Christopher Klein

Andover

Author and Writer at Freelance

I work with dead people. Contributing writer @History. Author of WHEN THE IRISH INVADED CANADA & STRONG BOY. https://t.co/i7mEAsHk85 #History

Articles

Air Force One: A Timeline of Presidential Planes

1 week ago | history.com | Christopher Klein

From an early unpressurized propeller plane to jets with anti-missile tech, the 'flying White House' has taken presidential travel to new heights. USAF via Getty ImagesPublished: June 18, 2025Last Updated: June 18, 2025Few presidential perks surpass the prestige and luxury of Air Force One. Without worries about lost luggage, baggage fees or cramped middle seats, the American president travels the globe in unparalleled comfort.
Was Julius Caesar Really Abducted by Pirates?

1 week ago | history.com | Christopher Klein

Legend has it he laughed at their ransom and vowed he'd get revenge. DEA PICTURE LIBRARY / Contributor, Getty ImagesPublished: June 16, 2025Last Updated: June 16, 2025It’s one of ancient history’s most swashbuckling tales. Decades before ruling Ancient Rome, a young Julius Caesar is captured by pirates as he sails the Aegean Sea. Even in captivity, the prisoner remains in charge.
5 Imperfect Fathers Who Shaped Future Presidents

2 weeks ago | history.com | Christopher Klein

They wouldn’t all earn spots on the Mount Rushmore of dads, but these fathers reared sons who won the White House. Getty ImagesPublished: June 12, 2025Last Updated: June 12, 2025Fathers have profound influences on their children’s values and ambitions, and in a few extraordinary cases in American history, they’ve also pointed them on the path to the presidency. Numerous presidential dads were themselves impressive figures. John Quincy Adams and George W.
When Cattle Barons Hired Hit Men to Take Out Small Ranchers

2 weeks ago | history.com | Christopher Klein

In the Johnson County War, tensions between cattle moguls and small ranchers ignited the biggest, bloodiest showdown over control of the open range. Denver Post via Getty ImagesPublished: June 09, 2025Last Updated: June 09, 2025Disputes over grazing lands and water rights ignited violent conflicts across the American West in the late 1800s.
The Ancient Warfare Tactics Behind Modern Cyber Attacks

4 weeks ago | history.com | Christopher Klein

Today’s cyber warriors use strategies once wielded by legendary generals such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Genghis Khan. Getty Images/iStockphotoPublished: May 29, 2025Last Updated: May 29, 2025Long before hackers targeted digital firewalls, ancient armies besieged stone ones.
The History Behind the Installation of a New Pope

1 month ago | history.com | Christopher Klein

After the last wisps of white smoke dissolve into the Vatican sky and a newly elected pope steps onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, the pomp and ceremony of the papal installation do not end. Usually within a week of his election by the conclave of cardinals, the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church presides over a solemn mass where he receives the papacy’s traditional symbols. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims attend the investiture ceremony in St. Peter’s Square or the basilica.
7 Popes Who Changed History

2 months ago | history.com | Christopher Klein

These seven pontiffs left lasting legacies on the course of the Catholic Church—and world history. Getty ImagesPublished: April 25, 2025Last Updated: April 25, 2025According to the New Testament, Jesus founded the papacy by handpicking one of his 12 apostles, St. Peter, to be the “rock” upon which he would build his church. Over the next two millennia, a continuous succession of more than 265 popes (Pope Francis was the 266th) has led the Roman Catholic Church, which has worldwide.
How Alfred Nobel's Invention of Dynamite Reshaped the World

2 months ago | history.com | Christopher Klein

From gold rushes to guerrilla wars, dynamite’s dual legacy is one of construction and destruction. Credit: Jose A. Bernat Bacete via Getty ImagesPublished: April 17, 2025Last Updated: April 17, 2025In 1868, a frail, anxious man boarded a British train, lugging a suitcase laden with 20 pounds of explosives. Though the Swedish industrialist risked prison if authorities discovered his travel bag’s combustible contents, he didn’t seek to detonate his new explosive, but to sell it.
How St. Patrick's Day in 1776 Marked a Step Towards American Independence

Mar 11, 2025 | history.com | Christopher Klein

Traditionally a celebration for those of Irish heritage, St. Patrick’s Day gained even greater significance in American history when it coincided with a pivotal moment in the Revolutionary War—the British evacuation of Boston. On a day dedicated to Ireland’s patron saint, legendary for banishing the island’s snakes to the sea, American patriots drove British troops from their shores, cheering as they retreated on March 17, 1776.
7 Shocking Plane Crashes in US History | HISTORY

Feb 3, 2025 | history.com | Christopher Klein

From a collision with a national landmark, to a tragic airshow accident, these flight disasters are among the most indelible in American history.