28 May 1937: the Volkswagen car company is formed
28 May 1937: the Volkswagen car company is formed
On this day in 1937, Volkswagen, now the world's second-biggest vehicle-maker, was founded as the 'Society to Prepare the German People’s Car'.
28 May 2021
1 April 1999: The minimum wage is introduced in Britain
1 April 1999: The minimum wage is introduced in Britain
On this day in 1999, the national minimum wage was introduced in Britain, bringing an instant pay rise to 1.9 million low-paid workers.
1 Apr 2021
20 March 1602: Dutch East India Company formed
20 March 1602: Dutch East India Company formed
The Dutch East India Company – considered by many to be the world’s first multinational company – was founded on his day in 1602.
20 Mar 2021
27 February 1900: The launch of the Labour Party
27 February 1900: The launch of the Labour Party
Responding to the need for a single political party to represent the trade unions, the Labour Party was formed on this day in 1900.
27 Feb 2021
24 February 1981: Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer announce their engagement
24 February 1981: Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer announce their engagement
On this day in 1981, Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer made their engagement official in front of the world's press at Buckingham Palace.
24 Feb 2021
23 February 1963: The case of the electrified Land Rover
23 February 1963: The case of the electrified Land Rover
On this day in 1963, an unsuspecting bobby gets a shock when he stumbles upon an electrified Land Rover.
23 Feb 2021
23 February 1820: the Cato Street Conspiracy unravels
23 February 1820: the Cato Street Conspiracy unravels
The Bow Street Runners burst in on the Cato Street conspirators, frustrating their plans to massacre the entire Cabinet, on this day in 1820.
23 Feb 2021
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22 February 1974: riots break out at the “Patty Hearst ransom” food handouts
22 February 1974: riots break out at the “Patty Hearst ransom” food handouts
On this day in 1974, people rioted at food distribution centres in San Francisco, set up as part of a ransom payment for kidnapped heiress Patty Hears…
22 Feb 2021
19 February 1861: Russia emancipates 23 million serfs
19 February 1861: Russia emancipates 23 million serfs
On this day in in 1861, Tsar Alexander II issued a declaration emancipating 23 million Russian serfs from their feudal overlords.
19 Feb 2021
18 February 1911: First official airmail flight
18 February 1911: First official airmail flight
On this day in 1911, the first official airmail flight took off from Allahabad in India, with Frenchman Henri Pequet flying a Humber Sommer biplane.
18 Feb 2021
17 February 1958: CND – the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament – is launched
17 February 1958: CND – the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament – is launched
On this day in 1958, as the nuclear arms race hotted up, 5,000 people crammed in to Westminster’s Central Hall to witness the launch of CND, the Campa…
17 Feb 2021
16 February 1957: The “Toddlers’ Truce” comes to an end
16 February 1957: The “Toddlers’ Truce” comes to an end
On Saturday, 16 February, 1957, the “Toddlers’ Truce” – a programme-free hour on TV between 6pm and 7pm – was finally broken.
16 Feb 2021
16 February 1659: Britain’s first cheque is issued
16 February 1659: Britain’s first cheque is issued
Merchant Nicholas Vanacker made out the first British cheque payable to Mr Delboe for the grand sum of £400, dated 16 February 1659.
16 Feb 2021
13 February 1914: American artists get organised with ASCAP
13 February 1914: American artists get organised with ASCAP
On this day in 1914, musicians and writers formed the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) to better enforce their copyrights…
13 Feb 2021
12 February 1851: the Australian gold rush
12 February 1851: the Australian gold rush
On this day. in 1851 gold prospector Edward Hargraves discovered a grain of gold in New South Wales, and sparked Australia’s first gold rush.
12 Feb 2021
12 February 1994: Edvard Munch’s The Scream is stolen
12 February 1994: Edvard Munch’s The Scream is stolen
One of the world's most famous paintings, The Scream by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, was stolen from the National Art Museum in Oslo on this day in …
12 Feb 2021
11 February 1990: Nelson Mandela is released from prison
11 February 1990: Nelson Mandela is released from prison
On this day in 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 26 years, as South Africa began the process of dismantling apartheid.
11 Feb 2021
11 February 1826: England gets its third university
11 February 1826: England gets its third university
London University – later University College, London – was founded on this day in 1826, becoming in the process England's third university.
11 Feb 2021
10 February 1355: The St Scholastica’s Day riots
10 February 1355: The St Scholastica’s Day riots
On this day in 1355, the “town versus gown” rivalry in Oxford boiled over into three days of fighting, dubbed the St Scholastica’s Day riots.
10 Feb 2021
10 February 1906: HMS Dreadnought is launched
10 February 1906: HMS Dreadnought is launched
Britain upped the stakes in naval warfare when it launched the era-defining HMS Dreadnought on this day in 1906 – by far the most powerful ship of its…
10 Feb 2021
8 February 1971: Nasdaq begins trading
8 February 1971: Nasdaq begins trading
On this day in 1971, America’s “National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations” – or Nasdaq exchange – began trading.
8 Feb 2021
6 February 1918: (some) British women get the vote
6 February 1918: (some) British women get the vote
With the passing of the Fourth Reform Act on this day in 1918, certain British women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote.
6 Feb 2021