Features

On this day in 1940, the Ministry of Food introduced rationing in the UK to ensure there was enough food to go round during the war.

On this day in 1785, French balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American doctor John Jeffries became the first people to cross the English Channel by…

On this day in 1782, the Bank of North America, created to help pay for the American war of independence, opened for business.

Faced with the plunging price of tobacco, the colonists of Virginia directed that half of the crop should be destroyed to avoid an economic catastroph…

On this day in 1873, the US House of Representatives launched an investigation into the scandal surrounding the building of the Union Pacific Railroad…

On this day in 1971, Australia beat England by five wickets in the first ever one-day international cricket match.

Venerable auction house Christie's began business on this day in 1766 selling pillow cases, bed-sheets and second-hand chamber pots.

Rapid economic change in the 19th century didn't benefit everybody. On 4 January 1884, the Fabian Society was established in London to redress the bal…

On this day in 1698, a basket of linen caught fire burning to the ground one of Europe's most complex and beautiful royal residences – the Palace of W…

For the first time in over 50 years, Britain’s steelmaking industry saw the start of a national strike on this day in 1980, as unions demanded a 20% p…

Great leaders thrive in the midst of turmoil and upheaval, as we have seen this year. Four of the great movers and shakers of 2020 stood out for us.

Tom Saunders looks at how three very different women – Shahrzad Rafati, Trinny Woodall and Anne Boden –  have grown successful businesses.

While Britain and the EU struggle to come to terms, 15 Asia-Pacific countries quietly signed the biggest free-trade deal in history. That’s a welcome …

Has Covid-19 changed our relationship with cities for good? Will government responses to the pandemic finally ignite inflation this year? John Stepek …

The year has been dominated by one event. But there was more to 2020 than lockdowns and pandemics. Test your recall of financial events of the past 12…

Kweku Adoboli's risky trading and his desperate attempts to cover it up wiped £2.7bn off UBS’s market capitalisation.

On this day in 1955, the North American Aerospace Defense Command began tracking Santa Claus as he sped around the world delivering presents.

After much debate, Woodrow Wilson finally signed the bill that would create the US Federal Reserve on this day in 1913.

The 19th-century forerunner of the London black cab, architect Joseph Aloysius Hansom patented his Hansom cab on this day in 1834.

On this day in 1965, a “temporary” 70mph speed limit was introduced on all unregulated roads in Britain by the Minister of Transport. The limit was so…

On this day in 1973 Opec, the oil price cartel, more than doubled the price of oil from $5.12 a barrel to $11.65.

On this day in 1844, the Rochdale Pioneers opened a little shop on Toad Lane in Rochdale, Lancashire, which became a model for co-operatives around th…