View Full Version : Today in History
16 March 1660
England's Long Parliment was dissolved after sitting for 20 years.
16 March 1802
The US Military Academy at West Point was established.
16 March 1872
Wanderers beat Royal Engineers 1 - 0 in the first FA Cup final.
16 March 1888
Emile Roger of Paris made the first recorded purchase of a manufactured motor car: a Benz.
16 March 1900
Sir Arthur Evans uncovered the ancient city of Knossos, Crete.
16 March 1935
Adolf Hitler broke the Treaty of Versailles by ordering German rearmament.
16 March 1953
Josef Tito of Yugoslavia became the first Communist head of state to visit Britain.
16 March 1976
Prime minister Harold Wilson resigned.
16 March 2020
Global stocks took a record plunge amid Covid concerns.
Pigmy Pony
17-03-2026, 07:56
So who's this then?
Born 17th March 1944, 82 today, so looks a bit different now. But in her younger years she was really Something.
https://www.rollingstone.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/rs-pattie-boyd-a66684f8-bc7c-4018-abac-654858eb839c.jpg?w=1500&h=906&crop=1
'Something'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_(Beatles_song)
Pigmy Pony
17-03-2026, 08:34
:D I knew you'd know! Bit of a looker in her day. I'll try to find a harder one next time :)
Pigmy Pony
17-03-2026, 08:36
'Something'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_(Beatles_song)
Ah, you picked up on my super-subtle clue then.
Thought it was Felicity Kendal at first - same eyes.
Pigmy Pony
17-03-2026, 08:50
Ok, here's another one, born 17th March 1942. Looks like a proper wrong 'un to me. Just as well he's dead.
https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/13DEF/production/_121219318_gettyimages-1012210826.jpg.webp
John Wayne Gacy - serial killer.
Pigmy Pony
17-03-2026, 10:20
You guys are such clever-clogs, if it weren't for the row of numbers I might have guessed Stan Ogden.
You guys are such clever-clogs, if it weren't for the row of numbers I might have guessed Stan Ogden.
I didn't recognise him, I just searched his arrest date.
Dennis the Menice, 75 years old today. :)
Len Deighton, author of 'The Ipcress File', died today, age 97.
The Eden Project in Cornwall, 25 years old today.
Pigmy Pony
17-03-2026, 23:09
Dennis the Menice, 75 years old today. :)
So he was only about twelve when I started reading the Beano. I bet all the Bash Street Kids will all be retired by now too.
Pigmy Pony
17-03-2026, 23:10
The Eden Project in Cornwall, 25 years old today.
A nice day out, whatever the weather :)
I bet all the Bash Street Kids will all be retired by now too.
Plug died when he crashed his Ferrari. The teacher probably dead by now too, he wasn't a young man even back then.
Dennis would have been about 23 when I started reading it then. Although I preferred 'Commando - War Stories In Pictures' to Desperate Dan and all that.
Pigmy Pony
18-03-2026, 07:53
Yeah 'Commando' was ok, and a handy pocket-size, but Beano had this!
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnSBAIm6adN6ylXqz7ObvUR3uIZ6rjyXXgM2HAEqEKO zGRAWi4-KcJPhLQ3yIQ7-3o3JUgbV7X2UYwkWwdIzeHv9aTEh_SdKKr4nNKDz8INeNcnpeZ gV_DyOfgPIXfhdYQPOpAbxoI3QM/s1600/beano1288.jpg
Pigmy Pony
18-03-2026, 08:00
Neither did Commando have "The Red Wrecker", and never offered free "magic paints" to every boy and girl.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img/APIUysgzAenfU9tyglEFsZSPHpfPtNJ5RRkuMPdhOBF8IqNV-QgeRYEW2kK3dXUsF2jSZo85IsAsDP8_WuVU=s1600
31 March 1732
Austrian composer Franz Joseph Hyden was born.
31 March 1889
The 985ft-high Eiffel Tower, costing £260,000, was officially opened by French Premier Pierre Tirard.
31 March 1959
The Dali Lama was granted political asylum in India, having fled Chinese repression of an uprising in Tibet.
31 March 1973
Red Rum won the Grand National in record time: 9 minutes and 19 seconds.
31 March 1990
An anti-Poll Tax demonstration ended in a riot in Trafalgar Square.
1 April 1924
The first gramophone to change records automatically went on sale.
1 April 1973
VAT was introduced in Britain.
1 April 1984
Singer Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by his father.
1 April 2001
The Netherlands because the first country to legalise same-sex marriage.
1 April 2025
Democratic Senator Cory Booker in protesting president Donald Trump's second term agenda, spoke for 25 hours and 5 minutes - the longest individual Senate speech.
Tuesday 14 July 2026:
1077
The Bayeux Tapestry (sic, it is an embroidery, not a tapestry) first went on display at the consecration of Notre-Dame of Bayeux Cathedral in Normandy.
1789
The Bastille prison in Paris was stormed at the start of the French Revolution, releasing, amongst others, the Marquis de Sade.
1867
Chemist Alfred Nobel first demonstrated the use of dynamite.
1983
Arcade game Mario Bros was released.
1988
A US radio station offered $1million reward if anyone could prove Elvis Presley was still alive.
2014
The Church of England voted in favour of allowing women to become bishops.
Firebottle
15-07-2026, 07:04
Do you mean Tuesday 14th July?
Do you mean Tuesday 14th July?
Yes, my mistake. :doh: Well spotted!
On the 15th July,
1099
Jerusalem was captured by the Crusaders, ending centuries of Muslim rule.
1799
The Rosetta Stone, key to deciphering ancient Egyptian scripts, was discovered in the Nile Delta.
1834
The Spanish Inquisition was abolished after more than 350 years
1912
National Insurance payments began in the UK.
2006
Twitter was launched.
1834
The Spanish Inquisition was abolished after more than 350 years
No-one expected that.
No-one expected that.
Boom Boom! :lol:
Pigmy Pony
15-07-2026, 20:48
Boom Boom! :lol:
That's because your chief weapon is surprise. Surprise and fear. And a ruthless efficiency :)
And a fanatical devotion to the Pope!
On the 16th July,
1377
Richard II was crowned King, aged 10.
1439
Kissing was banned to stop the spread of the Black Death.
1918
The last RussianTsar, Nicholas II, was killed by the Bolsheviiks along with his entire family.
1935
World's first parking meters went into service in Oklahoma City.
1945
The first atomic bomb was detonated in the desert in New Mexico.
1951
American author J.D.Salinger published acclaimed novel 'The Catcher in the Rye'.
1969
Apollo 11 launched from Cape Kennedy, in Florida, on the first manned mission to surface the Moon.
1970
The first state of emergency in Britain since 1926 was declared by prime minister Edward Heath as dock workers went on strike,
2017
Actress Jodie Whittaker became the first female to play the Doctor in Doctor Who.
Only a few for today, July 17:
1453
The Hundred Years War ended as France won the Battle of Castillon.
1902
Willis Carrier invented the modern air conditioner.
1955
Disneyland theme park opened in California.
2014
All 298 people aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 died when it was shot down over Ukraine.
That's all for now.
On 27 July:
1586
Walter Raleigh brought tobacco from Virginia to England.
1694
The Bank of England was founded.
1890
Vincent van Gogh went to the spot where he had painted Wheatfield With Crows and shot himself. He died two days later, aged 37.
1940
Cartoon character Bugs Bunny debuted in A Wild Hare.
2012
London Olympic Games opened.
On the 28th July,
1586
Potatoes arrived in the UK. They were brought from Columbia by Sir Thomas Herriot.
1866
Beatrix Potter, creator of Peter Rabbit, was born in London.
1914
World War I began as Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.
1945
A US bomber hit the Empire State Building killing three crew.
1959
Postcodes were introduced in the UK.
Pigmy Pony
28-07-2026, 20:30
On the 28th July,
1586
Potatoes arrived in the UK. They were brought from Columbia by Sir Thomas Herriot.
Much better than what Sir Walter Raleigh reportedly brought in a few days earlier. I curse him, he was such a stupid get.
Much better than what Sir Walter Raleigh reportedly brought in a few days earlier. I curse him, he was such a stupid get.
With them being in Columbia you'd have thought they'd have brought back a couple of kilos of coke. I mean there was no real Customs in those days. Just sail into Plymouth harbour, anchor up, into the nearest tavern and start doing some lines in the bogs.
On 29th July,
238 AD
Gordian III became Rome's youngest emperor at the age of 13.
1588
The Spanish Armada, sent by Philip II to invade England was sighted off Cornwall.
1856
The German composer Robert Schumann who went insane and threw himself in the Rhine in 1854, died in an asylum near Bonn.
1907
Sir Robert Baden-Powell formed the Boy Scouts in England.
1921
Adolf Hitler became Nazi party leader.
On 30th July,
1869
The world's first tanker, The Charles, left the US for Europe with 7,000 barrels of oil.
1945
After delivering the atomic bomb, cruiser USS Indianopolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine. Some 880 crew members were killed - many by sharks, which later inspired the movie Jaws.
1963
'Third Man' Kim Philby turned up in Moscow after escaping arrest for spying.
1966
England beat Germany 4-2 in extra time to win the World Cup.
2006
After 42 years, Top of the Pops was broadcast for the last time.
On 31st July,
1917
In World War I, the Battle of Pashendaele began. Some 500,000 casualties were reported by the time it ended on November 6.
1950
UK's first self - service store, Sainsbury's, opened in Croydon.
2012
US swimmer Michael Phelps became the greatest Olympian, winning his 15th gold medal and 19th medal overall in the 4 x 200m freestyle relay.
That's all for now.
On 5th August,
1305
Scottish reistance leader William Wallace was captured by the English near Glasgow and taken to London for trial and execution.
1891
First American travellers' cheque was cashed.
1957
Comic strip character Andy Capp made his debut.
1962
Marilyn Monroe, 32, was found dead in her Los Angeles home. Her death was ruled a probable suicide from 'acute barbiturate poisoning'.
1974
White House released transcripts of subpoenaed tape recordings showing Richard Nixon had discussed a plan to use the CIA to thwart the FBI's Watergate probe. The revelation lead to Mr Nixon's resignation.
1984
Actor Richard Burton died, age 58.
2012
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt won the 100m at the London Olympics in 9.63 seconds, breaking the Games record he set in 2008.
On the 6th August,
1504
Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, was born. He had a long nose and was extremely inquisitive - hence the saying 'Nosey Parker'.
1890
Murderer Walter Kemmer was the first man to die in an electric chair, at Auburn Prison, New York.
1945
An atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima.
1960
Chubby Checker performed The Twist on TV, starting a dance craze.
1964
Aged 4,800 years old, Prometheus - the world's oldest tree - was accidently cut down in Nevada.
1996
US punk rock band The Ramon's performed for the last time.
Pigmy Pony
06-08-2026, 15:43
I thought this thread would end exactly one year after its beginning, I was wrong. Well done for finding more stuff of interest :)
Thanks, I like to think that in my own little way, I get The Art of Sound forum to satisfy the Reithian triad of: information, education and entertainment. :lol: But all credit is due to a free London paper for the anniversaries (and for the crosswords).
(It was also a desperate attempt to try and increase post traffic.)
'The Ramon's'
Is that like a cover band made up of greengrocers?
'The Ramon's'
Is that like a cover band made up of greengrocers?
Oops! Now corrected. At least someone is looking at this thread.
Lawrence001
06-08-2026, 20:42
On 31st July,
1917
In World War I, the Battle of Pashendaele began. Some 500,000 casualties were reported by the time it ended on November 6.
1950
UK's first self - service store, Sainsbury's, opened in Croydon.
2012
US swimmer Michael Phelps became the greatest Olympian, winning his 15th gold medal and 19th medal overall in the 4 x 200m freestyle relay.
That's all for now.I was going to point out the other day that Passchendaele was misspelt but I got distracted.
What's an extra 's' or 'c' between friends? Anyway the official name is now Passendale. :ner:
On 7th August,
1606
First performance of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' reportedly took place at Hampton Court Palace for James I.
1840
Parliament passed an Act prohibiting the employment of climbing boys as chimney sweeps.
1926
The first British Motor Grand Prix was held at Brooklands, over a distance of 110 laps and 287 miles.
1957
Oliver Hardy, who with Stan Laurel formed one of the most successful comedy double acts of all time, died.
2012
Sir Chris Hoy made Team GB history when he won his sixth Olympic gold medal.
2018
Winnie the Pooh film: 'Christopher Robin' was banned in China after the bear was compared to president Xi Jinping.
(Don't think i have made any spelling mistakes this time.)
That's all folks!
Mikeandvan
07-08-2026, 20:42
On 7th August,
1606
First performance of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' reportedly took place at Hampton Court Palace for James I.
1840
Parliament passed an Act prohibiting the employment of climbing boys as chimney sweeps.
1926
The first British Motor Grand Prix was held at Brooklands, over a distance of 110 laps and 287 miles.
1957
Oliver Hardy, who with Stan Laurel formed one of the most successful comedy double acts of all time, died.
2012
Sir Chris Hoy made Team GB history when he won his sixth Olympic gold medal.
2018
Winnie the Pooh film: 'Christopher Robin' was banned in China after the bear was compared to president Xi Jinping.
(Don't think i have made any spelling mistakes this time.)
That's all folks!
That's the difference between the free world and China, well one of the differences, we can lampoon our leaders.
On the 24th August,
79AD:
Vesuvius erupted, destroying the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
1814:
British troops under Gen. Robert Ross invaded Washington and set fire to the White House and the Capitol.
1847:
Charlotte Brontë sent her novel Jane Eyre to a publisher under her nom de plume Currer Bell.
2015:
Facebook recorded 1 billion users for the first time.
2019:
NASA probed the first alleged crime in space, after astronaut Anne McClain was accused of illegally accessing her ex-spouse's bank account. She was cleared by the investigators.
Some good dates there Barry.
I’ve been to Pompeii and Herculaneum, which were amazing, visited Washington in the US which is also fascinating, and the Parsonage Museum in Haworth, the home of the Brontë family, which was actually quite sad, given the short lives of most of the family. Although Patrick Brontë lived into his 80’s can you imagine the grief of losing nearly all of your family during your lifetime?
I’ve been on Facebook for too many years to remember, but as of yet, haven’t managed to get into space. One for the bucket list perhaps, when the cost comes down…. Current price with SpaceX is $55m, but I’d need 4 tickets as it would be selfish to not take the wife and kids.
Glad you enjoyed my occasional Today in History posts. We aim to please!
I have visited Italy a few times, but it was always in the north of the country. My partner has a cousin who lives in Washington DC, and we have thought about going over there to visit; but with the present madman incumbent in the White House I can't summon up much enthusiasm.
No interest whatsoever in going into space, although experiencing weightlessness might be fun. Actually joining the "mile high" club has more attraction! :D
Pigmy Pony
25-08-2026, 12:27
SpaceX? Is that Elon Musk? He wouldn't be getting a penny of my hard-earned. Anyway, the bloody thing'd probably blow up on launch. I'd have a go on that zip wire in Snowdonia, that's as adventurous as I'd want to be.
I think Jeff Bezos is planning to offer a similar service, though no doubt, it would only be to those customers who subscribe to Amazon Prime.
Wouldn't get me on a space rocket or a submarine for all the tea in China.
Although I have been on a sub but it was in dock at the time. If they'd said 'Right now we're going to sail out and submerge' I'd have been out of there like a stabbed rat.
Watched far too many submarine films. Upshot - the water always starts coming in at some point. Terrible way to die.
Pieoftheday
25-08-2026, 12:52
SpaceX? Is that Elon Musk? He wouldn't be getting a penny of my hard-earned. Anyway, the bloody thing'd probably blow up on launch. I'd have a go on that zip wire in Snowdonia, that's as adventurous as I'd want to be.
Had a mate go on a zip wire, when it came to rest it was so forceful it snapped two of his fingers:doh:
.... I'd have a go on that zip wire in Snowdonia, that's as adventurous as I'd want to be.
We had a zip wire as the last stage of an assault course at school. Even then I had to steel myself to use it, and you had to use it as there was no way of retracing your footsteps. Since then I have become more and more acrophobic, so the thought of having a go on the zip wire in Snowdonia is now out of the question.
I did once plan to 'climb' Yr Wyddfa (the new name for Snowden); walking up and then taking the train down, but that is beyond my capabilities now. Anyway I have summited Mount Kilimanjaro, which is 2/3 the height of Everest, and that is good enough for me!
Pigmy Pony
25-08-2026, 12:57
Wouldn't get me on a space rocket or a submarine for all the tea in China.
Although I have been on a sub but it was in dock at the time. If they'd said 'Right now we're going to sail out and submerge' I'd have been out of there like a stabbed rat.
Watched far too many submarine films. Upshot - the water always starts coming in at some point. Terrible way to die.
You'd be ok on Submarine Seaview - whenever that got hit and started leaking water in, they just turned a couple of knobs and that fixed it.
You'd be ok on Submarine Seaview - whenever that got hit and started leaking water in, they just turned a couple of knobs and that fixed it.
Only because they had to do another episode next week so the sub had to survive. Likewise with 'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea.'
Pigmy Pony
25-08-2026, 15:23
I think Jeff Bezos is planning to offer a similar service, though no doubt, it would only be to those customers who subscribe to Amazon Prime.
Jeff Bezos? That would be even worse than Musk! You'd think that paying 50 grand or so in addition to your Prime membership fees would be enough to guarantee your safety, but no - you'd get up there ok, but when returning the parachutes would fail unless you upgraded to the 'I survived this' package (currently £8.99 p/month, or £10.99 p/month if you want to go ad-free, prices subject to change).
Pigmy Pony
25-08-2026, 15:32
Only because they had to do another episode next week so the sub had to survive. Likewise with 'Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea.'
Seaview was the name of the submarine in "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea". Thing does seem to be virtually bombproof, and all the crew well versed in the art of leak-stopping. Though the sub is a bit of a magnet for trouble, pretty much weekly.
Doesn't actually say in the advert how much the cruises cost, but it won't be cheap (even dearer during school holidays I bet).
https://www.iann.net/voyage/collectibles/uk_dvd/images/season_two_press.jpg
I was getting mixed up with 'Seaquest' which was basically the same thing just worse.
Well, a submarine is definitely not on my (leaking) bucket list now! Don't think space will be, either...
Enough of submarines - today 25th August:
1609
Galileo Galilei demonstrated his first telescope.
1900
Writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, playing for MCC in his first-class match, bowled out W G Grace who was batting for London County.
1919
The world's first scheduled air flights began, between London and Paris.
1944
Paris liberated from Nazi occupation.
2008
Team GB's Olympians flew home from Beijing with 19 golds and their best medal haul for 100 years.
2012
Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon, died aged 82.
25 August 2026
Dolly Parton, American Country and Western singer, died aged 80.
Pigmy Pony
25-08-2026, 21:42
That's a shock. I had to Google her to check it wasn't a mistake.
rmcin626
25-08-2026, 22:04
25 August 2026
Dolly Parton, American Country and Western singer, died aged 80.
Very sad, great songwriter
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