such interesting tales...... wish I had had a history teacher like history guy...😂

[@harveyalan788]

We can be grateful that we have the History Guy to make up for the deficiencies of our school history teachers, who had to work within the stifling constraints of that dreaded monster, the Education System.

[@davidrussellhamrick1828]

What makes Sarah Wilson's story so striking to me is that she flipped the script on the sex and class hierarchies of her time. They probably didn't think a woman could pull off such a sophisticated con, so they weren't expecting it. And when the upper-class people got conned, they'd rather go along with it than admit they were suckered.

[@patticlaude1]

I cant stop giggling about woods. What a guy!

[@lukeg2230]

A f** giraffe??? Oh my God I'm dying. They gotta make a movie about this legend.

[@johnl.geibel2373]

Laughing is much better than crying. 😄

[@rogergoodman8665]

It's amazing one man could sustain all those injuries and ailments yet still live into his 80's! "JUST WOW" What a life.

[@lefty-bw1zp]

@@rogergoodman8665 Yes, indeed. Evelyn Wood seems to be a human pincushion.

[@barblane4020]

These are AMAZING stories. Well done!

[@RetiredSailor60]

Good morning from Ft Worth TX to everyone watching. Stay cool in this heat wave!

[@sealyoness]

What an amazing crazy man! Riding a giraffe didn't even kill him! Any children of his would have been blessed with rude health, I bet. I love hearing you tell these tales, though. You're good at it.

[@JoelMMcKinney]

Loved it!

[@yensid4294]

I'm not sure if that Wood character was the luckiest or unluckiest man in history 😮 An inspiration to all of us klutzs

[@toldyouso5588]

Stone deaf Wood also started the British officers habit of saying "say wot ?!"

[@j.michaeljefferson60]

I had a fantastic history teaching he gave me a different kind of education and now it's my turn to pass it on to our next heroes

[@-jeff-]

Wood at least survived having been the worst klutz I ever heard of. I was laughing so hard at his foibles I had to play that part again.

[@rynohorn3819]

Great episode!

[@beckyburtis9977]

Having a very difficult day. Need and deeply appreciate the company of - The History Guy!

[@pamelahomeyer748]

Thank you for all your hard work your videos are getting better and better

[@robertweeks4240]

awesome ... all your episodes have been great!

[@robkunkel8833]

Slightly confused? Me too, so I googled the name and, yes, same spelling as Evelyn Wood, American educator and businessperson, widely known for popularizing speed reading with the phrase "dynamic reading". But our Victorian Evelyn was quite a specimen. Great opening by THG about the growth of the Empire under this queen. An interesting biography. Thanks!

[@slickbama8322]

The commercials for her speed reading course flooded the airwaves in the early 70s. Apparently all she did was tell you to only read nouns/adjectives and verbs. Forget all the lovely prose, just the facts!

[@JeffreyGlover65]

There is no better entertainment on youtube than THG.

[@deemushroomguy]

Soooo... This one isn't on Eminem?😅 I totally filled in the "Hello, my name is" with "slim shady" afterwards...😂😅

[@lunarwrase]

Always wonderful and informative

[@mentallydisturbedscience8900]

Hot bear grease. I’m going to have to remember that the next time I’m feeling under the weather. 🤔

[@bobbyadkins885]

When I saw the “hello my name is” first thing in my brain was “slim shady”

[@grantovenden2646]

Awesome history, thank you so much for all the effort!

[@YoYo-gt5iq]

How the heck did that first guy "die peacefully in his bed?" This is madness!

[@Aheitchoo]

Excellent as always. I would love the history of Lorenzo De Zavala. I think he is worth remembering.

[@shock_n_Aweful]

"....and then it stepped on his face" oh then, not something you hear everyday. How did you get that wound? A giraffe stepped on my face.

[@GlennGoryl]

Wonderful. Thank you.

[@mollybell5779]

"... but he was still Evelyn Wood." 🤣😂

[@mikemorris1512]

This was the first time I've seen you do multiple people with one topic. It feed my ADD, thanks.

[@spudgunn8695]

Evelyn Wood had all the attributes of a Victorian officer. Almost suicidal bravery, clumsiness, obstinacy, and not being blessed with much in the way of intelligence, but had plenty of luck. Both good and bloody awfully bad! Lol

[@fearthehoneybadger]

McDowell was already considered strange for having an entry full of Jack-O-Lanterns in July.

[@vlmellody51]

The unfortunate and quixotic Evelyn Wood's given name is pronounced "EAVE-lynn."

[@SuperMaraai]

I really liked this one Thank you

[@thefattymcgee5801]

Evelyn Wood is my spirit animal.

[@johnjacob5839]

Sir Evelyn Wood reminds me of the fictional Colonel Harry Flashman in the way he was seemingly in every Victorian Era hotspot. Treat yourself to a book or two of the Flashan Chronicles by George MacDonald Fraser. Fiction with historical footnotes.

[@janlascko]

I shouldn't laugh at Evelyn Woods, but daaamn!

[@WinZiggy]

Thanks!

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Thank you!

[@christinetucker5432]

For your 2nd piece, with the conwoman, did you say she was briefly held at St. Albans and then Devizes???? St. Albans born and bred here. Pronounced S'nt Allbens (or jokingly Snorbens!) and Devizes is de-vizzes. St Albans was a Roman soldier martyred for sheltering a priest. Boudicca of the Iceni celts burnt Verulamium to the ground! We still have the Georgian court, one of the few surviving, and often used in tv dramas.

[@sarahcoleman3125]

"But he was still Evelyn Wood." They should have saved this guy's blood. We could inoculate people for literally ALL diseases. 😂

[@wandabanks6756]

Lol

[@garyrunnalls7714]

Ya name a guy Evelyn and you're going to have a Schlep rock, lol

[@kevinvilmont6061]

He was diligent about keeping his fire going, perhaps he had been diligent about keeping a hold of his horse.

[@nathanholland4246]

You should do a episode about the Molly Macguires in North east Pennsylvaina, amazing story

[@eatbolt42]

Oh my goodness. I've been trying to find the biography you did about a soldier who had all of these ailments and a giraffe that stepped on his face. So glad a was able to find it. The absolute absurdity of the story with your happy yet vaguely confused delivery had me laughing to tears for a second time.

[@gailnewcomb8256]

Wow! That’s a really large empire! I never realized how many lands Great Britain acquired.

[@TM-ev2tc]

I know it is not exactly forgotten history, but i wish you could do a video about Dr. Benjamin Rush. PS. Maybe you could talk about The Battle of White Bird Canyon. Maybe you could make a video about The Fire Falls of Yosemite. That will be enough for now.

[@skyserf]

An hour? THG should have a TV channel.

[@-jeff-]

Yes and probably demand content like garbage pickers, pawnshop owners and wild haired alien theorists.

[@adellajones9887]

If television is involved, there would be restrictions. THG has more content control this way. 😊

[@ameliaflowers9836]

Tv is highly over rated

[@marlinweekley51]

Is television still a thing? 😳

[@tomarmadiyer2698]

YT channel > TV channel

[@Mtlmshr]

I certainly hope Wood had great medical insurance 🤪!!!

[@anthonypost8214]

I watched the intro with the soft music like 10 times

[@MarshOakDojoTimPruitt]

thanks

[@t.c.2776]

I heard Dr. Seuss had a "dark side"... are we sure this isn't one of his stories?... it's much less painful to see a Cartoon Giraffe stomping on his face and his cheek bones popping out... I'm too empathetic to listen to the rest of his apparently painful life...

[@rodlander5868]

Love your shows! However, N.B. Evelyn is, at least for Victorian males, pronounced Eevelyn, and not Evelyn as it is for more contemporary females.

[@mikenixon2401]

Very interesting. I suppose that can be described as when men were men no matter what they endure. Could you please profile U.S. General Peyton C. March who was Chief of Staff during WWI, He also wrote the intoduction to "History of the World War" by Francis H. March. My grandfather was a WWI veteran and had this collection, which I now have. I've often wondered more than what is offered on March and March. Is this history that should be remembered?

[@Nursebakr]

Nice

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

How about an episode on the British Canal Network!!!

[@kambrose1549]

Clearly if it didn't kill him it only made him stronger!

[@laara1426]

His DNA results would be fascinating !

[@wasyertakeawaythaturmadeofcorn]

Hello, my name is Kevin.

[@weepingwell]

no wonder Evelyn Wood was so brave. You ever mix morphine and laudanum?

[@SlipShodBob]

I thought my dad was accident prone including taking the tips of his fingers off on one hand but u think Wood has him beat

[@ansiviewer]

The history of the United States Air Force would bring me some joy.

[@malcocreative]

Oh my God!!!

[@werebitch1313]

Why do we believe in obvious imposters? A mixture of charisma, [often] beauty, & a keen ability [either natural or trained] to seek out and speak to people's vulnerable hopes.

[@gregmcdonald7357]

Still good. Commenting to "feed the algorithm."

[@jennifergriffiths3941]

Is this chick the same as Princess Caraboo & her antics ??? If not … please … PLEASE do Princess Caraboo too !!!

[@jeffbangkok]

Good night

[@loricrane5315]

This dude must have done SOMETHING right in his past lives. Man couldn't be killed.

[@rdesranleau11]

a. giraffe. stepped. on. his. face.😂

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

An unusual injury indeed.

[@AlbuquerqueImaging]

even with water this raft wont float. I got yur booster

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

I can’t help it: The biggest empire the world has ever known: The Empire Strikes Back!!

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Back in the Saddle Again Naturally!

[@jackshaftoe1715]

A true fighting fool.

[@richardcole3800]

It would stand to reason that yellow stone might refer to sulfur or gold

[@josephrogers5337]

Not related to this blog. Suggestion do a story on the school in College Corner Ohio/Indiana sometimes know as West College Corner Indiana. School in 2 states, 3 counties, and 4 townships, Union School District

[@KoolT]

46:24 my clan 😂😂😂

[@kimmccabe1422]

Wood, an absolute masochist joins Army. A match made in heaven. Or an opioid addict looking for legit excuses to use it, to be given it.

[@charlesbrentner4611]

Person comes from the Greek word Persona which means 'mask'. We all hide some part of ourselves from everyone, even ourselves.

[@bigsarge2085]

👍👍

[@constipatedinsincity4424]

Hey History Guy, 🤓👋I have never heard of a more braver man named Evelyn . Have you?

[@willardfasto4494]

Cliff notes: yeah God tried to kill this man and thru sheer britishness he refused to die.

[@ripadipaflipa4672]

He most likely had trigeminal neuralgia which causes horrible pain on one side of the face from the trigeminal nerve. I also have to wonder if the hole in his cheek was from clove oil that surprisingly is still being used today.

[@rrotwang]

Did they ever make a move about him ?

[@cherylcampbell9369]

i am surprised you did not die from euphemisms in the Evelyn Wood story. 😡 Also, you forgot to mention when Evelyn Wood started the speed-reading school. 😂

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

The speed reading school was started by a teacher in Utah.

[@v.e.7236]

Whenever I hear the name Evelyn Wood, my mind goes to a Cheech and Chong skit about the Evelyn Woodhead speed reading course - forever tainted. lol

[@Wraith-Knight]

omg wood was immune to pain i get tooth ake and i feel like dying

[@merlinwizard1000]

34th, 19 July 2023

[@TheAureliac]

The weirdest part of this episode are the absurdly improbable pictures of the Imposter Princess. Not at all up to THG's usual standards.

[@johnl.geibel2373]

My god such a spirit of a man to live what the hell do I have to complain about I have injuries that have no comparison to this Patriot, so much pain and he keeps going. Oh true test of the human spirit, wonderful history.