Tarrare Swallowed Useless Spy Mail

In the 18th century, a French glutton named Tarrare was hired as a spy because he could swallow unusual objects, including a wooden box carrying military intelligence. French officers sent him across enemy lines with the box hidden inside his body, hoping he could smuggle the message past the Prussians. The Prussians captured him, forced him to pass the box, and opened it expecting secret information. Instead, they found only a useless test message inside.

Previous Fact Next Fact