27 January 1606: the trial of Guy Fawkes begins
27 January 1606: the trial of Guy Fawkes begins
On this day in 1606, the trial of Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators began, accused of high treason by trying to blow up the king and parliament.
27 Jan 2021
25 January 1947: the world’s first video game is patented
25 January 1947: the world’s first video game is patented
On this day in 1947, Thomas T Goldsmith and Estle Ray Mann submitted a patent application for their “Cathode Ray Tube Amusement Device” – the world's …
25 Jan 2021
23 January 1967: Milton Keynes founded
23 January 1967: Milton Keynes founded
The most famous of Britain's garden cities, Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, was founded on this day in 1967.
23 Jan 2021
22 January 1924: Ramsay MacDonald becomes prime minister
22 January 1924: Ramsay MacDonald becomes prime minister
Ramsay MacDonald was one of the founder members of the Labour party, which he took to power on this day in 1924.
22 Jan 2021
22 January 1979: Public sector strike cripples Britain
22 January 1979: Public sector strike cripples Britain
On this day in 1979, thousands of public sector workers downed tools over the Labour government's unpopular policy to tackle inflation.
22 Jan 2021
20 January 1841: Britain takes possession of Hong Kong
20 January 1841: Britain takes possession of Hong Kong
On this day in 1841, Hong Kong island was ceded to Britain following the Chuenpi Convention, along with a resumption of the opium trade.
20 Jan 2021
19 January 1986: the world’s first PC virus infection
19 January 1986: the world’s first PC virus infection
On this day in 1986, the first IBM personal computer was infected with the “Brain” virus, spread on floppy disks.
19 Jan 2021
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16 January 1991: Operation Desert Storm begins
16 January 1991: Operation Desert Storm begins
Coalition forces led by the US launched an operation to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi forces on this day in 1991, sending the oil price soaring.
16 Jan 2021
15 January 1892: the rules of basketball are published
15 January 1892: the rules of basketball are published
Canadian PE instructor Dr James Naismith, working at a YMCA training school, published the 13 rules of basketball on this day in 1892.
15 Jan 2021
15 January 1759: British Museum opens
15 January 1759: British Museum opens
On this day in 1759, the British Museum opened in Bloomsbury after Sir Hans Sloane left his of collection of books, manuscripts and specimens to the n…
15 Jan 2021
14 January 2002: Britain’s foot-and-mouth disease epidemic ends
14 January 2002: Britain’s foot-and-mouth disease epidemic ends
The government finally declared Britain’s foot-and-mouth disease crisis over on this day in 2002, almost a year after the first case had been identifi…
14 Jan 2021
14 January 2005: Huygens probe lands on Saturn’s moon, Titan
14 January 2005: Huygens probe lands on Saturn’s moon, Titan
On this day in 2005, the ESA’s Huygens probe landed on the frozen surface of Titan, one of Saturn’s moons.
14 Jan 2021
13 January 1942: Henry Ford patents his plastic car
13 January 1942: Henry Ford patents his plastic car
On this day in 1948, Henry Ford was granted a patent for his method of making cars with plastic bodywork.
13 Jan 2021
13 January 1908: Henri Farman wins the Deutsch-Archdeacon Prize
13 January 1908: Henri Farman wins the Deutsch-Archdeacon Prize
On this day in 1908, Anglo-French flyer Henri Farman scooped the 50,000 franc Deutsch-Archdeacon Prize after the Wright Brothers refused to compete.
13 Jan 2021
12 January 1895: the National Trust is founded
12 January 1895: the National Trust is founded
On this day in 1895, the National Trust was founded to “set aside the best and most beautiful parts of Britain for the public and posterity”.
12 Jan 2021
12 January 1948: Britain’s first supermarket opens
12 January 1948: Britain’s first supermarket opens
The self-service supermarket came to Britain on this day in 1948, when the London Co-operative Society opened a store in Manor Park.
12 Jan 2021
11 January 1569: England holds its first lottery draw
11 January 1569: England holds its first lottery draw
Outside Old St Paul's Cathedral in London, England's first lottery draw got underway on this day in 1569.
11 Jan 2021
9 January 1799: income tax introduced to Britain
9 January 1799: income tax introduced to Britain
In the 1790s, with Britain at war with Napoleon, the country urgently needed cash. And so on this day in 1799, a 10% levy was raised on all income ove…
9 Jan 2021
8 January 1835: US national debt hits $0
8 January 1835: US national debt hits $0
By selling land, collecting taxes and cutting public spending, the US national debt was brought down to $0 for the first and only time in the country’…
8 Jan 2021
8 January 1940: food rationing is introduced in Britain
8 January 1940: food rationing is introduced in Britain
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.
8 Jan 2021
7 January 1785: First crossing of the English Channel by air
7 January 1785: First crossing of the English Channel by air
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…
7 Jan 2021
7 January 1782: America’s first central bank opens for business
7 January 1782: America’s first central bank opens for business
On this day in 1782, the Bank of North America, created to help pay for the American war of independence, opened for business.
7 Jan 2021