By Tim Lambert The first recorded polar bear in England was brought to the Tower of London in 1252. He was allowed to fish in the River Thames on the end of a long chain. The first recorded elephant in England was in 1255 when one was brought to the Tower of London. The first… Continue reading Animal Firsts
Category: Articles
Suffragette Arson and Bombings
By Tim Lambert In the years from 1912 to 1914 Suffragettes committed crimes like vandalism and arson. They also planted bombs. However, the WSPU did not want votes for all women – only those who met a property qualification. (In Britain not all men could vote, a large minority did not have that right) On… Continue reading Suffragette Arson and Bombings
A Biography of Lady Jane Grey
By Tim Lambert Lady Jane Grey was Queen of England for just nine days. She was born in 1537 (the exact date is not known). Her father, Henry, was the Marquess of Dorset. Her mother, Frances Brandon, was the daughter of Henry VIII’s sister Mary. So Lady Jane was Henry VIII’s granddaughter. At first, she… Continue reading A Biography of Lady Jane Grey
A Timeline of Philadelphia
By Tim Lambert 1682 William Penn founds the city of Philadelphia 1701 William Penn gives Philadelphia a charter 1723 Benjamin Franklin moved to Philadelphia 1728 Bartram’s Garden is founded 1731 A library is founded in Philadelphia 1751 Pennsylvania hospital is built 1753 Independence Hall is built in Philadelphia 1761 St Peters Church is built 1766 A theater is built in Philadelphia 1774 The first Continental Congress… Continue reading A Timeline of Philadelphia
A Timeline of New York City
By Tim Lambert 1624 The Dutch build the first permanent trading post in New York 1626 Peter Minuit buys the island of Manhattan from the Native Americans 1628 The first black slaves arrive in New York 1639 A Swede called Jonas Bronck settles in the Bronx, which is named after him 1645 A settlement is… Continue reading A Timeline of New York City
A Timeline of Famous Executions
By Tim Lambert Thomas More, former Chancellor of England was beheaded on 6 July 1535. Anne Boleyn was beheaded on 19 May 1536. Former Chancellor Thomas Cromwell was beheaded for treason on 28 July 1540. Catherine Howard the 5th wife of Henry VIII was executed on 13 February 1542. On 12 February 1554, Lady Jane… Continue reading A Timeline of Famous Executions
A History of the Olympic Games
By Tim Lambert The Early Olympic Games In Ancient Greece, the Olympic Games began in Olympia in 776 BC. They were held in honor of Zeus, the leader of the gods, and people from all over Greece and the Greek colonies came to participate in them. Wars stopped to allow everyone to take part. Greek… Continue reading A History of the Olympic Games
What Happened on this day in Tudor History?
By Tim Lambert This is a list of dates through the year with bits of information about what happened on that day in the Tudor era, which lasted from 1485 when Henry VII was crowned to 1603 when Queen Elizabeth I died. On 1 January 1511 Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII… Continue reading What Happened on this day in Tudor History?
Useless History Information
By Tim Lambert The following is a list of facts about history, all totally useless! On 24 December 1914, a German plane dropped a bomb on Dover. It was the first time the Germans bombed Britain. Nobody was killed. In 1979 Sweden became the first country to ban corporal punishment. In 1919 in Britain the… Continue reading Useless History Information
A History of Swimming
By Tim Lambert Early Swimming Swimming was a common skill in the Ancient World. People in Egypt and other parts of the Ancient World went swimming. It was popular with the Greeks and Romans. Roman soldiers were trained to swim well. In the Middle Ages knights were expected to be able to swim well. In… Continue reading A History of Swimming