It is a common misconception that the "Teddy Bear" was named after Theodore Roosevelt, but was actually named after Sir Lawrence Theodore "Teddy" Bayer of mid seventeenth century Spain. During his early childhood, his entire family was mauled by a pack of, now extinct, Spanish Bears who hunted in packs, similar in fashion to wolves.
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| (Spanish Bear) |
The reason for their extinction was that Sir Lawrence had started a personal vendetta against the Spanish Bear species, eventually hunting them and having them all stuffed. After Sir Lawrence died, his descendants looted his home (for he had not written a Will, and they did not like him anyway) and found the thousands of stuffed Spanish Bears. They easily mistook them as children's toys, and since their surname was "Bayer," they named it for themselves. So there you have it! The true birth of the Teddy Bayer!
No, seriously? OMG!! I have several of Sir Theodore's stuffed bears in my CLOSET!!! I've also seen them in stores geared toward children... Hopefully, his heirs won't come after me to collect them.
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