On this day in 1706, Benjamin Franklin, the U.S. statesman and scientist who helped draft the Declaration of Independence, was born.
On this day in 1874, Chang and Eng, the famous Siamese twins who were born in Thailand of Chinese parents, died within three hours of each other at the age of 62. They were joined at the hip, chest, abdomen and head, and even shared some organs. They married sisters and fathered 10 and 12
children, respectively.
On this day in 1912, a British expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott arrived at the South Pole, one month later than Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen's successful journey to reach the earth's southernmost spot.