5 Historical Figures Who Couldn’t Get Enough of Playing Cards
Playing cards have been around for centuries and have remained a popular pastime across the globe. It’s no surprise that historical figures have been known to enjoy the card game as well. Here are five famous individuals who were known for their love of playing cards.
Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military and political leader, was known for his love of the card game known as whist. He even had a set of special cards made, known as “Napoleon cards”, with the suits being eagles, stars, hearts, and tridents. He reportedly played the game regularly, both for enjoyment and to sharpen his strategic thinking skills.
Arthur Conan Doyle
The creator of fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle, was not only skilled in writing but in card playing as well. He was known to often participate in card games with his close friends, even using his deductive reasoning skills to analyze the game and predict his opponents’ moves.
Winston Churchill
British politician and statesman Winston Churchill was quite fond of playing the card game known as “nap”, which is a variation of euchre. It’s said that he even included decks of cards in his luggage during his travels and would often play the game with other world leaders during conferences and meetings.
Catherine the Great
Catherine the Great, the Empress of Russia, was known for her love of playing cards, particularly the game of Faro. She even had a special table designed for her to play the game, which had a small drawer that could be pulled out to store her winnings.
Voltaire
The French philosopher, writer, and playwright Voltaire was not only a master of words but of the card game known as piquet. He often played the game with his close friends and even wrote about it in one of his plays, “Les Scythes”.
These historical figures may come from different time periods and backgrounds, but they all share a love of playing cards. Perhaps there’s more to this popular pastime than just entertainment.
