28 September 1894: Marks & Spencer opens its first 'Penny Bazaar'
28 September 1894: Marks & Spencer opens its first 'Penny Bazaar'
On this day in 1894, Michael Marks and Tom Spencer opened their first ‘Penny Bazaar’ market stall in Leeds.
28 Sep 2020
25 September 1237: The English-Scottish border is set in law
25 September 1237: The English-Scottish border is set in law
The border between England and Scotland – having been fluid for many years – was legally defined on this day in 1237 (barring the odd skirmish over Be…
25 Sep 2020
25 September 1996: the Taliban reach Kabul
25 September 1996: the Taliban reach Kabul
After the end of Soviet involvement in Afghanistan, the Taliban reached the suburbs of the capital, Kabul, on this day in 1996.
25 Sep 2020
24 September 1979: Compuserve launches MicroNET
24 September 1979: Compuserve launches MicroNET
One of the first steps to the internet we know and love was taken today on this day in 1979, when Compuserve launched its MicroNET service.
24 Sep 2020
24 September 1841: James Brooke becomes the Rajah of Sarawak
24 September 1841: James Brooke becomes the Rajah of Sarawak
Having crushed a rebellion against the Sultan of Brunei, James Brooke was made the governor of Sarawak on the island of Borneo, and was later confirme…
24 Sep 2020
23 September 1641: the Merchant Royal sinks with 1.5 million ounces of gold
23 September 1641: the Merchant Royal sinks with 1.5 million ounces of gold
On this day in 1641, the Merchant Royal became the most valuable shipwreck in history when it sank off Cornwall with over £20bn-worth of gold.
23 Sep 2020
21 September 1915: Salisbury man buys Stonehenge for his wife
21 September 1915: Salisbury man buys Stonehenge for his wife
105 years ago today, Cecil Chubb paid just £6,600 when he bought 30 acres of Wiltshire and the world’s most famous Neolithic monument “on a whim” as a…
21 Sep 2020
Get your FREE guide to market crashes
What do past crashes teach us about this one? Subscribe to MoneyWeek now and get a free copy of the Little Book of Big Crashes, plus your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
18 September 1972: Ugandan refugees reach the UK
18 September 1972: Ugandan refugees reach the UK
The first Ugandan refugees fleeing persecution in Idi Amin's Uganda arrived in Britain seeking new homes, on this day in 1972.
18 Sep 2020
16 September 1992: Black Wednesday sees sterling crash out of the ERM
16 September 1992: Black Wednesday sees sterling crash out of the ERM
On this day in 1992 – 'Black Wednesday' – the value of the pound crashed as currency speculators sold, dumping sterling out of the European Exchange-R…
16 Sep 2020
15 September 1964: The Sun newspaper is launched
15 September 1964: The Sun newspaper is launched
With reader numbers flagging, the once-popular Daily Herald newspaper was relaunched as The Sun on this day in 1964.
15 Sep 2020
14 September 1752: Britain adopts the Gregorian calendar and “loses” 11 days
14 September 1752: Britain adopts the Gregorian calendar and “loses” 11 days
This day in 1752 saw Britain and its colonies “lose” 11 days, as it switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar.
14 Sep 2020
11 September 1792: The French Blue diamond is stolen
11 September 1792: The French Blue diamond is stolen
On this day in 1792, a riotous mob ransacked the French crown jewels and made off with the famous French Blue diamond.
11 Sep 2020
11 September 1997: Scotland votes for devolution
11 September 1997: Scotland votes for devolution
In a referendum held on this day in 1997, Scotland voted for a devolved assembly, and greater tax-raising powers.
11 Sep 2020
10 September 2008: the Large Hadron Collider is switched on for the first time
10 September 2008: the Large Hadron Collider is switched on for the first time
The search for the mysterious Higgs boson kicked off in earnest today in 2008 when the Large Hadron Collider deep below Switzerland was switched on.
10 Sep 2020
10 September 1951: Britain boycotts Iran over the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company
10 September 1951: Britain boycotts Iran over the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company
On this day in 1951, Britain boycotted and blockaded Iran after the latter nationalised the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
10 Sep 2020
9 September 1839: Sir John Herschel takes the first glass-plate photograph
9 September 1839: Sir John Herschel takes the first glass-plate photograph
On this day in 1839, Sir John Herschel created the first glass-plate negative – a photographic technique that would remain in use in astronomy until t…
9 Sep 2020
9 September 1513: James IV’s invading Scots army defeated at the Battle of Flodden
9 September 1513: James IV’s invading Scots army defeated at the Battle of Flodden
On this day in 1513, James IV of Scotland led a force of 30,000 Scots in battle against the English in Northumberland, where he and many of his nobles…
9 Sep 2020
8 September 1966: the Queen opens the Severn Bridge
8 September 1966: the Queen opens the Severn Bridge
Five years after construction began, the Queen declared the Severn Bridge connecting England and Wales open on this day in 1966.
8 Sep 2020
8 September 1888: First Football League matches played
8 September 1888: First Football League matches played
After messing about with friendlies, 'Tests' and cup matches for the last couple of decades, football got serious today in 1888, with the start of the…
8 Sep 2020
7 September 1940: the Blitz begins
7 September 1940: the Blitz begins
On this day in 1940, Germany’s Luftwaffe began the Blitz, an eight-month campaign of bombing Britain’s major cities, killing over 40,000 people.
7 Sep 2020
4 September 476: the fall of the Roman Empire
4 September 476: the fall of the Roman Empire
On this day in September 476, the barbarian Odoacer deposed Rome’s last emperor, the teenage Romulus Augustulus.
4 Sep 2020
4 September 1882: Edison lights up Wall Street
4 September 1882: Edison lights up Wall Street
On this day in 1882, Thomas Edison demonstrated the benefits of electric light to Wall street bankers, ushering in the age of electricity.
4 Sep 2020