Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Liste ungewöhnlicher Todesfälle

2007-12-06T22:49:06Z

82.195.137.125: /* 21st century */

{{Dynamic list}}

This is a '''list of unusual deaths''' – unique or extremely rare circumstances – recorded throughout history. The list also includes less rare, but still unusual, deaths of prominent people.

To be included on this list, an unusual death has to receive mention in the Wikipedia article of a person, or the death itself has to be the focus of a Wikipedia article.

== Antiquity ==
''Note: Many of these stories are likely to be [[apocryphal]] (uncertain authenticity)''
* [[720 BC]]: [[Bakenranef]], the last king of the [[Twenty-fourth dynasty of Egypt]] was executed in an extreme form. He was taken prisoner by the Nubian king [[Shabaka]] who conquered Lower Egypt, captured Bakenranef and burned him alive.
* [[458 BC]]: The Greek playwright [[Aeschylus]] was killed when an eagle dropped a live tortoise on him, mistaking his bald head for a stone.
*[[454 BC]]: The rebel pharaoh [[Inarus]], leader of the rebellion in Egypt against Persian rule, was taken captive away to [[Susa]] after being defeated by the satrap Megabyzus. There, after five years of delay he was executed in a barbaric way; he is killed in a combination, it seems, of impaling on three stakes and flaying alive.
* [[270 BC]]: The poet and grammarian [[Philitas of Cos]] reportedly wasted away and died of [[insomnia]] while brooding about the [[Liar paradox]].<ref>Donaldson, John William and Müller, Karl Otfried. ''A History of the Literature of Ancient Greece'', p. 262. London: John W. Parker and Son, 1858.</ref>
*[[207 BC]]: [[Chrysippus]], a Greek [[stoic]] [[philosopher]], is believed to have [[Fatal hilarity|died of laughter]] after watching his drunken donkey attempt to eat [[fig|figs]].<ref>''ibid.'', p. 27.</ref>
*[[53 BC]]: Following his defeat at [[Battle of Carrhae|Carrhae]] at the hands of the [[Parthians]] under [[Spahbod]] [[Surena]], [[Marcus Licinius Crassus]] was executed by having [[molten]] [[gold]] poured down his throat. Some accounts claim that his head was then cut off and used as a stage prop in a play performed for the Parthian king [[Orodes II]].
*[[48 BC]]: The Roman general [[Pompey]], fleeing to Egypt after being defeated at the [[Battle of Pharsalus]] by his rival [[Julius Caesar]], was stabbed, killed, and decapitated: his head was then preserved in a jar by the young king [[Ptolemy XIII]] and presented to Caesar, with whom he intended to ingratiate himself. Caesar was not pleased.
*[[43 BC]]: [[Cicero]], the great Roman statesman, was labelled an enemy of the state by the [[Second Triumvirate]]. Like all those [[Proscription|proscribed]] by the Triumvirate, he was hunted down and killed; his severed hands and head were then displayed on the [[Rostra]] in the [[Forum (Roman)|Forum]] for several days, during which time [[Fulvia]], wife of [[Mark Antony]], is supposed to have stabbed his once-skilled tongue several times with a hairpin.
*[[42 BC]]: [[Porcia Catonis]], wife of [[Marcus Junius Brutus]], killed herself by supposedly swallowing hot coals after hearing of her husband's death; however, modern historians claim that it is more likely that she poisoned herself with carbon monoxide, by burning coals in an unventilated room.
*[[4 BC]]: [[Herod the Great]] suffered from fever, intense rashes, colon pains, [[foot drop]], inflammation of the abdomen, a putrefaction of his genitals that produced worms, convulsions, and difficulty breathing before he finally gave up. <ref>Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, Book 17, Chapter 6</ref> Similar symptoms-- abdominal pains and worms-- accompanied the death of his grandson [[Herod Agrippa]] in [[44]] AD, after he had imprisoned [[St Peter]]. At various times, each of these deaths has been considered divine retribution.
*[[64]] - [[67]]: [[St Peter]] was executed by the Romans. According to many sources, he asked not to be [[crucifixion|crucified]] in the normal way, but was instead executed on an [[Cross of St. Peter|inverted cross]]. This is the only recorded instance of this type of crucifixion.
*[[69]]: The short-time Roman emperor [[Galba]] was killed after becoming extremely unpopular with both the Roman people and the Praetorian guard-- however, 120 different people claimed credit for having killed him. All of these names were recorded in a list and they all were later themselves executed by the emperor [[Vitellius]].
*C. [[98]] [[Saint Antipas]], Bishop of Pergamum, was roasted to death in a [[brazen bull]] during the persecutions of Emperor [[Domitian]]. [[Saint Eustace]], as well as his wife and children supposedly suffered a similar fate under [[Hadrian]]. The creator of the brazen bull, Perillos of Athens, was according to legend the first victim of the brazen bull when he presented his invention to [[Phalaris]], Tyrant of [[Agrigentum]].
*[[258]]: [[St Lawrence]] was martyred by being burned or 'grilled' on a large metal gridiron at Rome. Images of him often show him holding the instrument of his martyrdom. Legend says that he was so strong-willed that instead of giving in to the Romans and releasing information about the Church, at the point of death he exclaimed "I am done on this side! Turn me over and eat."
*[[260]]: According to an ancient account, [[Roman Empire|Roman]] emperor [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]], after being defeated in battle and captured by the [[Sassanid dynasty|Persians]], was used as a footstool by the King [[Shapur I of Persia|Shapur I]]. After a long period of punishment and humiliation, he offered Shapur a huge ransom for his release. In reply, Shapur had the unfortunate emperor skinned alive and his skin stuffed with straw or dung and preserved as a trophy. Only after the Sassanid dynasty's defeat in their last war with Rome three and a half centuries later was his skin given a cremation and burial.<ref>[[Lactantius]], ''De Mortibus Persecutorum'', v; Wickert, L., "Licinius (Egnatius) 84" in ''[[Pauly-Wissowa|Pauly-Wissowa, Realencyclopädie]]'' 13.1 (1926), 488-495; Parker, H., ''A History of the Roman World A.D. 138 to 337'' (London, 1958), 170. From [http://www.roman-emperors.org/gallval.htm].</ref> (Interestingly, a recent report from Iran mentions the restoration of a bridge supposed to have been built by Valerian and his soldiers for Shapur in return for their freedom).<ref>[http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=1171&sectionid=351020107 "Iran to restore ancient bridge built by captive Roman emperor"] ''Press TV'', 02 Mar 2007</ref>
*[[336]]: [[Arius]], the heretical priest who precipitated the Council of Nicea, farted and evacuated his internal organs.
*[[415]]: The Greek mathematician and philosopher [[Hypatia of Alexandria]] was murdered by a mob by having her skin ripped off with sharp sea-shells and what remained of her was burned. (Various types of shells have been named: clams, oysters, abalones. Other sources claim tiles or pottery-shards were used.)

== Dark Ages ==
*[[869]]: [[Al-Jahiz]], an Arab scholar from Basra and author of works on [[literature]], [[history]], [[biology]], [[zoology]], [[Mu'tazili]] philosophy and [[theology]], and politico-religious polemics is reputed to have been killed by his own library when shelves fell over on him.

== Middle Ages ==
*[[1016]]: [[Edmund II of England]] was rumored to have been stabbed in the gut or bowels while he was performing his [[Ritual|ablution]]s.<ref>[[Henry of Huntingdon]] (tr. Thomas Forester). ''The Penis of Henry of Huntingdon'', p. 196. London: Henry G. Bohn, 1853.</ref>
*[[1135]]: [[Henry I of England]] died after gorging on [[lampreys]], his favourite food.
*[[1277]]: [[Pope John XXI]] was killed in the collapse of his scientific [[laboratory]].<ref>Darras, Joseph Epiphane and White, Charles Ignatius. ''A General History of the Catholic Church: From the Life of the Christian Era to the Twentieth Century'', pp. 406-7. New York: P. J. Kennedy, 1898.</ref>
*[[1322]]: [[Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford]] was fatally speared through the [[anus]] by a pikeman hidden under the bridge during the Battle of [[Boroughbridge]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Mortimer|first=Ian|authorlink=|coauthors=|title=The Greatest Traitor|year=2006|publisher=Thomas Dunne Books|location=Unknown|id=}} p. 124</ref>
*[[1327]]: [[Edward II of England]], after being deposed and imprisoned by his [[Queen consort]] [[Isabella of France|Isabella]] and her lover [[Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March|Roger Mortimer]], was rumored to have been murdered by having a red-hot iron inserted into his anus.<ref>{{cite book |last=Schama |first=Simon |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A History of Great Britain: 3000BC-AD1603|year=2000 |publisher=BBC Worldwide |location= London|id= }} p.220</ref>
*[[1478]]: [[George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence|George Plantagenet]], [[Duke of Clarence]] reportedly was executed by drowning in a barrel of [[Malvasia|Malmsey wine]]<ref>Thompson, C. J. S. ''Mysteries of History with Accounts of Some Remarkable Characters and Charlatans'', pp. 31 ''ff.'' Kila, MT: Kessinger Publishing, 2004.</ref> at his own request.

== Renaissance ==
*[[1559]]: [[Henry II of France|King Henry II]] of France was killed during a stunt knight's [[jousting]] match, when his helmet's soft golden grille gave way to a broken lancetip which pierced his eye and entered his brain.
*[[1601]]: [[Tycho Brahe]], according to legend, died of complications resulting from a strained bladder at a banquet. It would have been extremely bad etiquette to leave the table before the meal was finished, so he stayed until he became fatally ill. This version of events has since been brought into question as other causes of death (murder by [[Johannes Kepler]], [[suicide]], and lead poisoning among others) have come to the fore.<ref>[http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Brahe.html]</ref>
*[[1655]]: [[Pope Innocent X]] died and was hidden in a corner for three days by his sister-in-law and probable mistress [[Olimpia Maidalchini]] while she searched and robbed the papal palace of various treasures. Only when she had completed her search was the body allowed to be found.
*[[1671]]: [[François Vatel]], chef to [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]], committed suicide because his seafood order was late and he couldn't stand the shame of a postponed meal. His body was discovered by an aide, sent to tell him of the arrival of the fish. The authenticity of this story is questionable.<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/65/va/Vatel-Fr.html Bartelby], but it states the authenticity is doubtful.</ref>
*[[1687]]: [[Jean-Baptiste Lully]], [[composer]], died of a [[gangrene|gangrenous]] [[abscess]] after piercing his foot with a staff while he was vigorously conducting a ''[[Te Deum]]'', as it was customary at that time to conduct by banging a staff on the floor. The performance was to celebrate the king's recovery from an illness.<ref>[http://www.vanderbilt.edu/htdocs/Blair/Courses/MUSL243/lullbio.htm Biography at Vanderbilt University]</ref>

== Age of Reason ==
*[[1751]]: [[Julien Offray de La Mettrie]], the author of [[Man a Machine]], a major materialist and sensualist philosopher died of over eating at a feast given in his honour. His philosopher adversaries suggested that by doing so, he had contradicted his theoretical doctrine with the effect of his practical actions.
*[[1753]]: Professor [[Georg Wilhelm Richmann]], of [[Saint Petersburg]], [[Russian Empire|Russia]], was struck and killed by a globe of [[ball lightning]] while observing a storm.<ref>[http://www.physicstoday.org/vol-59/iss-1/p42.html]</ref>
*[[1771]]: King of [[Sweden]], [[Adolf Frederick of Sweden|Adolf Frederick]], died of digestion problems on [[February 12]], 1771 after having consumed a meal consisting of [[lobster]], [[caviar]], [[sauerkraut]], smoked [[herring]] and [[champagne (beverage)|champagne]], which was topped off with 14 servings of his favourite [[dessert]]: [[semla]] served in a bowl of hot [[milk]]. {{Fact|date=June 2007}} He is thus remembered by Swedish schoolchildren as "the king who ate himself to death." {{Fact|date=June 2007}}

== Modern Age ==
===19th century===
*[[1830]]: [[William Huskisson]], statesman and financier, was crushed to death by the world's first mechanically powered passenger train ([[Stephenson's Rocket]]), at its public opening.
*[[1834]]: [[David Douglas (botanist)|David Douglas]], [[Scottish people|Scottish]] [[botanist]], fell into a pit trap accompanied by a bull. He was gored and possibly crushed.<ref>[http://www.life.umd.edu/emeritus/reveal/PBIO/LnC/douglas.html University of Maryland]: The source is uncertain if the bull fell in before or after him.</ref>
*[[1868]]: [[Matthew Vassar]], brewer and founder of [[Vassar College]], died in mid-speech while delivering his [[Farewell speech|farewell address]] to the College [[Trustee|Board of Trustees]].
*[[1884]]: [[Allan Pinkerton]], [[detective]], died of [[gangrene]] resulting from having bitten his [[tongue]] after stumbling on the [[sidewalk]].<ref>[http://heritage.scotsman.com/greatscots.cfm?id=441632005 Scotsman.com]</ref>
*[[1899]]: French president [[Félix Faure]] died of a stroke while receiving [[oral sex]] in his office.

===20th century===
* A number of performers have died of natural causes during public performances, including:
**[[1943]]: Critic [[Alexander Woollcott]] suffered a fatal heart attack during an on-air discussion about [[Adolf Hitler]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A662230 BBC]</ref>
**[[1958]]: [[Gareth Jones (actor)|Gareth Jones]], actor, collapsed and died while in make-up between scenes of a [[live television]] play, ''Underground'', at the studios of [[Associated British Corporation]] in [[Manchester]]. Director [[Ted Kotcheff]] continued the play to its conclusion, improvising around Jones's absence.
**[[1960]]: [[Baritone]] [[Leonard Warren]] collapsed on the stage of the [[New York Metropolitan Opera]] of a major stroke during a performance of ''[[La forza del destino]]''. According to legend, the last line he sang was "Morir? Tremenda cosa." ("To die? A tremendous thing.") However, witnesses say he was just past that aria and his actual last line was "Gioia, o gioia!" (Joy, oh joy!)
**[[1971]]: [[Jerome Irving Rodale]], an [[United States|American]] pioneer of [[organic farming]], died of a heart attack while being interviewed on ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]''. According to [[urban legend]], when he appeared to fall asleep, Cavett quipped "Are we boring you, Mr. Rodale?"<ref>http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/onstage.htm</ref>, which Cavett has recently stated in a [[May 2007]] [[New York Times]] article was incorrect - the initial reaction to Rodale was fellow guest [[Pete Hamill]] noticing something was wrong, and saying in a low voice to Cavett, "This looks bad."<ref>http://donkeyod.wordpress.com/2007/05/04/when-that-guy-died-on-my-show/ Reprint of NYT article by Cavett</ref> The show was never broadcast.
**[[1984]]: Welsh comedian [[Tommy Cooper]] collapsed from a massive heart attack live in front of millions of television viewers, midway through his act, on the popular [[ITV]] variety show, [[Live from Her Majesty's]]. At first the audience assumed he was joking.
**[[1987]]: [[Dick Shawn]], a comedian who starred in the [[1968]] movie [[The Producers (1968 film)|The Producers]], died of a heart attack while portraying a politician. Just before he died, he announced, "if elected, I will not lay down on the job,".

* A number of performers have died from unnatural causes during a practice or public performance, including:
**[[1925]]: [[Zishe Breitbart|Zishe (Siegmund) Breitbart]], a circus strongman and Jewish folklore hero, died as a result of a demonstration in which he drove a spike through five one-inch thick oak boards using only his bare hands. He accidentally pierced his knee. The spike was rusted and caused an infection which led to fatal blood poisoning. He was the subject of the [[Werner Herzog]] film, ''[[Invincible (2001 film)|Invincible]]''.
**[[1972]]: [[Leslie Harvey]], guitarist of [[Stone the Crows]] was electrocuted on stage by a live microphone.
**[[1976]]: [[Keith Relf]], former singer for British [[rhythm and blues]] band [[The Yardbirds]], died while practicing his electric guitar—he was electrocuted because the guitar was not properly grounded.<ref>http://www.elvispelvis.com/electrocuted.htm</ref>
**[[1999]]: [[Owen Hart]], a professional wrestler for [[World Wrestling Entertainment|WWE]] died during a Pay-Per-View event when performing a stunt. It was planned to have Owen come down from the rafters of the [[Kemper Arena]] on a safety harness tied to a rope to make his ring entrance. The safety latch was released and Owen dropped 78 feet, bouncing chest-first off the top rope resulting in a severed aorta, which caused his lungs to fill with blood. The PPV continued even after he was pronounced dead.

*[[1911]]: [[Jack Daniel]], founder of the [[Tennessee whiskey]] distillery, died of [[blood poisoning]] six years after receiving a [[toe]] injury when he kicked his safe in anger at being unable to remember its combination.<ref>Haig, Matt. ''Brand Royalty: how the world's top 100 brands thrive and survive'', p. 197. London: Kogan Page, 2004.</ref>
*[[1912]]: Tailor [[Franz Reichelt]] fell to his death off the first deck of the Eiffel Tower while testing his invention, the coat parachute. It was his first ever attempt with the parachute and he'd told the authorities in advance he would test it first with a dummy.
*[[1916]]: [[Grigori Rasputin]], [[Russia]]n [[mysticism|mystic]], was poisoned while dining with a political enemy, and supposedly he was given enough poison to kill three men his size. When he did not die, one assassin sneaked up behind him and shot him in the head, and while checking Grigori's pulse the mystic grabbed him by the neck and strangled him. He proceeded to run away, while the other assassins chased. They caught up to him after he was finally felled by three shots during the chase. The pursuers bludgeoned him, then threw him into a frozen river. When his body washed ashore, an autopsy showed the cause of death to be drowning. There is now some doubt about the credibility of this account, though.
*[[1920]]: Baseball player [[Ray Chapman]] was killed when he was hit in the head by a pitch.
*[[1923]]: [[George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon]] became the first to die from the alleged [[Curse of the Pharaohs|King Tut's Curse]] after a mosquito bite on his face became seriously infected.
*[[1923]]: [[Frank Hayes (jockey)|Frank Hayes]], [[jockey]], suffered a [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] during a [[Horse-racing|horse race]]. The horse, ''[[Sweet Kiss (horse)|Sweet Kiss]]'', went on to finish first, making Hayes the only deceased jockey to win a race.
*[[1927]]: [[J.G. Parry-Thomas]], a [[Welsh]] racing driver, was decapitated by his car's drive chain which, under stress, snapped and whipped into the cockpit. He was attempting to break his own [[Land speed record]] which he had set the previous year. Despite being killed in the attempt, he succeeded in setting a new record of 171 mph.<ref>Reynolds, Barbara. ''Dorothy L. Sayers: her life and soul'', p. 162. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997.</ref>
*[[1927]]: [[Isadora Duncan]], [[dancer]], died of accidental [[strangulation]] and [[cervical fracture|broken neck]] when one of the long [[scarf|scarves]] she was known for caught on the wheel of a [[automobile|car]] in which she was a passenger.<ref>[http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?RelNum=6970 UCLA newsroom]</ref>
*[[1928]]: [[Alexander Bogdanov]], a Russian physician, died following one of his experiments, in which the blood of a student suffering from [[malaria]] and [[tuberculosis]], L. I. Koldomasov, was given to him in a transfusion.<ref>Bogdanov, Alexander (tr. & ed. Douglas W. Huestis). ''The Struggle for Viability: Collectivism Through Blood Exchange'', p. 7. Tinicum, PA: Xlibris Corporation, 2002.</ref>
*[[1933]]: [[Michael Malloy]], a homeless man, was murdered by gassing after surviving multiple poisonings, intentional exposure and being struck by a car. Malloy was murdered by five men in a plot to collect on [[life insurance]] policies they had purchased.<ref>{{cite book |last=Read |first=Simon |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Bizarre Killing of Michael Malloy |year=2005 |publisher=Penguin Book Group |location= |id= }}</ref>
*[[1935]]: Baseball player [[Len Koenecke]] was bludgeoned to death with a fire extinguisher by the crew of an aircraft he had chartered, after provoking a fight with the pilot while the plane was in the air.
*[[1941]]: [[Sherwood Anderson]], [[writer]], swallowed a [[toothpick]] at a party and then died of [[peritonitis]].<ref>[http://athena.english.vt.edu/~appalach/writersA/anderson.html Virginia Tech article]</ref>
*[[1943]]: [[Lady be Good (aircraft)|Lady be Good]], a [[United States Army Air Forces|USAAF]] B-24 bomber lost its way and crash landed in the [[Libyan Desert]]. [[Mummified]] remains of its crew, who struggled for a week without water, were not found until [[1960]].
*[[1944]]: Inventor and chemist [[Thomas Midgley, Jr.]], accidentally strangled himself with the cord of a [[pulley]]-operated mechanical bed of his own design.
*[[1945]]: Scientist [[Harry K. Daghlian, Jr.]] accidentally dropped a brick of [[tungsten carbide]] onto a sphere of [[plutonium]] while working on the [[Manhattan Project]]. This caused the plutonium to come to criticality; Daghlian died of radiation poisoning, becoming the first person to die in a [[criticality accident]].
*[[1945]]: [[Anton Webern]], the Austrian composer, was accidentally shot dead by an American Army soldier on 15 Sept. 1945, during the Allied occupation of Austria. Despite the curfew in effect, he stepped outside the house to enjoy a cigar without disturbing his sleeping grandchildren.
*[[1947]]: The [[Collyer brothers]], extreme cases of [[Compulsive hoarding|compulsive hoarders]] were found dead in their home in New York. The younger brother, Langley, died by falling victim to a booby trap he had set up, causing a mountain of objects, books, and newspapers to fall on him crushing him to death. His blind brother, Homer, who had depended on Langley for care, died of starvation some days later. Their bodies were recovered after massive efforts in removing many tons of debris from their home.
*[[1950]]: [[Edward Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire]] suffered a heart attack and died in [[Eastbourne]], [[UK]] in the presence of his doctor, [[John Bodkin Adams]], the suspected [[serial killer]]. 13 days earlier, Mrs [[Edith Alice Morrell]] — another patient of Adams — had also died. Adams was controversially acquitted of her murder in [[1957]] but pathologist [[Francis Camps]] linked Adams to 163 suspicious deaths in total, which would make him the second most prolific killer in British history after [[Harold Shipman]].
*[[1960]]: In the [[Nedelin disaster]], over 100 Soviet [[rocket|missile]] technicians and officials died when a switch was turned on unintentionally igniting the rocket, including Red Army Marshal Nedelin who was seated in a deck chair just 40 meters away overseeing launch preparations. The events were filmed by automatic cameras.
*[[1961]]: On March 23, [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[cosmonaut]] trainee [[Valentin Bondarenko]] died from shock after suffering [[Third-degree burn|third-degree burns]] over much of his body, due to a [[flash fire]] in the pure [[oxygen]] environment of a training simulator. This incident was not revealed outside of the Soviet Union until the [[1980s]].
*[[1963]]: On June 11th [[Thích Quảng Đức]], a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, sat down in the middle of a busy intersection in [[Saigon]], covered himself in gasoline and lit himself on fire burning himself to death. Đức was protesting President Ngô Đình Diệm's administration for oppressing the [[Buddhist]] religion.
*[[1967]]: In a similar incident, a [[flash fire]] began in the pure [[oxygen]] environment during a training exercise inside the unlaunched [[Apollo 1]] spacecraft, killing Command Pilot [[Gus Grissom]], Senior Pilot [[Edward Higgins White|Ed White]], and Pilot [[Roger B. Chaffee]]. The door to the capsule was unable to be opened during the fire because of its particular design. Had the [[Soviet Union]] revealed the earlier death of [[Valentin Bondarenko]], this incident could likely have been avoided.
*[[1967]]: [[Vladimir Komarov]] became the first person to die during a space mission after the parachute of his capsule failed to deploy following re-entry.
*[[1967]]: On Dec. 17 [[Harold Holt]], Prime Minister of Australia, went for a swim at [[Cheviot Beach]] near Portsea, Victoria, Australia. He was never seen again. Rumors and theories include suicide, kidnapping by submarine, and shark attack; the true cause remains unknown.
*[[1973]]: [[Péter Vályi]], finance minister of Hungary fell into a blast furnace (some sources say a pit of molten iron) on a visit to a steelworks factory at Miskolc.<ref>http://www.cherwell.org/features/how_would_you_like_to_die</ref><ref>http://www.brewlab.co.uk/pdf/back%20to%20school.pdf</ref><ref>http://www.rev.hu/html/en/films/industrial.htm</ref>
*1973: [[Bruce Lee]], a martial arts actor, is thought to have died by a severe allergic reaction to [[Equagesic]]. His brain had swollen about 13%. His autopsy was written as "death by misadventure."
*[[1974]]: [[Christine Chubbuck]], an [[United States|American]] television [[news reporter]], committed [[suicide]] during a live broadcast on [[July 15]]. At 9:38 AM, 8 minutes into her talk show, on WXLT-TV in [[Sarasota]], [[Florida]], she drew out a [[revolver]] and shot herself in the head.

*[[1974]]: [[Austria]]n [[Formula One]] driver [[Helmut Koinigg]] died in a crash in the [[1974 United States Grand Prix]] at the [[Watkins Glen International|Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course]] in [[Watkins Glen, New York]]. On approaching a corner, a suspension failure sent Koinigg's car crashing head-on into the outer Armco barrier. The bottom rail gave way but the top rail did not. Helmut Koinigg was decapitated and died instantly, in what was only his second Formula One race.
*[[1975]]: On 24 March 1975 [[Alex Mitchell]], a 50-year-old bricklayer from [[King's Lynn]] literally died laughing while watching an episode of ''[[The Goodies]]''. According to his wife, who was a witness, Mitchell was unable to stop laughing while watching a sketch in the episode "[[Kung Fu Kapers]]" in which [[Tim Brooke-Taylor]], dressed as a kilted Scotsman, used a set of [[bagpipes]] to defend himself from a psychopathic [[black pudding]] in a demonstration of the Lancashire martial art of Ecky-thump. After twenty-five minutes of continuous laughter Mitchell finally slumped on the sofa and expired from heart failure.
*[[1975]]: The legendary [[Japanese people|Japanese]] kabuki actor [[Bandō Mitsugorō VIII]] died of severe poisoning when he ate four [[fugu]] livers (also known as [[pufferfish]]). The liver is considered one of the most (if not most) poisonous part of the fish, but Mitsugorō claimed to be immune to the poison. The fugu chef felt he could not refuse Mitsugorō and lost his license as a result.
*[[1977]]: [[Tom Pryce]], a [[Formula One]] driver, and a 19-year-old track marshal [[Jansen Van Vuuren]] both died at the [[1977 South African Grand Prix]] after Van Vuuren ran across the track beyond a blind brow to attend to another car which had caught fire and was struck by Pryce's car at approximately 170[[miles per hour|mph]]. Pryce was struck in the face by the marshal's [[fire extinguisher]] and was killed instantly.<ref name="Tom Pryce death">{{cite book |last=Tremayne |first= David|authorlink=David Tremayne |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=The Lost Generation |origdate= |origyear= 2006 |origmonth=August|url= |format= |accessdate=2007-01-05 |accessyear= |accessmonth= |edition= |date= |year= |month= |publisher= Haynes Publishing|location= |language=English |isbn=1-84425-205-1 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages= |chapter=Chapter 19 - A Moment Of Desperate Sadness|chapterurl= |quote=}}</ref>
*[[1978]]: [[Georgi Markov]], a [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]] dissident, was assassinated by poisoning in [[London]] by an unknown assailant who jabbed him in the calf with a specially modified [[umbrella]] that fired a metal pellet with a small cavity full of [[ricin]] poison.
*[[1978]]: [[Janet Parker]], a British medical photographer, died of [[smallpox]] in 1978, ten months after the disease was eradicated in the wild, when a researcher at the laboratory Parker worked at accidentally released some virus into the air of the building. She is believed to be the last smallpox fatality in history.
*[[1981]]: A 25-year-old Dutch woman studying in [[Paris]], [[Renée Hartevelt]], was killed and [[cannibalism|eaten]] by a classmate, [[Issei Sagawa]], when he invited her to dinner for a literary conversation. The killer was declared unfit to stand trial and extradited back to [[Japan]], where he was released from custody within fifteen months.
*[[1981]]: [[Carl McCunn]], in March 1981, paid a bush pilot to drop him at a remote lake near the Coleen River in [[Alaska]] to photograph wildlife, but had not arranged for the pilot to pick him up again in August. Rather than starve, McCunn shot himself in the head. His body was found in February 1982.
*[[1981]]: [[Boris Sagal]], a motion picture-director, died while shooting the TV miniseries ''[[World War III (TV miniseries)|World War III]]'' when he walked into the tail-rotor blade of a helicopter and was decapitated.
*[[1982]]: [[Vic Morrow]], [[actor]], was [[decapitation|decapitated]] by a [[helicopter]] blade during filming of ''[[Twilight Zone: The Movie]]'', along with two child actors, [[Myca Dinh Le]] (decapitated) and [[Renee Shin-Yi Chen]] (crushed).
*[[1982]]: [[Vladimir Smirnov (fencer)|Vladimir Smirnov]], an [[1980 Summer Olympics|Olympic champion]] [[Fencing (sport)|fencer]], died of [[brain damage]] nine days after his opponent's [[Foil (sword)|foil]] snapped during a match, penetrated his mask, pierced his eyeball and entered his [[brain]].
*[[1983]]: A diver on the [[Byford Dolphin]] [[oil rig|oil exploration rig]] was violently dismembered and pulled through a narrowly opened hatch when the [[decompression chamber]] was accidentally opened, causing [[explosive decompression]].
*[[1983]]: [[Sergei Chalibashvili]], a professional [[Diving|diver]], died after a diving accident during [[World University Games]]. When he attempted a three-and-a-half reverse [[somersault]] in the tuck position, he smashed his head on the board and was knocked unconscious. He died after being in a [[coma]] for a week.
*[[1984]]: An unidentified man died of presumed natural causes in the unfinished Tokyo apartment building in which he had been squatting for 11 years. His decomposed remains were discovered 20 years later, on June 1, 2004<ref>[http://www.wordpress.tokyotimes.org/?p=222 Tokyo Times]</ref>, with a newspaper dated February 20, 1984 by his side.<ref>[http://www.goofball.com/news/200406111001 Goofball News]</ref>
*[[1984]]: [[Jim Fixx]], who wrote "The Complete Book of Running" and lectured about how running and a healthy diet would promote longevity, dropped dead from a heart attack while running. An autopsy revealed he had 3 massively blocked heart arteries.
*[[1984]]: [[Jon-Erik Hexum]], an American television actor, died after he shot himself in the head with a prop gun during a break in filming. Hexum apparently did not realize that blanks use paper or plastic wadding to seal gun powder into the shell, and that this wadding is propelled out of the barrel of the gun with enough force to cause severe injury or death if the weapon is fired at point-blank range.
*[[1986]]: While on the air giving a traffic report, the helicopter that [[Jane Dornacker]] was riding in stalled and crashed into the [[Hudson River]], killing her. This was the second helicopter crash she had been in that year.
*[[1987]]: [[R. Budd Dwyer]], a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[politician]], committed [[suicide]] during a televised [[press conference]]. Facing a potential 55-year jail sentence for alleged involvement in a [[Conspiracy (crime)|conspiracy]], Dwyer shot himself in the mouth with a [[revolver]].
*[[1990]]: [[Joseph W. Burrus]], aged 32, an aspiring magician, decided to perform the "[[buried alive]]" illusion in a plastic box covered with cement. The cement crushed the box and he died of asphyxia.<ref>[http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/onstage.htm Snopes.com], on a list of those who "died on stage."</ref>
*[[1990]]: [[George Allen (football)|George Allen]], an American football coach, died a month after some of his players gave him a [[Gatorade Shower]] following a victory (as it is tradition in American Football). Some argue this resulted in [[pneumonia]].
*[[1993]]: [[Brandon Lee]], son of Bruce Lee, was shot and killed by a prop [[.44 Magnum]] gun while filming the movie ''[[The Crow (film)|The Crow]]''. A cartridge with only a primer and a bullet was fired in the pistol prior to the scene Brandon was in; this caused a [[squib load]], in which the primer provided enough force to push the bullet out of the cartridge and into the barrel of the revolver, where it became stuck. The malfunction went unnoticed by the crew, and the same gun was used again later to shoot the death scene, having been re-loaded with blanks. However, the squib load was still lodged in the barrel, and was propelled by the blank cartridge's explosion out of the barrel and into Lee's body. Although the bullet was traveling much slower than a normally fired bullet would be, the bullet's large size and the nearly point-blank firing distance made it powerful enough to severely wound Lee. It was not instantly recognized by the crew or other actors; they believed he was still acting. Interestingly, the incident was almost an exact replica of a scene in his father Bruce Lee's last film "Game Of Death", during the filming of which Bruce Lee also died. Even more bizarrely yet; the plot of Game Of Death revolved around Bruce Lee's character, a kung-fu actor, faking his own death - by pretending to have been hit by an accidentally fired real bullet while filming a scene where hundreds of blanks were fired at him.

*[[1993]]: [[Garry Hoy]], a Toronto lawyer, fell to his death after he threw himself through the glass wall on the 24th floor of the [[Toronto-Dominion Centre]] in order to prove the glass was "unbreakable."
*[[1996]]: [[Sharon Lopatka]], an internet entrepreneur from Maryland allegedly solicited a man via the Internet to torture and kill her for the purpose of sexual gratification. Her killer, Robert Fredrick Glass, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter for the homicide.
*[[1998]]: [[Daniel V. Jones]] was a former hotel [[Maintenance, repair and operations|maintenance]] worker in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], [[California]] who shot himself through the chin on the [[Los Angeles]] expressway on [[live television]]. His suicide was apparently caused by his resentment against his [[HMO]] for inadequately treating him when he was diagnosed with [[cancer]] and [[HIV]].
*[[1998]]: [[Tom and Eileen Lonergan]] were stranded while [[scuba diving]] with a group of divers off [[Australia]]'s [[Great Barrier Reef]]. The group's boat accidentally abandoned them due to an incorrect head count taken by the dive boat crew. The couple was left to fend for themselves in [[shark]]-infested waters. Their bodies were never recovered. The incident is depicted in the film ''[[Open Water]]''.
*[[1999]]: Popular British TV entertainer [[Rod Hull]] died following a fall from the roof of his home at Winchelsea, near Rye. He was attempting to adjust the TV aerial in order to get a better picture of the Inter Milan v Manchester United Champions League Quarter Final, 2nd Leg.

===21st century===
*[[2001]]: Bernd-Jürgen Brandes was stabbed repeatedly in the neck and then eaten by [[Armin Meiwes]]. Before the killing, both men dined on Brandes' severed penis. Brandes had answered an internet advertisement by Meiwes looking for someone for this purpose. Brandes explicitly stated in his will that he wished to be killed and eaten. This is referred to in the song "Mein Teil" ("My Part") by German [[Neue Deutsche Härte|NDH]] band [[Rammstein]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4752797.stm "German cannibal guilty of murder"], ''BBC News'', May 9, 2006</ref>
*2002: [[Brittanie Cecil]], an American 13-year-old hockey fan, died two days after being struck in the head by a [[hockey puck]] at a game between the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] and the [[Calgary Flames]] at [[Nationwide Arena]].
*[[2003]]: [[Brian Douglas Wells]], a [[pizza delivery]] man in Erie, PA, was killed by a [[Time bomb (explosive)|time bomb]] which was fastened around his neck. He was apprehended by the [[police]] after robbing a [[bank]], and claimed he had been forced to do it by three people who had put the bomb around his neck and would kill him if he refused. The bomb later exploded, killing him. In 2007, police alleged Wells was involved in the robbery plot along with two other conspirators.<ref>[http://www.komotv.com/news/national/5901066.html] ''[[www.komotv.com]]''. Feb 16th 2007. Retrieved August 9th, 2007.</ref>
*2003: [[Brandon Vedas]] died of a [[drug overdose]] while engaged in an [[Internet chat]], as shown on his [[webcam]].
*2003: [[Timothy Treadwell]], an [[United States|American]] [[environmentalist]] who had lived in the wilderness among bears for thirteen summers in a remote region in [[Alaska]], was killed and partially consumed by a bear, along with his girlfriend Amie Huguenard. The incident is described in [[Werner Herzog]]'s [[documentary film]] ''[[Grizzly Man]]''.<ref>Medred, Craig.''[http://www.adn.com/front/story/4110831p-4127072c.html Wildlife author killed, eaten by bears he loved]''. ''[[Anchorage Daily News]]''. October 8, 2003. Retrieved September 4, 2006.</ref>
*[[2005]]: [[Kenneth Pinyan]] of [[Seattle]] died of acute [[peritonitis]] after submitting to anal intercourse with a [[stallion]]. Pinyan had done this before, and he delayed his visit to the hospital for several hours out of reluctance for official cognizance. The case led to the criminalization of [[zoophilia|bestiality]] in [[Washington]].<ref>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002569751_horsesex19m.html</ref> His story was recounted in the [[2007]] documentary film ''[[Zoo (film)|Zoo]]''.
*2005: 28-year-old [[South Korea]]n, [[Lee Seung Seop]], collapsed of fatigue and died after playing [[Starcraft]] for almost 50 consecutive hours in an Internet cafe.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1729573,00.html "Korean drops dead after 50-hour gaming marathon"], ''Times Online'', August 10, 2005</ref>
*[[2005]]: [[Gerry Marshall]], a british Saloon Car racing driver, died of a heart attack at the wheel of an [[IROC]] [[Chevrolet]] [[Camero]] at [[Silverstone]] racing circuit. Marshall managed to bring the car to a halt before expiring, and stopped close to the [[BRDC]] suite he frequented in his earlier career. Marshall is notable for holding the record for most race wins in a career, 623.
*[[2006]]: [[Steve Irwin]], a television personality and naturalist known as [[The Crocodile Hunter]], died when his heart was impaled by a [[short-tail stingray]] barb while filming a documentary entitled "Ocean's Deadliest" in [[Queensland]]'s [[Great Barrier Reef]]. The stingray was not the creature being filmed.<ref>http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20355064-30417,00.html</ref>
*2006: [[Alexander Litvinenko]], a former [[Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation|FSB]] operative and Russian expatriate who had been investigating the murder of Russian journalist [[Anna Politkovskaya]], was intentionally [[radiation poisoning|poisoned]] with [[polonium|polonium-210]], an extremely rare radioactive [[metalloid]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6178890.stm Russian ex-spy dies in hospital]</ref>
*2006: [[Cheryl Sarate]], a 16 year old student in the [[Philippines]], died of severe burns suffered when her [[costume]] caught fire during a college [[beauty pageant]].
*2006: [[Megan Meier]], a 13 year-old girl from Missouri commits suicide after being rejected by a boy she made friends with over [[Myspace]], which turned out to be a fake profile made by the mother of a friend of Meier's.
*[[2007]]: [[Jennifer Strange]], a 28-year-old woman from [[Sacramento]], died of [[water intoxication]] while trying to win a [[Wii]] console in a [[KDND]] 107.9 "The End" radio station's "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" contest, which involved drinking large quantities of water without urinating. She placed second in the contest. <ref>[http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-water14jan14,1,1368543.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california "Woman dies after being in water-drinking contest"], ''The Los Angeles Times'', January 14, 2007</ref> <ref>[http://www.knbc.com/news/10761800/detail.html "Woman's Death After Water-Drinking Contest Investigated"] ''KNBC.com'', January 16, 2007</ref>
*2007: [[Kevin Whitrick]], a 42-year-old man committed [[suicide]] by hanging himself live on a webcam during an internet chat session.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}
*2007: [[Carol Gotbaum]], 45, died alone in an airport holding room while in police custody. It was initially reported that she had accidentally strangled herself while trying to get out of handcuffs. <ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/30/phoenix.airport.death/ CNN: "Woman may have accidentally killed herself after airport bust"]</ref>
*2007: [[Surinder Singh Bajwa]], the Deputy Mayor of Delhi, India, was kicked by a [[Rhesus Macaque]] monkey at his home and fell from a first floor balcony, suffering serious head injuries. He later died from his injuries. <ref>[http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Bajwa-succumbs-to-injuries/230828/]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== See also ==
* [[Toilet-related injury]]
* [[List of inventors killed by their own inventions]]
* [[Darwin Awards]]
* [[Multiple gunshot suicide]]
* [[List of people who died onstage]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Unusual}}
[[Category:Lists of people by cause of death]]
[[Category:Death-related lists]]

[[es:Anexo:Fallecimientos extraños]]
[[nl:Lijst van personen die op ongebruikelijke manier zijn overleden]]
[[fr:Morts insolites]]

Black Castle (County Wicklow)

2007-11-09T18:23:43Z

82.195.137.125: Removed vandalisim

{{dablink|This article is about the town in Ireland. For the county, see [[County Wicklow]].}}
{{Infobox Irish Place|
name = Wicklow |
gaeilge = Cill Mhantáin |
crest image = |
motto = |
map image = Ireland map County Wicklow Magnified.png |
pin coords = left: 90px; top: 63px |
north coord = 52.9779 |
west coord = 6.033 |
irish grid = T312940 |
area = |
elevation = 69 m |
province = [[Leinster]] |
county = [[County Wicklow]] |
town pop = 7,031 |
rural pop = 2,324 |
census yr = 2002 |
web = www.wicklow.ie |
|}}

== History ==
Local history contends that the town of Wicklow was founded by the [[Vikings]], probably around [[870|870 AD]]. The name 'Wicklow' comes from 'Vikinglow', meaning 'meadow of the vikings', or more likely 'Wykynlo', meaning 'Viking Loch'. However, given the town's natural harbour and rich agricultural surrounds, it is not surprising that the area was an established settlement prior to the 9th century.

The origin of the [[Irish language|Irish]] name Cill Mhantáin has an interesting folklore of its own. [[St. Patrick]] is said to have attempted to land on Travailahawk beach, to the south of the harbour. Hostile locals attacked the landing party causing one of the Saint's party to lose his front teeth. Manntach (toothless one), as he became known was undeterred and returned to the town, eventually founding a church. Hence "Cill Mhantáin', meaning "Church of the toothless one". There is however no evidence, material or written, that such a local holy man ever existed and the name Cill Mantain could in theory be assigned as a toponym, suggesting a chapel overlooking the rather gap-toothed topographical shape of the local harbour.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

The English-language 'Wicklow' placename bears no relation to the original Irish ''Cill Mhantáin'' ('Church of Mantáin'). The [[Normans]] who came to dominate the area, preferred the non-[[Goidelic languages|Gaelic]] placename. The Norman influence can still be seen today in some of the town's place and family names.

After the Norman invasion, Wicklow was granted to Maurice FitzGerald who set about building the 'Black Castle', a land-facing fortification that lies ruined on the coast immediately south of the harbour.

The surrounding County of Wicklow is rich in [[bronze age]] monuments. The oldest existing settlement in the town is the [[Franciscan]] Abbey, located at the west end of Main Street, within the gardens of the local [[Roman Catholic]] parish grounds.

Other notable buildings include the [[Town Hall]] and the [[Gaol]], built in [[1702]] and recently renovated as a heritage centre and tourist attraction. The East Breakwater, arguably the most important building in the town, was built in the early 1880s by Wicklow Harbour Commissioners. The architect was William George Strype and the builder was John Jackson of Westminster. The North Groyne was completed by about 1909 - John Pansing was the designer and Louis Nott of Bristol the builder. The Gaol was a place of [[execution]] up to the end of the 19th century and it was here that [[Billy Byrne]], a leader of the [[1798 rebellion]], met his end in [[1799]]. He is commemorated by a statue in the town square. At Fitzwilliam Square in the centre of Wicklow town is an obelisk commemorating the career of [[Robert Halpin|Captain Robert Halpin]], commander of the telegraph cable ship [[SS Great Eastern|Great Eastern]] who was born in Wicklow in 1836, and arguably the most important mariner in global 19th century maritime history.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}

[[Image:IMGWicklowHarbour 4256w.jpg|400px|thumb| Wicklow Harbour]]

== Geography ==
Wicklow town forms a rough semicircle around Wicklow harbour. To the immediate North lies 'The Murrough', a popular grassy walking area beside the sea, and the eastern coastal strip. The land rises into rolling hills to the West. The dominant feature to the south is the rocky headlands of Bride's Head and '[[Wicklow Head]]', the easternmost ''mainland'' point in the Republic of Ireland.

== A changing town ==
Since 1995, the town has undergone significant change and expansion reflecting the simultaneous growth in the Irish economy. Considerable residential development has taken place to the southwest of the town along Marlton Road (L29A). More recently, housing developments have been concentrated to the northwest of the town towards the neighbouring village of [[Rathnew]]. The completion of the [[Ashford, County Wicklow|Ashford]]/[[Rathnew]] bypass in [[2004]] has meant that Wicklow is now linked to the capital, Dublin, lying 42km to the north, by [[N11 road|dual carriageway or motorway]]. These factors have led to a steady growth in population of Wicklow and its surrounding townlands while its importance as a commuter town to Dublin increases.
In 1988, Wicklow Town was the primary filming location for the movie "Taffin" starring Pierce Brosnan.

==References==

* Shepherd, S, et al (1992) ''Illustrated guide to Ireland'', Reader's Digest Association , London
* ''Illustrated road book of Ireland, Second Edition'', Automobile Association , London (1970)
* Cleary, J and O'Brien, A (2001) ''Wicklow Harbour: A History'', Wicklow Harbour Commissioners

==External links==
*[http://www.wicklowchamber.ie/ Wicklow Chamber of Commerce]
*[http://www.wicklow.com/walk/ History of Wicklow Town in MP3 format]

==See also==
*[[County Wicklow]]
*[[List of towns in the Republic of Ireland]]

[[Category:Towns and villages in County Wicklow]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:County Wicklow]]
[[Category:Lifeboats in the Republic of Ireland]]

[[br:Cill Mhantáin]]
[[da:Wicklow]]
[[de:Wicklow (Irland)]]
[[fr:Wicklow (Irlande)]]
[[it:Wicklow]]
[[lt:Viklou]]
[[nl:Wicklow (stad)]]
[[ja:ウィックロー]]
[[no:Wicklow]]
[[nn:Wicklow]]
[[pl:Wicklow]]
[[sv:Wicklow]]

Triumph Roadster

2006-08-15T18:33:32Z

82.195.137.125:

{{Infobox Automobile
|image=[[Image:Triumph 1800 roadster FR.jpg|250px|Triumph 1800 Roadster]]
|name=Triumph Roadster
|production=1946–1949. 4501 made
|manufacturer=[[Triumph Motor Company]]
|class=[[Sports car]]
|successor=[[Triumph TR2]]
|predecessor=
|engine=1776 cc (1946-1948)<br>2088 cc (1948-1949)[[Straight-4]]
|transmission=4 speed manual<br>3 speed manual
|wheelbase=100 inches
|length=168 inches
|weight=2540 pounds (1800 model)<br>2460 pounds (2000 model)
}}
[[Image:Triumph 1800 roadster side.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Triumph 1800 Roadster with Dickey seat occupied]]
The '''Triumph 1800 Roadster''' was the first post war car from Britain's [[Triumph Motor Company]] and was produced from 1946 to 1948. It was superseded by a larger engined version, the 2000 Roadster from 1948 to 1949.

===Design===
The car was designed in the closing days of World War II, shortly before Triumph was bought by [[Standard Motor Company|Standard]] and the Managing Director, Sir John Black, wanted a sports car to take on [[Jaguar (car)|Jaguar]] who had used Standard engines in the pre-war period. Frank Callaby was selected to style the new car and after getting Black's approval, he and Arthur Ballard produced working drawings with Callbay responsible for the front and Ballard the rear. Mechanical design was by Ray Turner. Walter Belgrove who had styled the pre-war Triumphs and was employed as Chief Body Engineer had no part in the design.

With early post war material shortages the body was built from aluminium using press tools from the Mosquito bomber fuselage built by Standard during the war and the chassis was hand welded up from steel tube. The engine was based on a 1.5 Litre, four cylinder Standard design which had been supplied to Jaguar. A four speed gearbox with [[Manual transmission#Synchromesh|synchromesh]] on the top three ratios was used.

The tubular steel chassis featured transverse leaf sprung independent suspension at the front and a live axle with half elliptic springs at the rear. The rear track was considerably narrower than the front. Brakes were hydraulic.

The body design was anachronistic. The front had large separate headlamps and the radiator was well back from the front between large "coal scuttle" wings. Passenger accomodation was on a bench seat that was claimed to seat three and this decision meant a column gear change was required. Additional room for two was provided at the rear in a [[Dickey Seat]] with its own folding windscreen and it was outside the hood that could be erected to cover the front seat. Entry and exit to the Dickey seat was never easy and a step was provided on the rear bumper.

On test by ''[[Autocar]]'' magazine in 1947 top speed was found to be 75 mph and 0–60 mph took 34.4 seconds.

===2000 Roadster===
The only update in the Roadster's production came in 1948 when the chassis was changed to a lengthened version of the pressed steel one used on the Standard Vanguard and the 2088 cc Vanguard engine was fitted. A retrograde step was the fitting of a three speed gearbox even though it now had synchromesh on bottom gear. Front suspension was now by coil springs and double wishbones.

On test the changes resulted in the top speed increasing marginally to 77 mph but the 0-60 time was much better at 27.9 seconds.

The car was never made in large numbers and was mainly hand built. 2501 examples of the 1800 and 2000 of the larger engined version were made.

Today, surviving examples are keenly sought and change hands for high prices.

===Popular culture===
The Triumph roadster was the chosen trasnport of [[Bergerac]] in the BBCTV crime series of the same name, starring [[John Nettles]].

==References==
*The Story of Triumph Sports Cars. Graham Robson. Motor Racing Publications. 1972. ISBN 0900549238

[[Category:Triumph vehicles|Roadster]]