These British-American Coincidences Blew My Mind | JFK, Doctor Who, and More

When you've lived and breathed British and American facts as long as I have, you come to encounter one or two spooky coincidences from our shared history. Includes JFK, Doctor Who, and more.
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[@jbwhetstone]

Laurence, I'm sure someone has already said it, but you, sir, are an American treasure.

[@IceGangsta]

An international one too, perhaps

[@AndaraBledin]

A mid-Atlantic treasure, perhaps?

[@veramae4098]

Just wish he would stop teleporting.

[@Tuaron]

To split the difference between being a US or UK treasure, I'll just confusingly claim him for Canada. I'm sure he's once considered visiting here, which is good enough for us.

[@jbwhetstone]

He's an American treasure because he's an American citizen. I'm happy to claim him. You can't have him, Canada! Haha.

[@lorienolte3988]

On July 4th in 1826, exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died. Coincidence? Perhaps…

[@johnnymartinjohansen]

Ehh... no. The signing of the declaration mostly happened August 2nd (some signed later). It was adopted July 4th, but not signed.

[@alicerudolph8106]

But it's the day that is celebrated as the birthday of the nation!@@johnnymartinjohansen

[@veramae4098]

As each man died his *last words* were (something like) "Jefferson still lives, the country is safe." and "Adams will keep the country well."

[@frankhooper7871]

John Adams was the 2nd president, Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd - the 5th president was James Monroe who also died on the 4th of July...5 years later.

[@Intrusive_Thought176]

​@@johnnymartinjohansenproof?

[@dutchtea8354]

Before his death, CS Lewis said he wanted to die quietly and hoped his death would go unnoticed without fanfare.

[@dnm3732]

Welp he got his wish

[@joanhuffman2166]

Yes, I heard that Mother Teresa said the same thing, and Lady Diana died on the same day as mother Teresa.

[@juliettedemaso7588]

And the CIA granted his wish. 🪦🤫

[@jeannastephen283]

​@@juliettedemaso7588I

[@robertwilloughby8050]

What, the CIA assassinated C.S. Lewis? (Tinfoil hat on!)😅

[@jimreilly917]

Lawrence I’m from Missouri, Mark Twains home state. You did that voice well. While his voice wasn’t recorded, your Midwest rural American is on point 😂🇺🇸

[@stevepetersen7697]

The British and the Americans are two great peoples divided by a common tongue. - George Bernard Shaw

[@NocturnEternal]

I liked GBS’s take on the Pygmalion mythology. But still, that’s spot on.

[@sboinkthelegday3892]

Did you ever notice that "father" is still said in a UK accent? It's not "fad her", it's "uuuuuuh, you're a fuuuuuuther, uuuh" in that preppy voice.

[@zedwpd]

I'm married to a Brit. It's murder.

[@etiennesharp]

...and a bloody great ocean, thank Christ - Al Murray.

[@BullScrapPracEff]

"You say caterpillar, we say caterpillar..."

[@darlameeks]

I was born in November, as well. I was just over a year old when Kennedy and Lewis died. C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors, along with his friend, J.R.R. Tolkien. They were both members of the Oxford Christian authors' club, "The Inklings". They are likely responsible for my contracting a chronic case of Anglophilia in my teens, which I carry to this day. When I was 16, I decided I would one day study English literature at Oxford (where they studied and taught). It took ten years, but I did it. I will say, having two degrees in English hasn't been as useless as people think, these many years later. I went on to do quite well in the insurance industry...another British import, I believe. Love your channel, by the bye!

[@grahampaulkendrick7845]

I live near Bournemouh where Tolkien spent his holidays each summer. I once played a song or two at the hotel he used to stay at.

[@jimtaylor294]

"I believe in coincidences. Coincidences happen every day; but I don't trust coincidences" - Elim Garek

[@jimtaylor294]

^ No 😆

[@Ashley-xu1lk]

I appreciate the DS9 reference!

[@efretheim]

I actually learned some time ago that, due to shifts in English pronunciation, Halley more than likely pronounced his name "Holly", unlike both current British and American pronunciations.

[@caroljo420]

The reason Americans call it Haley's comet is because there was a band in the '50s and '60s called Bill Haley and the Comets. I learned in the early '70s that the actual comet was called Halley's and not Haley's comet.

[@robertfoulkes1832]

Not so much "Holly" as "Hor-lee".

[@kathyjohnson2043]

Coincidentally, I was actually eating a York Peppermint Patty as I clicked on this video! 😮

[@MichaelScheele]

Lawrence, Guy Fawkes Day is not celebrated in the US because George Washington put a stop to its celebration back in 1775. Guy Fawkes Day (then called Pope's Day) tended to have a rather anti-Catholic bent. The Continental Army needed all the men it could muster; alienating Catholics would have been detrimental to recruitment.

[@RedWingsninetyone]

Title includes the words "blew my mind" and the thumnail features a photo of JFK 💀

[@racecarrik]

Really blew his mind too 💀

[@huntercleveland7950]

Now that's dark comedy 🤣

[@Thriving_in_Exile]

Oh God, I didn't get that until you pointed it out. Have a like.

[@pamabernathy8728]

Eww?

[@thomasrogers8239]

LoL

[@Deltaflot1701]

Thank you for having the Dr. Who/JFK Coincidence. I knew that one for awhile, but losing Ms. Lambert that same day several years later is something I didn't realize.

[@tmhc72_gtg22c]

As soon as I saw the title of this video, I thought of the two Dennis the Menaces, and you did mention them, which is another November coincidence. There was a national news program (I think it was the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite), which was going to have a report on November 22, 1963 about the Beatles, who were almost completely unknown in the US at the time. They had to postpone the report to a later date.

[@KairuHakubi]

I thought of that too, but I'm surprised to hear we actually know what inspired the name. I thought there must have been a popular song at the time or something

[@wayneyadams]

Mark twain is a nautical term which Mark Twain got from his days as a riverboat captain. It is a depth sounding signifying two fathoms (12 feet). A fathom is six feet, the distance between an average man's outstretched arms. Depth soundings were done by dropping one end of a line overboard to which a weight was attached. As it was pulled up the sailor grabbed it stretched it out between his arms and counted. He then grabbed the line back at his first hand and stretched it out again counting as he did so. This led to a natural depth unit which was called the fathom. The name derives from the Old English word fæðm, from the Danish (via the Vikings) word "favn" meaning embracing arms or a pair of outstretched arms. Twain means two.

[@globalheart]

Heh. 2 names! But I thought they were marks made on a wall, to check river height/,depth, to make sure you had passage. Great explanation with the etymology, too. Thx!!

[@9HighFlyer9]

A modern fathom is 6ft. As it was based on the wingspan of an average man that would have been more like 5½ft in the late 1800s.

[@Hollylivengood]

​@@globalheartThere weren't any walls to mark on the Mississippi. It wasn't meant to be two names, it was two knotted marks on the line. Mark twain was safe waters, probably Samuel Clemens's goal, so he he went wit Mark Twain.

[@wayneyadams]

@@9HighFlyer9 There is always yahoo like you who has some contradictory comment to make. My question is, where is your evidence for what you call a "modern" fathom and when was it REDFINED?!

[@globalheart]

@@Hollylivengood :) I referred to Samuel himself having 2 names ;)

[@revan0890]

You should check out the coincidence between Lincoln and JFK.

[@lindaeasley5606]

Yes 👍 Some try to debunk as just coincidences but some similarities the odds are too great to be simple coincidences

[@license2kilttheplaidlad640]

There's a Dick Vandyke episode where he inherited a photograph of a baby from a great uncle clues lead them to realize the photo is of the uncle is the baby on the lap of Lincoln , the episode was filmed on 11/22/63 that was also the day they began filming for Bewitched!

[@bryn494]

I'm halfway into the York thing and have to fiddle with something. About 30 seconds into fiddling a strong aroma of peppermint floods my mind as if it had been sprayed into the room :D

[@micheledeetlefs6041]

While there are no recordings currently in existence of Mark Twain, the southern actor Hal Holbrook famously did shows as Mark Twain. You might enjoy watching a few of them or listening to some of the recordings. I'm pretty sure they must be littering KZbin somewhere.

[@cynthiajohnston424]

Well worth watching / listening & also MT is excellent reading - wonderfully intelligent yet witty & delightful dry humor !

[@seed_drill7135]

I saw his act in the Clemons Center in Corning, NY.

[@stevolkman]

How about Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, leaders of the American Revolution against Britain, died on the same day, July 4, 1826?

[@telecasterbear]

We had only seven trick or treaters come to the door. Six were dressed as our host, Laurence.

[@LindaC616]

😅😅

[@flowmovementtherapy2096]

did you say 'oooooooh Laurence' every time?

[@alanr4447a]

That probably WAS Laurence!

[@nathanhorst8886]

The smile on my face lightens the mood in the room when I see you post a new video. Cheers ! Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't.

[@randalmayeux8880]

Almond Joy's got nuts, Mounds don't.

[@bsteven885]

BECAUSE...

[@rayscotchcoulton]

"Coincidenting." My new favorite word. Cheers.

[@iceguy9723]

I LOVE York patties. Too much.

[@mitziwright3314]

Such a FUN video, Laurence! Makes me quite happy I'm a subscriber. 💜 Happy November birthday! 🎉

[@robylove9190]

Ooh Laurence. Those coincidences were very coincidental.❤

[@leonardking84]

Another exceptional offering from my favorite Brit. Your videos are a much needed distraction from the woes of this crazy world. Thank you, Laurence.

[@samanthab1923]

Your fireplace looks lovely ❤

[@Sythemn]

Man, I don't even really care about the content. But the way you deliver it is fantastic.

[@thebadbandito]

I knew the Dennis the Menace story but it still trips me out that they were published on the same day. Sounds too coincidental.

[@Phiyedough]

Yes, definite plagiarism but which way?

[@caroljo420]

I blame "collective conscience" for that.

[@jr2904]

​@@Phiyedough plagiarism from across the ocean when there wasn't any Internet, international television, and long distance phone calls were very expensive. It's just a huge coincidence.

[@theemmjay5130]

@@Phiyedough Obviously, one of them was a yime traveler. The question is: Which one?

[@jaredwblack]

A guy named Peter Kreeft wrote a book called "Between Heaven and Hell," which is a fictional dialog between C. S. Lewis, Aldous Huxley and JFK when they met in Purgatory the day they all died

[@just_kos99]

Oh Em Gee, I'm so glad you mentioned "Doctor Who"! I've seen you wear a Doctor Who shirt before, so that wasn't too surprising but I'm glad you did anyway. I never knew they re-broadcast it a week later, in 1963.

[@redfishtex738]

Well, that video with all the coincidences made my head rather loopy. How very, very strange but yet again another great video!

[@loraweems8712]

Happy Birthday, Laurence!🎉

[@Cheesegoddess]

The Dennis the Menace one has always been so crazy to me. I actually found out about this with a British friend. We were both arguing about which came first, went to the internet to look it up and were completely shocked to see it was the same! Had a good laugh though about it, do bad we didn't make a bet, we both would have won and lost lol

[@AndaraBledin]

It's quite a coincidence that Rowntree would come up, as I first learned of their existence in the last week when a Canadian friend was enjoying some Smarties which are nothing like the US candy Smarties, and which are significantly superior to our Smarties, and likely better than the M&Ms that the Rowntree Smarties resemble. My mother and aunt lived their own set of coincidences. Having been part of the Baby Boomer generation, they were born well before the time of ultrasound. My grandmother's fourth pregnancy, she and my grandfather assumed this would be a second son. He, being something of a joker, would start his visits to see her in the hospital while they awaited her labor by asking, "How are my twins." When this was eventually met with, "Oh, you must be Mr. Hisname," he found out the joke was on him. However, that was not the end of the story. My grandparents had moved from down east out to the opposite coast, settling in sunny southern California, unwilling to return to the harsh winters of their original homes of New England and Minnesota once they had both left the military service that had brought them together. And so, following the birth of his 4th & 5th children, he placed calls back to where her family still resided to present them with the good news. He was met with surprise by those on other end that he would already know. Once the matter was untangled, it came out that on that very same day, another member of the family had also given birth to another baby girl.

[@Beedo_Sookcool]

Rowntree sweets were just that bit better before the Evil Nestlé Empire took over. The Kit Kats were a little bit cocoa-ier and tasted even better chilled, and while the Smarties today have a vague hint of orange flavour to the chocolate, I remember they used to have orange flavour in the orange ones and coffee flavour in the brown ones.

[@heavysetmedia1904]

I love the "V for vendetta" reference wearing the oven gloves and apron!

[@RhondaKennedy63]

Did anyone else notice the portrait of Isaac Newton looks a little bit like Quentin Tarantino?

[@AlzheimersCaretaker]

If I'm able to survive to the age of 76 I'll be one of the lucky bunch of people who'll have seen halley's comet twice. unfortunately due to an overwhelming family history of early onset and very severe alzheimer's disease, theres a significant chance that i'll be too far out of my mind to appreciate it. It's a litte bit like finding a thousand dollars worth of a defunct currency that cant be exchanged for real money.

[@Julian-bq9qv]

☹Maybe YOU are the one that the curse will pass b y! Here's hoping and praying.

[@garryferrington811]

Try vitamin D-3.

[@PuzzledMonkey]

I need to make it a full century to see it a second time. I'm holding it for that, given my uncle made it to 98 with half a lung removed in the 50s for TB.

[@juliettedemaso7588]

I think you mean crypto. 🪦💸📈 I hope you’re able to see the comet btw; be optimistic, and do the Sunday crosswords.

[@AlzheimersCaretaker]

@@Julian-bq9qv i hadn't thought of that. maybe halley's comet will be my lucky "star"

[@lookinglassgrrl3811]

My only Beano reference comes from an episode of Time Team, in which Sir Tony Robinson says "can you explain to me, in words a Beano reader would understand, what geophysics is"

[@craigcorson3036]

I just learned something yesterday that you may or may not also know. In Britain, a vice is either a holding device bolted to a workbench, or a bad habit like gambling or smoking. In the USA, the former is spelled with an S, vise.

[@markbradley7323]

And the police have a 'vice squad'.

[@Ithirahad]

I'd write both as vice. I had no idea we theoretically had a different spelling for the clampy bit.

[@craigcorson3036]

@@Ithirahad There's nothing theoretical about it. vise /vīs/ noun A heavy clamp, usually mounted on a workbench and operated by a screw or lever, used in carpentry or metalworking to hold a piece in position.

[@sarahheld3761]

When my Dad was in the Navy his ship USS Belnap had a collision with USS Kennedy on November 22! Then many years later hi father died 11/22 as well.😮

[@BonkedByAScout]

A recurring note in your undertone music is the same as the first note of my alarm clock and it's driving me insane

[@deantodd8103]

LMAO @ "Why am I German now?" 🤣 I dunno, but British-American actor Richard Dawson occasionally did a pretty funny German accent on Hogan's Heroes. 😉 This video has quite a few of the things I like: Spider-Man, chocolate, C.S. Lewis, Dr. Who, and Halloween. Kudos! 😊

[@Hypatia52]

I might add, thanks to Mr. Ketchum, my brother has always hated his own name, Dennis, born in September, 1951.

[@silver-fd3cv]

I love your beautiful living room! The colors, the fireplace, etc. !❤

[@cynthiajohnston424]

And well accessorized w/ pets ! 🐾🐾💙

[@webbtrekker534]

....and I was born in November 1945 and I'm still here this November. By the way. Happy Birthday Lawrence from a fellow November Birthday guy!

[@charlenemack7040]

Love you Laurence 😊💙

[@JustFluffyQuiltingYarnCrafts]

Very cool selection of coincidences. Thanks for putting them together and sharing, Laurence. ❤

[@LandCfan]

Speaking of strange death coincidences: on American Founding father and former president John Adam's death bed, his last words were "Jefferson still lives." Fellow founding father and former president Thomas Jefferson had died a few hours earlier in Virginia. The day was July 4th, the date on the Declaration of Independence they had both not only signed, but both had been on the Committee of Five assigned in the Continental Congress to draft the declaration, which Jefferson wrote. In life, they had been at times close friends, and at others bitter rivals and enemies, making up again in old age. Fate decided to connect them one more time.

[@zippitydoodah5693]

excellent show!!

[@FourFish47]

Ooooooo Laurence!!! Your house is looking gorgeous!! ❤

[@jrm78]

2:33 Construction barrels in the "Welcome to Pennsylvania" shot are very on brand for the state.

[@quaintlyeccentric]

Great video, Laurence!

[@neutrino78x]

6:55 oooh, lawrence, you forgot to mention Mark Twain's brief visit aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D!! 🙂 lol I love your videos 🙂

[@augiegirl1]

Check out this season of Lower Decks; Mark Twain’s appearance in “Time's Arrow” is referenced in episodes 4 & 10!

[@neutrino78x]

@@augiegirl1 nice! I haven't seen lower decks yet. I gotta check it out 🙂

[@augiegirl1]

@@neutrino78x the 4th season just ended last week. The series TRULY is a love letter to classic Trek!

[@bonniewills2814]

Happy Birthday!! My mother turned 84 today 😃

[@FourFish47]

Happy Birthday mom!! 🎉❤

[@jmcg6189]

My mother would have turned 107 today had she not died shortly before her 100th birthday.

[@LarryHatch]

A neighbor of mine launched a comic series based on his son Chester called Chester the Molester. Never took off for some reason.

[@Rosatodi2006]

The Alton Telegraph? Interesting choice. I used to read my grandparents Alton Telegraph all the time. Even took a field trip to their printing facility.

[@ajwinberg]

I was born in November too.😅 This was a great video full of stuff I never actually knew.

[@Franciso-so1bg]

That was so interesting. That took a lot of research.

[@richb313]

Thanks Laurence just the pick me up I needed.

[@ellenwheeler2031]

Great installment. Love your channel.

[@AtarahDerek]

On the one hand, Jack would not have been offended at being booted from the front page. On the other, he would've been sorry it only happened because of another man's murder. My parents were married on November 22, 1986.

[@md_vandenberg]

If anyone is confused, "Jack" is the name C.S. Lewis preferred to be called by. Why you might ask? The C.S. stands for Clive Staples.

[@ResistTyranny2024]

Enlightening and entertaining Lawrence. I hope you make another video similar to this one in the near future.

[@genablack1652]

WOW great vid Laurence!!!!

[@bossfan49]

One of your best videos. Very interesting. As usual.. well researched, organized and impeccable delivery. Btw.. beautiful fireplace!

[@barbaralavoie1045]

I really enjoy your humor, Lawrence.❤️

[@Jonhikes]

You got me with "but those people have no friends".. 😂

[@ConservativeVeteran]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAURENCE!!!

[@marlenepearson3936]

Well, that's just spooky 👻, Laurence. Happy November Birthday 🎂 🥳

[@williambailey344]

Brilliant Lawrence really enjoyed that video I love things like this.

[@HT-ww3zg]

Your BEST video, Lawrence. EVER.

[@calebleland8390]

I was concerned, but my fears were allayed when you did, indeed, reference Doctor Who. 🤣🤣 I had a friend in school who had moved here to Iowa with his parents (I mean, it would be frowned upon if they'd left him in England), and he introduced me to The Beano, which actually became his nickname. Well, that, and his name was Ben, and Beano sounded like a good fit. Now I'm curious what Uncle Toby might say on the subject.

[@kirbyculp3449]

Is there not a female version of Dennis in the Beano?

[@PaulaStone365]

You are reacted to by so many people. I found you by that way but OMG you are brilliant and I'm glad I found you in the pond!

[@jessicanichols2434]

🐶 Aww! ❤ Hello puppy!! 🐾 🐾

[@overcomerbtbojesus]

I cannot get over the November 22 connections lol

[@BartdeBoisblanc]

Larence you have just made my day and month.

[@charlierichardson613]

This was a great episode!

[@LindaC616]

Lovely décor, Tara!

[@jarancrane2462]

Okay. That Dennis the Menace one is unbelievable!!!!

[@lauramorris3409]

Ooh, Lawrence! Very interesting!

[@kimfleury]

Happy birthday! A coincidence is an incident that occurs with (co-) another incident. My firstborn and only daughter was born on the last day of November, and her firstborn and elder son was born the day before the anniversary of the deaths of Lewis, Huxley, JFK, etc.

[@heidifedor]

Interesting side note, before Nestlie acquired Rowntree, the latter had an exclusive contract in the US with Hershey’s. When Nestlie bought Rowntree in 1988, Hershey successfully took Nestlie to court over the rights to produce Kit-Kats and Rolos in the US.

[@seed_drill7135]

Now Nestles has sold off their candy division in America after the PA legislature blocked their acquisition of Hershey’s.

[@chubbycatfish4573]

I've heard the Dennis the Menace one before... what are the odds?

[@nariu7times328]

This channel is so fun!

[@rcarbee7016]

Ha! I was born November 22, 1963. Dr Who was also supposed to air that day. 😂

[@bluejayjitsu4429]

My gosh, Your delivery is so engaging

[@ThatsGoldJerry575]

We need more videos about grocery stores!

[@jimikelley189]

"Profound fear of Turkish Delight" LOLOLOL !!! This was a great video !

[@ElicBehexan]

My sister was born in November, as was my wife and I. One of my best friends died, my mother died and my father died. All the births and deaths were in close proximity to each other. My bestie died the day before my sister's birthday, my mother died the day after my wife's and my father died the day after mine. However, I do share my birthday with The Doctor, November 23rd. I'm 10 years older however.

[@geologyjoerocks]

Great video!!! Hank Ketchum of the American Dennis the Menace was also an abstract painter, and made all sorts of cool paintings. There’s a hospital near where I live in Monterey California that he endowed with much of his art collection, so you can peruse his art while you wait for your niece to be born.

[@lynnerussell1440]

Loved this one.

[@gnomevoyeur]

I'm quite sure I heard a recording of Mark Twain's voice in an episode of Star Trek: TNG.

[@mavahuth5044]

Happy birthday 🎉 and glad you hoped over the pond.😊

[@emilyneale9898]

Really interesting and fun video!!

[@charlesmarkley220]

Beano is or was over the name of an over the counter tablet for flatulence. Lol

[@nthgth]

So glad Dennis the Menace was on this list! First learned about that astonishing coincidence from the AVGN 😄

[@josephheitzmann7745]

My Father was hooked on Malted milk balls and his biggest favorite was “York Peppermint Patties “.. so to honor him I eat some (Ok many) regularly

[@cynthiajohnston424]

I had a show horse who loved malted milk balls - to get her to put her ears up 'n look pretty & alert for pics , shaking the carton was the key ; of course , she had some as a reward & reluctantly shared them w/ us ! 😂

[@pameladonnelson2093]

Love your videos 😂❤

[@LullabyLuella]

My mother died Nov 22nd in 1958, and my geeatgrandfather on Nov 22nd 1951, which was also his birthday. Grandmother on another side died on that date in 1975. My family just calls it death day.

[@lindaeasley5606]

My mother died on Nov. 22 ,2020 Three members of my family through 3 generations had a child born on Nov 2 and all three died at an early age. An unlucky day to be born in our family

[@LullabyLuella]

@lindaeasley5606 wow. Funny how these things can attach to a date.

[@Donna_Relaxing]

Hey this just showed up - you posted it 3 minutes ago!!! I need your “calming” breaks