On 1 January 1908, in London's Trafalgar Square, a man in an old-fashioned iron helmet began an adventure that was to take him to 172 towns and cities in the United Kingdom before heading overseas to visit another 118 cities in Canada, USA, South America, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Japan, China, India, Egypt and seven European countries. The man in the iron mask was allowed to finance his trip only through the sale of postcards and pamphlets relating to his journey from a pram that he was to push for the duration of the journey and at no point was he allowed to reveal his identity. The final challenge was that, despite keeping his face hidden, he had to find a wife.This is the story of that journey and how, rather than being the result of a $100,000 (£21,000) wager, it was a hoax dreamed up by Harry Bensley, released from jail for fraud and bigamy and in need of money.While Bensley's "walking round the world" legend was astonishing, the true story of the Man in the Iron Mask is even more astounding.