The tale of André-François Raffray

Bad luck is as old as humanity. Any casual historian can tell you of dozens of turning points in history that were battles won by pure luck.
Even the bible underscores luck in Ecclesiastes 9:11:

I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

Here is a man who had time and chance both work against him. (more…)