Special Sub-Topic: Ashes to Ashes Click Here To Play: Ashes to Ashes

What cause of death did the doctors put on Ludwig van Beethoven's death certificate?

Cirrhosis of the liver. Ludwig van Beethoven died in 1827. When Beethoven was in his 30s, he became completely deaf. After that he had digestion problems and instead of heeding medical advice he turned to alcohol. He found that this stimulated his appetite and helped his stomach, but it ultimately caused severe inflammation of the intestines, followed by cirrhosis of the liver. In the 2000s though, DNA testing has been done on a piece of his hair and it showed that this might not have been the case. Consequently, there are many differing opinions, but death by lead poisoning is popular, as it has been found that the amount of lead was 100 times higher than it should be and the symptoms he had correlate to lead poisoning.

What did Jim Croce's plane crash into?

Tree. Jim Croce was a singer and died on 20th September 1973 aged 30. The crash took place in a light aeroplane, 200 yards past the runway in Natchitoches at LA Municipal Airport, killing Jim Croce and five others. After this event, his records soared, tripling their normal sales. Croce had a son, Adrian James, and a wife Ingrid aged 26, who then had to fight a 12-year legal litigation to obtain the rights to his royalties.

What was Tommy Dorsey doing when he died?

Sleeping. Tommy Dorsey, trombonist, died in 1956 choking on food that had lodged in his windpipe in his sleep. He was born on 19th November 1905 in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. His younger brother was jazz clarinetist, Jimmy Dorsey. Tommy Dorsey started recording in the 1920s and by 1930 was a successful recording artist. In addition, in the 1930s he and his brother formed an orchestra called "The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra," the line-up included artists as Glenn Miller and Bob Crosby. In 1935, Tommy and Jimmy had an argument and their working relationship dissolved. He then formed his own band and later the brothers reunited in 1953.

What did Ernest Miller Hemingway use to kill himself?

Shotgun. Ernest Miller Hemingway committed suicide in 1961 with a shotgun. His main residence was in Cuba, where he did most of his writing and bred fighting cocks. As he aged, he became a heavy drinker, which showed in interviews, as he would constantly use sports analogies to answer questions. Hemingway did not hold his own writing in high esteem despite winning the Nobel Prize for Literature for "The Old Man and the Sea".

Bob Marley was 36 when he died.

t. Bob Marley was a musician who died in 1981 from a brain tumour. The cancer started out on his foot (which ultimately caused his death) which was first noticed when he was playing soccer. Bob Marley refused to have his toe amputated for religious reasons and thus the cancer spread throughout his body. He lived with the cancer for two years until it took his life.

What instrument was used to assassinate Leon Trotsky?

Ice pick. Leon Trotsky was a Russian leader and an exiled revolutionary who on 20th August 1940 was assassinated in Mexico. An ice-pick/axe was the instrument used by Ramon Mercader, a Russian agent that was sent by Stalin, and he died the day after the attack. Before Trotsky's attack many of his family, closest friends and collaborators had been murdered, driven to suicide or been put in labour camps by Stalin.

To which of these is the death of Tennessee Williams often attributed?

Bottle cap. Tennessee Williams, writer, aged 71, on 24th February 1983 ingested a bottle cap and choked to death. There are mixed reports about the incident, some say he dropped a nose spray into his mouth while using it, but other reports say it was a cap from a barbiturates bottle. His death occurred at the Hotel Elysée in New York. Tennessee Williams suffered from depression and alcoholism for much of his adult life. At the time of his death, it was said that he was in a very drugged and dazed state. Tennessee Williams wished to be buried at sea but in fact he was buried in St Louis.

Did Socrates drink hemlock to kill himself?

y. Socrates was a philosopher who in 399 BC was made to drink hemlock that killed him, but as he administered it to himself, he thus in a nominal sense committing suicide. This was his punishment for "corrupting the youth of Athens", impiety and neglecting the gods that were worshipped and practices of religious rites associated with them. His trial last for several days, and his death was described by Plato. His accusers were three citizens and he had a high level of public hostility towards him. Apparently, Socrates had a positive outlook when taking the poison and could not understand why others were upset. He looked upon it as an adventure and gave a commentary at what was happening to his body.

In what century did Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, die?

18th. Catherine the Great died at the age of 67 in 1796 from a stroke. Her maid found her lying on the carpet against the commode or toilet. It was reported that her eyes were closed and there was foam on her lips. When the maid summoned help they had tremendous trouble lifting her due to her weight so they pulled a mattress off a sofa to the floor. This is where she stayed until the doctors bleed her. She was then shifted to her bed but she died several hours later without gaining consciousness.

Who murdered Marvin Gaye?

Father. Marvin Pentz Gaye, Junior was a singer who was murdered on 1st April 1984, one day before his 45th birthday by his father, who was a minister. The event took place in their home in Los Angeles where they lived together due to Gaye Junior trying to gain control over his cocaine addiction. During a very heated argument Gaye Senior shot his son in the chest twice. Marvin Gaye Senior pleaded guilty to "voluntary manslaughter" and he was sentenced to five years' probation. In 1987 Marvin Gaye Junior was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.