26 October 1863: the Football Association is founded
26 October 1863: the Football Association is founded
On this day in 1863, 12 London football clubs got together at the Freemasons’ Tavern in London to form the Football Association to govern the increasi…
26 Oct 2020
22 October 1962: Start of the Cuban missile crisis
22 October 1962: Start of the Cuban missile crisis
On this day in 1962, the Kennedy administration issued its famous ultimatum – either the USSR removes its nuclear weapons from Cuba, or else.
22 Oct 2020
22 October 1907: JP Morgan rescues Wall Street
22 October 1907: JP Morgan rescues Wall Street
In response to a bank run that threatened the US banking system, JP Morgan and his cabal of bankers organised a relief effort on this day in 1907.
22 Oct 2020
21 October 1520: Magellan finds the path to the Pacific
21 October 1520: Magellan finds the path to the Pacific
On this day in 1520, a fleet of five ships, led by Ferdinand Magellan in search of a passage to the Pacific, first entered the waterway that now bears…
21 Oct 2020
21 October 1805: the Battle of Trafalgar
21 October 1805: the Battle of Trafalgar
On this day in 1805, Britain’s mastery of the seas was assured after the Royal Navy crushed Napoleon’s fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar.
21 Oct 2020
19 October 1960: US begins its trade embargo on Cuba
19 October 1960: US begins its trade embargo on Cuba
In retaliation for Cuba seizing American property, President Eisenhower banned exports to the island on this day in 1960.
19 Oct 2020
16 October 1995: The toll bridge to Skye opens
16 October 1995: The toll bridge to Skye opens
A new bridge connecting the Isle of Skye to the Scottish mainland opened on this day in 1995, but the toll soon became a bone of contention.
16 Oct 2020
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16 October 1834: Houses of Parliament burn down
16 October 1834: Houses of Parliament burn down
An attempt to modernise Parliament's system of accounting for debt led to both Houses being destroyed by fire on this day in 1834.
16 Oct 2020
15 October 1997: Britain’s Thrust supersonic car breaks the sound barrier
15 October 1997: Britain’s Thrust supersonic car breaks the sound barrier
On this day in 1997, the Thrust supersonic car propelled RAF pilot Andy Green through the sound barrier to set a new World Land Speed Record.
15 Oct 2020
15 October 1987: the ‘Great Storm’ hits southern England
15 October 1987: the ‘Great Storm’ hits southern England
On this day in 1987, winds of up to 115mph ravaged southern England, as the worst storm for nearly 300 years hit, causing devastation.
15 Oct 2020
14 October 1947: Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier
14 October 1947: Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier
On this day in 1947, the rocket-powered Bell X-1 – nicknamed 'Glamorous Glennis' – blasted through the sound barrier, with Chuck Yeager at the control…
14 Oct 2020
14 October 1878: the first football match played under floodlights
14 October 1878: the first football match played under floodlights
The world's first football match under floodlights took place on this day in 1878 at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, as the “Blues” played the “Reds” in an…
14 Oct 2020
13 October 1958: Paddington Bear arrives in Britain
13 October 1958: Paddington Bear arrives in Britain
The little bear from "darkest Peru" appeared for the first time when "A Bear Called Paddington" was published on this day in 1958.
13 Oct 2020
13 October 1884: Greenwich adopted as the prime meridian
13 October 1884: Greenwich adopted as the prime meridian
On this day in 1884, Greenwich was chosen as the prime meridian of longitude, settling the matter of time once and for all.
13 Oct 2020
12 October 1948: the first Morris Minor is produced
12 October 1948: the first Morris Minor is produced
The first of 1.3 million Morris Minors, Britain’s cheap post-war runabout, rolled off the production lines on this day in 1948.
12 Oct 2020
8 October 1908: The Wind in the Willows is first published
8 October 1908: The Wind in the Willows is first published
After being rejected at first, the popular children's classic The Wind in the Willows was first published on this day in 1908.
8 Oct 2020
8 October 1965: The Post Office Tower opens
8 October 1965: The Post Office Tower opens
By far the tallest building in London at the time, the Post Office Tower was officially opened by Harold Wilson on this day in 1965.
8 Oct 2020
7 October 1920: Oxford University allows women to graduate
7 October 1920: Oxford University allows women to graduate
On this day in 1920, the University of Oxford allowed women studying there to receive full degrees.
7 Oct 2020
7 October 1571: The Battle of Lepanto halts Ottoman expansion
7 October 1571: The Battle of Lepanto halts Ottoman expansion
On this day in 1571, the ‘Holy Fleet’ of Pope Pius V defeated the larger but less well armed Ottoman navy, precipitating the decline of the Ottoman em…
7 Oct 2020
6 October 1889: Le Moulin Rouge opens its doors
6 October 1889: Le Moulin Rouge opens its doors
On this day in 1889, Le Moulin Rouge cabaret club first opened in Paris during the Belle Époque era.
6 Oct 2020
6 October 1927: Premiere of The Jazz Singer
6 October 1927: Premiere of The Jazz Singer
On this day in 1927, cinema-goers descended on the premiere of The Jazz Singer to see “the world's greatest entertainer” Al Jolson in one of the first…
6 Oct 2020
5 October 1936: the Jarrow Crusade sets off for London
5 October 1936: the Jarrow Crusade sets off for London
On this day in 1936, 200 men set off on the Jarrow Crusade to march the 300 miles from County Durham to London to demand the government take action on…
5 Oct 2020