By Tim Lambert The Planet Uranus In 1781 William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus. Since ancient times only 6 planets had been known, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The discovery of a previously unknown planet was a landmark and it made William Herschel famous. Herschel wanted to name the new planet Georgium Sidus… Continue reading A History of Uranus and Neptune
A Brief History of England
By Tim Lambert Prehistoric and Ancient England About 4,500 BC farming was introduced into what is now England. Using stone axes the farmers began clearing the forests that covered England. They grew crops of wheat and barley and they raised herds of cattle, pigs, and sheep. However as well as farming, they also hunted animals… Continue reading A Brief History of England
A History of Castles
By Tim Lambert Many castles were built in Europe in the Middle Ages. Of course, the idea of a fort goes back to prehistoric times. However, a castle was also a residence for a king, a noble, or a bishop. However each noble usually owned more than one castle and spent some time travelling between… Continue reading A History of Castles
A History of Brighton
By Tim Lambert Early Brighton Brighton began as a small Saxon village. The Saxons landed in Sussex in the 5th century AD and they founded the kingdom of Sussex including the village of Brighton. It was once called Beorthelm’s tun (Beorthelm’s farm or village). Centuries later it grew into the city of Brighton. Fishermen lived… Continue reading A History of Brighton
A Brief Biography of William Herschel
By Tim Lambert His Early Life William Herschel was one of the great astronomers of the 18th century. He was born Friedrich Wilhelm in Hanover, Germany on 15 November 1738. He was one of 10 children, of whom 6 survived. His father was a musician and Herschel followed in his footsteps. When he was 14… Continue reading A Brief Biography of William Herschel
A Brief History of Yorkshire
By Tim Lambert Prehistoric Yorkshire In 7,000 BC Yorkshire would look quite different from what it does today. In those days it was covered in thick forest. At that time the first humans arrived. They were stone age hunters and gatherers. They hunted the abundant wildlife in Yorkshire such as deer and boar. Then in… Continue reading A Brief History of Yorkshire
A Brief Biography of Tycho Brahe
By Tim Lambert His Early Life Tycho Brahe was one of the great astronomers of the 16th century. He lived before the telescope was invented yet he made very accurate observations of the positions of stars. Tycho Brahe was born on Knudstrup on 14 December 1546. (It was then part of n but it is… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Tycho Brahe
A Brief Biography of Nicolaus Copernicus
By Tim Lambert His Early Life Nicolaus Copernicus was one of the great astronomers of the 16th century. He was born on 19 February 1473 in the Polish town of Torun. (His real name was Mikolaj Kopernik although he is better known by his Latin name). His father was a rich merchant and Nicolaus was… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Nicolaus Copernicus
A Brief Biography of Henry VIII
By Tim Lambert His Early Life Henry VIII was born at Greenwich Palace on 28 June 1491 the second son of Henry Tudor (Henry VII). However, Henry’s older brother Arthur died in 1502. So Henry came to the throne in 1509. (Henry also had an older sister called Margaret and a younger sister called Mary).… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Henry VIII
A Brief Biography of Johannes Kepler
By Tim Lambert The early life of Kepler Johannes Kepler was one of the great astronomers of the 17th century. Kepler was born in Weil der Stadt in southern Germany on 27 December 1571. His father Heinrich was a mercenary soldier. Johannes’s family was poor but in 1588 he won a scholarship to study theology… Continue reading A Brief Biography of Johannes Kepler