Death From Laughter - Historical Deaths Attributed To Laughter

Historical Deaths Attributed To Laughter

  • One account of the death of Chrysippus, the third century BC Greek stoic philosopher, tells that he died of laughter after giving his donkey wine, then seeing it attempt to feed on figs.
  • In 1410, King Martin of Aragon died from a combination of indigestion and uncontrollable laughter.
  • In 1556, Pietro Aretino "is said to have died of suffocation from laughing too much".
  • In 1660, Thomas Urquhart, the Scottish aristocrat, polymath and first translator of François Rabelais's writings into English, is said to have died laughing upon hearing that Charles II had taken the throne.

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