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Elizabeth Lyon (fl. c. 1722–1726) was an English thief and prostitute. By 1723, she was working in London as a prostitute at the Black Lyon alehouse, where she began a relationship with Jack Sheppard. At Lyon's instigation, Sheppard stole from places where he worked, then moved to housebreaking; Lyon became an accomplice to his crimes. Sheppard was arrested on several occasions and broke out soon after incarceration, often assisted by Lyon. In May 1724, she was arrested when visiting him in prison, and the pair broke out of New Prison (pictured). After Sheppard's execution in November 1724, Lyon entered into relationships with other men who were, or became, involved in housebreaking, and she sometimes assisted them. She was arrested in March 1726 and was transported to Maryland. Lyon's notoriety is based on her connection to Sheppard; in the years following his execution, novels were published and plays performed that retold their story. (Full article...)
Did you know ...
- ... that the "Queen of Shitty Robots" (pictured) built a "Pussy Grabs Back Machine"?
- ... that Alex Honnold's memoir Alone on the Wall was called a "celebration of nonthinking" by The Atlantic?
- ... that Uruguayan perennial candidate Domingo Tortorelli campaigned on promises such as a 15-minute workday and installing free milk taps on every street corner?
- ... that the Harvard–Dudley line once used streetcars made from two smaller streetcars?
- ... that out of appreciation for the game's background music, the art director of Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion created a fictional, in-game DJ character to associate it with?
- ... that in the 1970s, Walter Steding became known for his electric violin, which he played while wearing flashing goggles "synced" to his brainwaves?
- ... that the modern increase of people named Ava is often credited to Hollywood actress Ava Gardner?
- ... that Kelly Curtis jumped from heptathlon to skeleton?
- ... that Beyond Dreams, about an ex-convict torn between a heist and housekeeping, won the Church of Sweden's Film Prize?
In the news
- Israel and the United States launch strikes on Iran, killing its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei (pictured), along with other senior officials.
- A Lockheed C-130 Hercules of the Bolivian Air Force crashes into a road in El Alto, killing more than 20 people.
- A military conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan escalates as the countries exchange cross-border strikes.
- Floods in the Zona da Mata region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, leave at least 70 people dead and thousands of others displaced.
On this day
March 5: Learn from Lei Feng Day in China; St Piran's Day in Cornwall, England
- 1811 – Peninsular War: At the Battle of Barrosa, Anglo-Iberian forces trying to lift the Siege of Cádiz defeated a French attack but could not break the siege itself.
- 1825 – Roberto Cofresí, one of the last Caribbean pirates, was apprehended after his flagship sloop Anne was captured by authorities.
- 1936 – The prototype (pictured) of the Supermarine Spitfire flew for the first time.
- 1981 – The ZX81, a pioneering British home computer, was launched by Sinclair Research, and went on to sell more than 1.5 million units around the world.
- Edward Cornwallis (b. 1713)
- J. R. Kealoha (d. 1877)
- Anna Akhmatova (d. 1966)
- Ailsa McKay (d. 2014)
Today's featured picture
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The toco toucan (Ramphastos toco) is a species of bird in the family Ramphastidae, the toucans. It is the largest species of toucan and has a distinctive appearance, with a black body, a white throat, chest and uppertail coverts, and red undertail coverts. Its most conspicuous feature is its huge beak, which is yellow-orange with a black base and a large spot on the tip. It is endemic to South America, where it has a wide distribution from the Guianas south to northern Argentina and Uruguay, and its range has recently been expanding southwards. Unlike other toucans, which inhabit continuous forests, the toco toucan inhabits a variety of semi-open habitats at altitudes of up to 1,750 metres (5,740 ft). It feeds mainly on fleshy fruits, but can also supplement its diet with insects, eggs, and the nestlings of other birds. This toco toucan was photographed near Poconé in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Photograph credit: Bernard Dupont
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