Nobody enjoys paying taxes, but today's income and sales taxes seem downright ordinary compared to some of history's strangest government levies. Across centuries, rulers taxed everything from beards and windows to wallpaper and even urine, often hoping to raise money while also changing people's behavior. Here are 20 of the oddest taxes ever imposed—and the surprising stories behind them.
Of all Leslie Hutchinson's lovers, his affair with Countess Edwina Mountbatten was the most scandalous.
The LA Coroner’s office tried to stop rumors that Andy Kaufman faked his death by releasing his death certificate—but a disturbing announcement followed.
Actor George Sanders seemed to have everything a man could possibly want—but tragically, in the end, he felt like he had nothing left to live for.
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin as a labor-saving device, but it led to a massive increase in the use of slaves.
It's funny how history repeats itself. Every time a new invention promises to make life easier, plenty of people are convinced it'll ruin society, threaten jobs, or simply make life worse. Looking back, it's surprising just how many everyday conveniences sparked heated debates before becoming things most of us couldn't imagine living without.
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