From the dawn of man drinking has been the cause of death for many, especially through over indulgence of alcoholic beverages. Here are a few of the best-known instances.
762 Libai one of the greatest Chinese poets died whilst drunk when he tried to in his rather unsteady state to capture the reflection of the waters of the Yangtze.
1042 Edward the Confessor, the eldest son of Ethelred II, became the King of England after his predecessor Hardicanute died of convulsions whilst drinking at a wedding party. There were suspicions that he was poisoned.
1574 Selem the drunkard emperor of the Ottoman emperor for eight years was not interested in ruling his country, a job which he tended to delegate. Instead he spent his time drinking wine surrounded by various friends and flatterers in his harem. He met a fitting end dying as a result of cracking his skull in a Turkish bath when dead drunk.
1593 The playwright Christopher Marlowe met a violent death whilst drinking in a Deptford, London tavern. It was suspected he was murdered because of his activities as a spy.
1918 John L Sullivan was the last bare-knuckle boxing champion, and the first one to use gloves. The American was an alcoholic, who for four years was not fit enough to defend his title. In his later years Sullivan became teetotal and a supporter of the temperance movement He died in 1918 of health problems caused by his earlier alcoholism.
1931 The English novelist Arnold Bennett drank a glass of water to prove it was safe. It wasn't and he died of typhoid.
1953 The Welsh poet Dylan Thomas who was renowned for his alcohol consumption collapsed in his hotel. He was in New York on a promotional tour and had been drinking heavily. He died later in hospital and his last words were “I've had eighteen straight whiskies, I think that’s a record”.
Source Food For Thought by Ed Pearce
762 Libai one of the greatest Chinese poets died whilst drunk when he tried to in his rather unsteady state to capture the reflection of the waters of the Yangtze.
1042 Edward the Confessor, the eldest son of Ethelred II, became the King of England after his predecessor Hardicanute died of convulsions whilst drinking at a wedding party. There were suspicions that he was poisoned.
1574 Selem the drunkard emperor of the Ottoman emperor for eight years was not interested in ruling his country, a job which he tended to delegate. Instead he spent his time drinking wine surrounded by various friends and flatterers in his harem. He met a fitting end dying as a result of cracking his skull in a Turkish bath when dead drunk.
1593 The playwright Christopher Marlowe met a violent death whilst drinking in a Deptford, London tavern. It was suspected he was murdered because of his activities as a spy.
1918 John L Sullivan was the last bare-knuckle boxing champion, and the first one to use gloves. The American was an alcoholic, who for four years was not fit enough to defend his title. In his later years Sullivan became teetotal and a supporter of the temperance movement He died in 1918 of health problems caused by his earlier alcoholism.
1931 The English novelist Arnold Bennett drank a glass of water to prove it was safe. It wasn't and he died of typhoid.
1953 The Welsh poet Dylan Thomas who was renowned for his alcohol consumption collapsed in his hotel. He was in New York on a promotional tour and had been drinking heavily. He died later in hospital and his last words were “I've had eighteen straight whiskies, I think that’s a record”.
Source Food For Thought by Ed Pearce
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