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Chrysippus -

This Greek philosopher might have spent most of his life thinking about serious matters, but it seems that he died laughing.

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Chrysippus -

According to legend, Chrysippus saw a donkey eating a fig. The scene was so funny that he began to chuckle uncontrollably... and laughed himself into the grave. 

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Li Po -

The Chinese poet's exit was as poetic as his verses. Picture this: Li Po, aboard a boat, spots the Moon's reflection dancing on the water. Overcome by lunar love, he tries to give it a bear hug, topples off the boat and drowns. A sad ending, but with a memorable lyrical twist.

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Clement Vallandigham -

American politician and lawyer Clement Vallandigham became famous for his peculiar death. He accidentally shot himself in court while defending a murder suspect. He took 'dying to prove a point' to a whole new level!

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Clement Vallandigham -

He wanted to prove that the victim could have accidentally shot himself. But ironically, in the process, he found out the hard way that the gun was loaded—by shooting himself in the bladder. And the verdict? The suspect was acquitted of the charge.

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Tycho Brahe -

This Danish astronomer's demise was out of this world. Initially, everyone thought he had been poisoned at a banquet. But according to a 2010 analysis, he may have died from an overdose of politeness!

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Tycho Brahe -

Brahe's cause of death? A bladder that burst. He thought it was bad manners to leave the table during the meal. Extreme etiquette—and holding it in—can be fatal.

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King Adolf Frederick -

On the subject of food, it seems King Adolf Frederick of Sweden liked his meals. A lot. He allegedly suffered from gout, which his over-indulgence didn't help

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King Adolf Frederick -

One night the king went for it by indulging in a grand feast of caviar, lobster, various meats, and champagne. To his already abundant meal he added 14 semla, traditional sweet rolls. He died of severe digestion as a result of a full belly. 

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King Martin of Aragon -

And then there's this, the Spanish king who died of both too much food and too much laughter. So, after devouring an entire roast goose alone, what does a bloated monarch do? How about going off to bed?

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King Martin of Aragon -

Great idea! But then the king's jester, Borra, entered the room and reportedly told him a great joke. The king laughed so hard that he fell off his bed and died. Now that's a belly laugh! 

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King Martin of Aragon -

The joke was: "In the next vineyard, I saw a young deer hanging by his tail from a tree, as if someone had so punished him for stealing figs." Apparently four-legged animals and figs are a dangerous combination. 

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Jean-Baptiste Lully -

The Italian-born French composer served in the court of Louis XIV of France, and passed away while performing his job: conducting.

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Jean-Baptiste Lully -

Lully accidentally injured his foot with his conducting staff, which then became infected. Doctors advised him to have his leg amputated, but Lully refused because he wanted to be able to dance. Of course the infection spread, and he joined the Grim Reaper on the dance floor.

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Attila the Hun -

This ruler was feared by the Romans, but he didn't die in battle and he wasn't assassinated. Instead, Atilla got drunk during his wedding celebration. When his new wife, Ildico, joined him in his tent, she was reportedly scared and avoided him.

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Attila the Hun -

Atilla then chased her and it appears he might have stumbled and hit something. The story goes that he had a nosebleed and choked to death on his own blood.

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Hans Steininger -

Austrian mayor Hans Steininger was famed for his 4.5 ft (1.37 m) facial hair wonder. In fact his beard was so long, it could've had its own zip code! One version of how he died says that his beard caught fire and turned him into a human torch. Another version says that while he was escaping a fire, he tripped over his own beard, took a tumble, and met his maker.

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Hans Steininger -

Regardless of how he died, his 450-year-old beard is still kept in the district museum in Herzogsburg, Branau.

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Félix Faure -

The former French president passed away under unusual circumstances during a sexual act with a young woman named Marguerite Steinheil.

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Félix Faure -

It is speculated that Faure had a seizure while Steinheil was 'perfecting her oral skills' in the presidential office. La petite mort, suddenly became a big deal!

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George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence -

The duke was executed for treason in the Tower of London in 1478. But by what method? Well, he was drowned... in a vat of wine. 

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John Sedgewick -

The Union Army general met his fate during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. Yeh, so? It seems his arrogance and over-confidence is what got him killed. 

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John Sedgewick -

It is said that Sedgewick told his troops to stop flinching because the enemies "couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance.” However they did, and shot him fatally in the face.

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James Betts -

Student James Betts died from suffocation when his beloved Elizabeth Spencer attempted to hide him inside a wardrobe at Corpus Christi College in Cambridge, England. Elizabeth was Dr. James Spencer's only child. As a father and master of Corpus Christi College, he did not approve the romance.

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James Betts -

Reportedly, Elizabeth Spencer took her own life shortly afterwards, and it is said that the couple's spirits haunt the college grounds to this day.

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Gareth Jones -

In 1958, British actor Gareth Jones died of a heart attack while performing in a live televised play. Oddly enough, the character he was portraying was also supposed to suffer a heart attack.

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Lamplighter -

In the 1880s, a lamplighter in Flatbush, New York, had an innovative idea: he invented an alarm clock that consisted of a clock, a wire, and a large stone.

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Lamplighter -

It seemed a brilliant brainwave until he moved his bed and forgot to put it back in the right place. The following morning he didn't wake up. Instead he was crushed to death by his own device.

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Killer bird -

In 2011, an man lost his life during an illegal cockfight in California. Apparently the owner strapped a knife to the bird's leg, and the cockerel accidentally stabbed his 'boss'.

Sources: (History of Yesterday) (History Things) (Taking on the World)

See also: Bizarre celebrity deaths you've probably never heard of

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