Today in History

February 22nd

….
On February 22, 1305, Sir William Wallace was executed in London.Details: Wallace was a leader in the Wars of Scottish Independence against England. Known for his role in the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, Wallace became a symbol of Scottish resistance. Captured by the English in 1305, he was put on trial for treason and brutally executed. His death was part of King Edward I’s efforts to suppress Scottish rebellion.

…..
The Act of Union between England and Scotland, which created the Kingdom of Great Britain, came into effect on February 22, 1707.
….

On 22nd February 1797, 1,400 members of the French Legion Noire of the French Revolutionary Army landed in Carregwasted bay near Fishguard, which remains the last time Britain was invaded a foreign military force.

Irish revolutionary leader, Wolfe Tone had received support from France to help end British rule in Ireland. Part of the plan was to organise French invasions of Britain to divert and weaken the British forces, with the overall aim of sending a much larger force to Ireland to overthrow the British there. However, bad weather and poor organisation resulted in only the invasion through Wales, to target Bristol and the west of England, going ahead.

The invasion force was led by an Irish American colonel, William Tate and consisted of 1,400 men, nearly half of whom however were deserters and convicts. An initial attempt to land was unsuccessful due to the defensive cannons at Fishguard fort, so the fleet landed 3 miles away in the bay at Carregwasted under the cover of darkness. They moved inland and established their headquarters at a nearby farmhouse, but the convicts and pressed men deserted, got drunk and ran away.
The next morning the French moved inland and occupied strong defensive positions on high rocky ground. Meanwhile, the British, although outnumbered, decided to attack, with many Fishguard locals volunteering to fight, notable among whom was Jemima Nicholas, who single-handedly took twelve French soldiers prisoner in St Mary's Church armed only with a pitchfork.

These actions convinced Tate that although he had much the superior forces, he had to accept an unconditional surrender and the following afternoon the French laid down their weapons on Goodwick sands.
…..




….

1903The Cunard Liner Etruria arrived in New York with a copy of the first newspaper ever published in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. It featured news reports transmitted from Britain by wireless while the ship was at sea. Marconi, the inventor of wireless telegraphy, was one of the ship's passengers.


….
On 22nd February 2017, MPs were permitted for the first time ever to use the Welsh language in parliamentary debates of the Welsh Grand Committee at the Parliament of the United Kingdom in Westminster. The Government's Procedure committee that investigated the issue stated that: “The committee recognises the unique status of Welsh as a language".
….
Music
1967: The Beatles work on a single note for the end of their song "A Day In The Life" with John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with engineer Mal Evans, playing a simultaneous E-flat on different pianos and producer George Martin using a harmonium. Even this isn't enough and the recording has to be overdubbed several times to get the final 43 second note.



1969 David Bowie begins a UK tour with T.Rex where he doesn't sing, but does a mime act.
 
On a personal note,I started this thread 'Today in History' 7 yrs ago because I've always loved history. It has evolved over the years.Many thanks to all who have posted here and lets keep it going
1876
Johns Hopkins Univ in Baltimore, Maryland opens, due to a $7million bequest by Johns Hopkins who was a philathropist.It was the 1st U. S. research university
1907
London's 1st cabs with taxi meters begin operating
1934
movie' It Happened One Night' directed by Frank Capra, starring Clark Gable&Claudette Cobert. It became the 1st movie to win the 5 major Oscar catergories pic/ director, actor/ actress, screenplay. Two other movies have joined this list 1975' One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest' 1991'Silence of the Lambs'
1942
Pres Franklin Roosevelt orders Gen. Douglas MacArthur out of the Philipines due to the collapse of American defense
1958
Egypt&Syria form United Arab Republic{UAR}
1980
at Lake Placid,NY Winter Olympics USA's men's hockey team{ college kids} upset heavy favorite Soviet Union team 4-3 in one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history,go on to win the gold medal.It became known as "Miracle on Ice" ABC play by play sportscaster,Al Michaels famous words'Do You Believe in Miracles,Yes"
 
On a personal note,I started this thread 'Today in History' 7 yrs ago because I've always loved history. It has evolved over the years.Many thanks to all who have posted here and lets keep it going
1876
Johns Hopkins Univ in Baltimore, Maryland opens, due to a $7million bequest by Johns Hopkins who was a philathropist.It was the 1st U. S. research university
1907
London's 1st cabs with taxi meters begin operating
1934
movie' It Happened One Night' directed by Frank Capra, starring Clark Gable&Claudette Cobert. It became the 1st movie to win the 5 major Oscar catergories pic/ director, actor/ actress, screenplay. Two other movies have joined this list 1975' One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest' 1991'Silence of the Lambs'
1942
Pres Franklin Roosevelt orders Gen. Douglas MacArthur out of the Philipines due to the collapse of American defense
1958
Egypt&Syria form United Arab Republic{UAR}
1980
at Lake Placid,NY Winter Olympics USA's men's hockey team{ college kids} upset heavy favorite Soviet Union team 4-3 in one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history,go on to win the gold medal.It became known as "Miracle on Ice" ABC play by play sportscaster,Al Michaels famous words'Do You Believe in Miracles,Yes"
And 46 years later USA are playing Canada in the Olympic Final and Al Michaels is still commentating On Amazon Prime
 
February 23rd

FEBRUARY 23, 1739
The identity of English highwayman Dick Turpin was uncovered by his former schoolmate, who recognised his handwriting, leading to Turpin's trial.





1820British police uncovered 'The Cato Street Conspiracy', planned by Arthur Thistlewood, to assassinate Cabinet ministers. Five of the eighteen conspirators were publicly hanged outside Newgate prison on 1st May 1820, six were transported to Australia for life, and the rest were either rewarded or released due to their status as spies, agent provocateurs, or men who had turned King's Evidence.






FEBRUARY 23, 1836
Texas Revolution: The Siege of the Alamo (prelude to the Battle of the Alamo) begins in San Antonio, Texas.





1874Major Walter Clopton Wingfield patented an outdoor game he called ‘Sphairistike’, later known as lawn tennis. Eventually it was adopted by the All England Croquet Club which sponsored the first Wimbledon championships in 1877.




1920The first regular broadcasting service in Britain started from Marconi’s studio in Writtle, near Chelmsford. The 30-minute programme was transmitted twice daily. Peter Eckersley opened with 'Hello! Hello! This is Two-Emma-Toc, Writtle testing.' Two-Emma-Toc stood for 2MT, the licence granted to Marconi by the General Post Office.
….



1945: During the Battle of Iwo Jima, a group of United States Marines reach the top of Mount Suribachi on the island and are photographed raising the American flag. The picture would become one of the most iconic of the Pacific war.









..
On 23rd February 1959, the flag currently in use was officially recognised as the national flag of Wales.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
….





2010: Abbey Road Studios is made a Grade II listed building, protecting it from a potential threat of sale to property developers. Then Culture Minister Margaret Hodge listed the studios on the advice of English Heritage saying it had "produced some of the very best music in the world". Later in the year the famous zebra crossing outside the studios would also be granted Grade II listed status.
 
1896
"Tootsie Roll' is introduced by Leo Hirschfield in NYC, sold as 'penny candy' The name 'Tootsie' was the nickname of Hirschfield's daughter, Clara
1904
U. S. acquires control of Panama Canal Zone for $10 mil
1940
Walt Disney animated movie' Pinocchio' directed by Ben Sharpsteen&Hamilton Luske is released. The story of an inquisitive wooden puppet who long to become a real boy. The movie won 2 Academy Awards; Best Music Score, Best Original Song' When You Wish Upon A Star'
1968
Walt Chamberlain becomes the 1st NBA player to score 25,000 points
1980
U. S. speed skater, Eric Heiden sweeps all 5 speed skating events at Lake PLacid, NY Winter Olympic Games. He's the only athlete to win 5 gold medals at 1 winter games
1997
NBC broadcasts movie' Schindler's List' uncensored, without any commerical interruptions. 65 million viewers tuned in
2021
discovery of the oldest Australian rock art 17,300 yr old painting of a kangaroo is found in Western Australia
 
February 24th


1616 Galileo GalileiQualifiers delivered their unanimous reportOn February 24 the Qualifiers delivered their unanimous report: the proposition that the Sun is stationary at the centre of the universe is "foolish and absurd in philosophy, and formally heretical since it explicitly contradicts in many places the sense of Holy Scripture"; the proposition that the Earth moves and is not at the centre of the universe "receives the same judgement in philosophy; and ... in regard to theological truth it is at least erroneous in faith."

The
Execution of Charles I (1649)Another significant event in British history occurred on February 24, 1649. King Charles I, who had been imprisoned and tried for treason, was executed in front of the Banqueting House in Whitehall, London. This event marked the culmination of the English Civil War, a conflict between the monarchy, led by Charles I, and Parliamentarians who opposed his rule.
…..



1809 The third Theatre Royal Drury Lane was destroyed by fire. It was uninsured and still not paid for, so it was a financial disaster for the owners, who included Sheridan.1909Suffragettes attempted to break into the Houses of Parliament. The police made 29 arrests.




On 24th February 1852, The Times reported that Robert Stephenson had approved Isambard Kingdom Brunel's design for the railway bridge at Chepstow.
Chepstow Railway Bridge was used for the first time on 19 July 1852, which allowed the Great Western Railway to open its London to Swansea line.

It is considered as one of Brunel's major achievements, because the span of 300 feet needed to be self- supporting, as the Monmouthshire side is low-lying sedimentary deposit subject to regular flooding and the height requirement of 84 feet above high water imposed by the Admiralty ruled out an arched bridge.

Brunel therefore designed the bridge to be suspended by chains from two cast iron tubes, 9 feet in diameter. The new railway line and bridge reduced the travelling time between London and Swansea from 15 hours, by rail, road and ferry, to 5 hours by rail.
….
IMG_1669.jpeg



On 24th February 1871 an explosion at Pentre Colliery, Ton Pentre, killed 39 men and nine horses.

The probable cause of the explosion was ‘Firedamp’ which is a flammable gas, usually methane, found naturally in coal mines.
….
IMG_1668.jpeg



1917: The U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom is given the 'Zimmermann Telegram', which had been intercepted and decoded by British intelligence. In it Germany pledges to ensure the return of New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona to Mexico if Mexico declares war on the United States. This revelation helped generate support for the United States declaration of war on Germany in April of that year.

1920 The Nazi Party is founded.
….

1962The Beatles played a concert at the Birkenhead YMCA for a fee of £30. The audience didn't enjoy the show and the Beatles were booed off stage. They left early for a second gig at Liverpool's Cavern Club, and the rest, as they say, is history.


1963 The Rolling Stones take over as the Sunday house band at the Station Hotel near London. They are paid £24 ($67) to entertain a crowd of 66 people.
 
February 25th

1601Robert Devereux, the second Earl of Essex and former favorite of Elizabeth I, is beheaded in the Tower of London for high treason.




FEBRUARY 25, 1843

Lord George Paulet occupies the Kingdom of Hawaii in the name of Great Britain in the Paulet affair.
Lord George Paulet CB was a British officer of the Royal Navy.



1856 – A Peace conference opens in Paris after the Crimean War.




On 25th February 1858, 19 men were killed in a mining accident at Lower Duffryn Colliery, Mountain Ash.


The Opening of the Royal Albert Hall (1871)On February 25th, 1871, the Royal Albert Hall in London officially opened its doors. This grand venue, named in honor of Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, was designed to be a center for the arts and sciences, showcasing concerts, exhibitions, and other cultural events.



1963 -

February 25
The first Beatles' single is released in America by Chicago's Vee Jay Records. The 45 featured "Please Please Me" as the A-side, but the name of band is misspelled "Beattles".

1964 -

February 25
Paul McCartney records his final vocal tracks for "Can't Buy Me Love" at EMI Studios in London. The bed tracks had been previously recorded at EMI's Pathe Marconi Studios in Paris, France on January 29th. The band then went on to lay down the B-side of the record, "You Can't Do That"
 
1836
Samuel Colt patents 1st practical revolving multi shot revolver allowing it to fire multiple shots without reloading
1950
'Your Show of Shows' debuts on NBC 1950-1954 Sat evening starring Sid Cesar&Imogene Coca. It was an original 90 min live weekly comedy show. Some of other regulars were Carl Reiner, Howard Morris, Bill Hayes,writers included Mel Brooks,Neil Simon, Woody Allen, Lucille Kallen
1981 Grammy Award winner:
singer/ songwriter, Christopher Cross became the 1st artist to sweep the'Big 4', Album,Song,Record of the Year for ' Sailing', he also won Best New Artist
1995
Frank Sinatra performs for the last time in front of a live audience of 1,200 selected guests at Palm Desert Marriott Ballroom in Palm Desert, Calif
2024
the largest mosque in the world' Great Mosque of Algeres' opens able to hold 120,000 worshipers
 
February 26th

1606 -
Dutch explorer, Willem Jansz becomes the first recorded European to land on Australia's shores

1955 - For the first time, 45 rpm records outsold 78 rpm discs in the United States. The 45 designation came from subtracting Columbia's 33 rpm from 78. RCA introduced the format on March 31, 1949, releasing 104 single vinyl records. The first 45 to reach the Billboard charts was Perry Como's "You're Adorable", on May 7th, 1949.
 
February 26th1233 – Mongol–Jin War: The Mongols capture Kaifeng, the capital of the Jin dynasty, after besieging it for monthsThe Mongol siege of Kaifeng, the capital of the Jin dynasty, concluded with the city's capture on this date. This event was a critical moment in the Mongol–Jin War, significantly weakening the Jin dynasty and showcasing the military prowess of the Mongols under Genghis Khan's leadership.



The Execution of Lord Lovat (1747)On February 26, 1747, Simon Fraser, the 11th Lord Lovat, was executed for his involvement in the Jacobite Rebellion. He was one of the last men to be executed at the Tower of London, and his death marked the end of a tumultuous chapter in British history.



1797The Bank of England issued the first ever one pound note. Printed on watermark paper with a vignette of Britannia on the top left hand corner, the hand-signed white £1 notes were withdrawn in the 1820s.1839The first Grand National Steeplechase was run at Aintree near Liverpool. The winner was 'Lottery' ridden by Jem Mason.


1815 Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from exile on Elba. Sent to the Mediterranean island following his defeat by Russia and its allies in 1814, the former French emperor had agreed to be exiled but changed his mind when he heard rumors of discontent in France. He left the island with an army of loyalists and briefly resumed power, ruling for just 100 days before he was exiled again to the island of Saint Helena.


On February 26, 1852, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) officially opened its doors to the public in South Kensington, London. The museum would go on to become one of the world's leading institutions for the arts and design.




1909 – Kinemacolor, the first successful color motion picture process, is first shown to the general public at the Palace Theatre in LondonKinemacolor was a groundbreaking two-color film process and the first commercially successful color motion-picture process. It was invented by George Albert Smith and Charles Urban and was first shown to the public at the Palace Theatre in London.








The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26th February 1915.






On Monday, 26th February 1990, the sea wall at Towyn was breached due to a combination of high tides and extreme weather, resulting in flood damage to 2,800 homes, and the evacuation of over 2,000 people.

IMG_1670.jpeg

1987 The Beatles", more commonly called "The White Album", became the first Beatles ' LP to be issued on CD.


2009: A high quality bootlegged version of The Beatles "Revolution 1" appears on the internet. The ten minute long song, known as "Revolution Take 20" was recorded on 4th June 1968, after which John Lennon took away a copy. It's likely that this tape is the source for the bootleg.
 
Last edited:
1560The Treaty of Berwick which would expel the French from Scotland, was signed by England and the Protestant noblemen known as the Congregation of Scotland.


1700The island of New Britain (close to New Guinea) was discovered by William Dampier, English buccaneer, sea captain, author and scientific observer. He dubbed the island with the Latin name Nova Britannia.







On 27th February 1860 all 45 people on board the paddle steamer Nimrod drowned, when it was wrecked off St David's Head.

The Nimrod, which was operating as a cargo and passenger service between Liverpool and Cork suffered engine failure and was heading for Milford Haven under sail, when she was spotted by the Captain of another steamer called, the City of Paris, who offered to tow her to Milford Haven for £1,000. Captain Lyall of the Nimrod refused as the weather seemed moderate, but after the two steamers parted, the wind increased to hurricane force and shreaded her sails into tatters.
Captain Lyall lowered both anchors, but the chains of both broke, causing the Nimrod to smash into Porth Llong cliffs, near St. David’s Head and break into pieces.



A landmark event occurred on February 27, 1900, with the founding of the British Labour Party. This was a pivotal moment in British political history as it marked the formal establishment of a party that aimed to represent the interests of working-class citizens. The Labour Party emerged from various trade unions and socialist groups that sought greater political representation for workers.




1933: The Reichstag, Germany's parliament building, in Berlin is set ablaze, apparently by communist Marinus van der Lubbe who was arrested at the scene. Hitler and the Nazi's were able to use the incident to suspend democratic rule and institute mass arrests of their bitter rivals.


1964: The Italian government seeks international help to stablise the Leaning Tower of Pisa and prevent its imminent collapse. But the resulting Azores conference is told to retain the current tilt, due to the role that the anomaly plays in promoting the tourism industry of Pisa.



1964
For the first time ever, all ten spots on the UK Top Ten were British acts, led by 21-year-old Cilla Black's version of "Anyone Who Had A Heart". Her song would prove to be the fourth best-selling single of 1964 in the UK, with sales of nearly 950,000 copies.


1967 Pink Floyd try to record a new version of "Arnold Layne" after signing with EMI, but the version recorded a month earlier at Sound Techniques Studios, London would become their debut release in March instead.
 
Feb 27th:
1827
1st Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans
1883
Oscar Hammerstein patents 1st cigar rolling machine
1949
scientist/statesman, Chaim Weizmann becomes Israel's 1st President, served 3 yrs 9 months,died in office in 1952
1974
People Magazine debuts , with actress Mia Farrow,picture from movie' The Great Gatsby' on the cover,price was 35 cents, The newstand price now is $5.99
2002
singer/ songwriter, Joni Mitchell receives Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
2019
smallest baby boy ever born in Tokoyo hospital weighing 9.45oz.He successfully recovers and was discharged, today he weighs 7.1 pounds
 
February 28th



On 28th February 1405, during his uprising against the rule of Henry IV, Owain Glyndwr agreed the Tripartite Indenture with Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland and Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March, to divide Wales and England between them.

* Glyndŵr was to have control Wales, and the English portions of the Welsh Marches

* Henry Percy was to have received the north of England.

* Edmund Mortimer was to have received southern England.
IMG_1677.jpeg

….

On the last day of February, 1539, Thomas Forret, Vicar of Dollar, John Keillor and John Beveridge, two black-friars, Duncan Simpson a priest, and a gentleman named Robert Forrester, were all burned together on the Castle Hill on a charge of heresy; and it is melancholy to know that a king so good and so humane as James V. was a spectator of this inhuman persecution for religion, and that he came all the way from Linlithgow Palace to witness it.
….






……1874Arthur Orton, who claimed to be the long lost heir to the wealthy Tichborne estate in Hampshire, was found guilty of perjury after a trial of 260 days, the longest trial in England. He was sentenced to 14 years’ hard labour, as the real Sir Roger Tichborne had perished at sea in 1853.


1888In a Belfast street, a small boy named Johnny Dunlop was riding his tricycle under the supervision of his father. The two rear wheels of the tricycle were the world's first pneumatic tyres and he was testing them. The test was so successful that his father was granted patent number 10607 on 23rd July.



1958 The last episode of the British radio comedy programme 'The Goon Show' is broadcast.
Although there was a one off revival many years later.



1958 » The Lego company patents the design of its Lego bricks.








1966The Cavern Club, Liverpool, where the Beatles and other pop groups began, was forced into liquidation.




1970, Led Zeppelin are obliged to play a gig in Copenhagen as The Nobs after Eva von Zeppelin, a relative of the airship designer, threatens to sue if the family name was used in Denmark.
 
March 1st





On 1st March 1244, Gruffudd ap Llywelyn Fawr (the father of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd) died in an escape attempt from the Tower of London.
Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (c. 1198 – 1 March 1244) was the first-born son of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth (Llywelyn the Great). His mother Tangwystl probably died in childbirth.





On 1st March 1729, Welsh immigrants established the St. David's Society of Philadelphia.
The society was set up initially to assist many of Philadelphia's early Welsh settlers with medical and financial help.



March 1, 1801, marked the official enactment of the Act of Union, which created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Prior to this act, Ireland had been a separate kingdom under the Crown of Ireland, but political and religious tensions between Protestants in the north and Catholics in the south made it increasingly difficult to govern effectively.



Llandovery College first opened on 1st March 1848.
The College was founded by surgeon Thomas Phillips, initially as a boys only school, to cultivate the promotion of the Welsh language, Welsh literature and history. Girls were first admitted in the 1960s.




March 1, 1917, marked the establishment of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) during World War I. This was a major moment for women’s involvement in the military, as it allowed women to serve in a range of roles, including clerks, cooks, telephone operators, and more.



The BBC World Service was officially founded on March 1, 1932, marking a significant development in Britain’s role in international broadcasting. The BBC World Service was created to broadcast news, entertainment, and educational programming to audiences worldwide, and it soon became one of the most trusted sources of information.




1946The British Government took control of the Bank of England, after 252 years.



On March 1, 1975, the United Kingdom held its historic referendum on membership in the European Economic Community (EEC). The vote was the result of a growing debate over Britain’s role in Europe, especially following the country’s decision to join the EEC in 1973. At the time, there were mixed opinions about whether EEC membership benefited Britain economically, politically, and socially..
67% said stay.
I was too young to vote….by just over seven months.




Historically, 1st March was the first official day of the coracle fishing season on the Rivers Towy and Taf.

IMG_1680.jpeg




Welsh Primary Schools used to close on the afternoon of St David’s Day.
IMG_1681.jpeg


1963 - Paul McCartney and John Lennon composed "From Me To You."


1967: The Beatles start to record John Lennon's "Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds" for their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The song being inspired by a nursery school drawing by Lennon's son Julian featuring classmate Lucy O'Donnell.
 
Last edited:
March 2nd


King Richard III formally established the College of Arms on March 2nd, 1484, setting the standard for heraldic authority in England. This institution became pivotal in the regulation and granting of coats of arms. The College of Arms played a significant role in maintaining records of ancestry and heraldry. It provided structure and legitimacy to the art of heraldry, ensuring its continuity and evolution. The establishment underscored the importance of heraldry in medieval society, reflecting the values and identities of noble families.
IMG_1684.jpeg
…..
On March 2nd, 1498, Vasco da Gama’s expedition reached the Island of Mozambique, an important milestone in his pioneering sea voyage to India. This historic visit marked one of the earliest European interactions with the East African coast.


..
On 2nd March 1585 spy and double agent William Parry was executed on the discovery of his plot to kill Queen Elizabeth l. This became known as 'The Parry Plot'.
Parry, from Northop, Flintshire, left for London to seek his fortune. Shortly after entering the Queen's service, he found himself in financial difficulties and had to rely on a royal pardon to escape a death sentence for assaulting one of his creditors.
Parry then received a commission from Lord Burghley to spy on Catholics in Europe, but soon became a double agent for both Queen Elizabeth and Mary Queen of Scots. When he was heard to boast that he would assassinate Elizabeth if he had the opportunity, it was not known whether he was acting on behalf of Mary, with a papal blessing, or whether he was just trying to infiltrate papist circles. However, when Elizabeth was informed of the plot, Parry was arrested for treason and hanged at Westminster.
IMG_1683.jpeg
….



On 2nd March 1768, local miner, Rowland Hughes discovered the 'Great Lode' of copper on Parys Mountain, Ynys Mon (Anglesey). He was rewarded with a bottle of whisky and a rent-free house for life.

The mountain had been mined for copper ore in the early Bronze Age nearly 4,000 years ago and later by the Romans. However, following its rediscovery in the 1780s it became Europe's largest copper mine, with the copper notably being used by the admiralty to protect the bottom of wooden ships of war from barnacles and wood worms, as well as increasing their speed and manoeuvrability.

….

1882An unsuccessful attempt was made by Scotsman Roderick Maclean to assassinate Queen Victoria. As she was leaving Windsor railway station he stepped forward from the cheering crowd, lifted a revolver and fired into her carriage. Before a second shot could be fired, he was overpowered by the crowd and arrested by Superintendent Hayes. Remaining calm, the Queen and her companions rode on to Windsor Castle.


..
On 2nd March 1918 Arthur James Cook (A.J. Cook), a prominent trade union leader in South Wales, was arrested and charged with sedition under the Defence of the Realm Act. Cook is remembered as one of the United Kingdom's best known miners’ leaders during the General Strike of 1926.
..




The supersonic passenger airliner, Concorde, made its first successful flight on March 2, 1969.
In France.
….



1974 – Rock band Slade scored their second number one album of the year in the UK with ‘Old New Borrowed and Blue’.
I own this Album.



1983: The Compact Disc is released in Europe and the United States as a replacement for the LP format. The new audio disc is enthusiastically received, despite the lack of available titles and high price of early CD players.
 
Last edited:
March 3rd




….
The Statute of Rhuddlan was enacted on this day 1284.
After the defeat and deaths of Llywelyn and Dafydd ap Grufydd, Edward I had all but conquered Wales militarily and consolidated his position by completing his castle-building program, with Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech, Beaumaris, Flint and Rhuddlan forming a defensive ring. Boroughs were created around these castles and English traders invited to settle. The Welsh, however, were forbidden to inhabit the boroughs, or to carry arms within their walls.

Edward then turned his attention to dominating Wales politically and gradually sought to undermine the Welsh legal systems; part of this process was the enactment of The Statute of Rhuddlan, which created laws regarding debt, inquests, pleas, trials, and juries, all in accordance with English common law and administered by Sheriffs. The statute established the counties of Anglesey, Caernarfonshire and Merionethshire, to be governed by the Justice of North Wales, with Flintshire to be governed by the Justice of Chester, and Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire governed by the Justice of South Wales.

The rest of Wales came under the governance of the Marcher Lords as their reward for their part in defeating Llywelyn. They thus became more or less independent. Another significant aspect of the statute involved the Welsh system of dividing property among all male heirs; this was allowed to continue, to prevent the building up of large Welsh-owned landed estates, but illegitimate sons were not permitted to inherit. However, if there was no male heir the inheritance could pass to females. Also, females had the right to a dowry for the first time in Wales.
…..

On March 3, 1830, the first public railway in Britain was inaugurated. The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway marked a revolutionary moment in British transportation and industry. This railway was the first to offer scheduled services to the public and was powered by steam engines, paving the way for the rapid expansion of the railway network throughout Britain and beyond.
…..

1894Gladstone resigned as Prime Minister, aged 84, because his sight and hearing were failing, but he continued to sit as an MP until the General Election
….
On March 3, 1909, the construction of the RMS Titanic was officially completed, a milestone that would have profound consequences for both British and world history. Built at the Harland and Wolff shipyards in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Titanic was touted as the largest and most luxurious ship ever constructed. The ship was a symbol of British engineering excellence and epitomized the grandiosity of early 20th-century industrial achievements.
….

March 3rd, 1918, saw the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, marking Russia’s exit from World War I. Negotiated between the Bolshevik government and the Central Powers, this treaty ceded vast territories, including Ukraine and the Baltic states, to Germany.
…..

1955A statement was made that London would become a smokeless zone at the beginning of October.

..
1966The BBC announced that it would begin broadcasting television programmes in colour in 1967.
..
1968: The two Caroline radio-ships are hijacked by Dutch tugs of the Wijsmuller company and towed to Holland to be impounded, ending the first offshore era for Radio Caroline.

2018: Roger 'Twiggy' Day finally gets to broadcast the 'Breakfast Show That Never Was' on Radio Caroline 50 years to the minute after his show fails to air when the radio-ship Mi Amigo is hijacked and towed to Holland.
 
Last edited:
1865
opening of Hong Kong&Shanghai Banking Corp, founding member of HSBC group
1885
AT&T{American Telephone&Telegraph incorporates
1931
Star Spangled Banner officially becomes U.S. national anthem
1956
Elvis Presley's 1st hit single 'Heart Break Hotel' hit #1 on Billboard charts, stays there for 8 weeks
1991
Los Angeles police officers are captured on a famous amateur video of severely beating motorist, Rodney King
When the officers were acquitted, riots erupted in Los Angeles, causing $1billion in damages, 63 people died
2005
Steve Fossett becomes 1st person to fly airplane solo around the world without refueling or any stops. He completed this in 67 hrs, 2 min
2019
during its demonstration, Space X capsule successfully docks with the International Space Station
 
March 4th




1681King Charles II granted a Royal Charter to William Penn, entitling him to establish a colony in North America called Pennsylvania.











1882The first electric trams in Britain ran; from Leytonstone in East London.



1890The Forth Railway Bridge in Scotland was opened by the Prince of Wales. The bridge is more than one and a half miles long and took six years to build.





A relatively unreported and serious riot took place on 4th March 1919 in the Canadian Army Camp at Kinmel Park, near Abergele in North Wales.

There was discontent among the 15,000 Canadian soldiers waiting to be repatriated after World War One, as the place was a sea of mud, sleeping conditions were cramped and blankets in short supply. On top of this, food rations had been halved and many had not received their pay for over a month. The tipping point seemed to be when it was announced that the ships designated to take the Canadians home had been allocated to the Americans.

The men at Kinmel were infuriated and after nothing was done following several protests, the mood turned to outrage. Some of the soldiers looted and started fires in Quartermaster's Stores and officers' messes. Rifle shots were exchanged with officers resulting in the deaths of three rioters and two guards, with many others being wounded.

The mutiny was put down the following morning and 78 of the Canadian soldiers were arrested. However the incident was 'hushed up' and the remaining Canadians were transported home by 25th March.
…..





1966Beatle, John Lennon, caused outrage amongst Christians by stating "We're more popular than Jesus Christ right now. I don’t know which will go first – rock ‘n’ roll or Christianity." Beatles' records were consequently banned in many US states and in South Africa.


1982 Frank Zappa 's son Dweezil and his daughter Moon Unit form a band called Fred Zeppelin. Their first single, "My Mother is a Space Cadet", gets little attention.
 
Last edited:
March 5th




On this day 1496, John Cabot received the letter of authority from Henry VII to make a voyage of discovery to North America.
It has been suggested that the name, 'America' was derived from the name of Richard ap Meryk, anglicised to Richard Amerike, a wealthy Bristol merchant of Welsh descent who was the principal owner of the 'Matthew', the ship sailed by John Cabot the Italian navigator during his voyage of exploration to North America in 1497.However, the more widely held view is that America is the named after the Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci.




On March 5, 1814, one of the strangest disasters in British history occurred. A massive vat of beer ruptured at the Meux Brewery in London, unleashing a flood of over 320,000 gallons of beer into the surrounding area. The flood destroyed homes, caused extensive damage, and tragically led to the deaths of eight people.






The Britannia Bridge connecting Ynys Mon (Anglesey) with the rest of Wales was opened on 5th March 1850.
The tubular wrought iron box section bridge was designed and built by Robert Stephenson for carrying rail traffic but was rebuilt as a steel truss arch bridge to carry both road and rail traffic following a fire in 1970.



1857James Townsend Saward, alias ‘Jim the Penman’, the most notorious forger of his age, was convicted of forging cheques. Saward was a respected solicitor with chambers in the Temple. He and his accomplices were sentenced to transportation to Australia.



1900The British Government was offered peace proposals to end the Boer War, but rejected them.




1971 Led Zeppelin begins their "Thank You" tour of small clubs that supported them when they started out, charging the same prices they charged in 1968.







2007: Records by the Rolling Stones and Paul Simon are amongst those chosen for preservation by the US Library of Congress. The Stones' song "Satisfaction" and Paul Simon's Graceland album are entered in the National Recordings Registry, which preserves historic works for future generations.
 
March 6th




6 March 1457: King James II decrees that there should be regular archery practice and that "football and golf be utterly cried down and not used".



6 March 1708: Prince James Stewart, "The Pretender", sails from Dunkirk for Scotland with with a French fleet and 5,000 troops. His aim is to raise and lead a Jacobite uprising against Queen Anne.




1836: In what would become known as the Battle of the Alamo, 187 Texian defenders, including frontiersman Davy Crockett and colonel Jim Bowie are killed when 3,000 Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launch an assault on the Alamo Mission, Texas, ending a 13 day siege.








1893 The opening of the Liverpool Overhead Railway (known locally as the Dockers' Umbrella) which operated for 7 miles along the Liverpool Docks.

. The railway had a number of world firsts - it was the first electric elevated railway, the first to use automatic signalling, electric colour light signals and electric multiple units and was home to one of the first passenger escalators at a railway station.




On March 6, 1918, the Representation of the People Act was passed, one of the most significant pieces of legislation in British history. This Act gave women over the age of 30 the right to vote for the first time, alongside men of all adult ages.




6 March 1923: Scotland's first radio broadcast takes place when Glasgow radio station, 5SC, is launched by the BBC.






On this day in 1924, the Egyptian government opened the mummy case of King Tutankhamen, ruler of Egypt in the 14th century bce, whose burial chamber had been discovered in 1922 by renowned British archaeologist Howard Carter.





1969 Sandie Shaw is "arrested" in Paris for being dressed up like a French policeman. The English singer is released a few hours later after she'd explained she'd had gone to France to promote her new record, "Monsieur Dupont," about a French romeo.
 
6th March

1957 Ghana celebrated independence. Ghana became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve independence from a European colonial power. The new state was made up of the former British colony of the Gold Coast and the Trusteeship Territory of Togoland.

1961 'Ukulele king' Formby died. One of Britain's most popular entertainers, George Formby, died after suffering a heart attack. Lancashire-born Formby, 56, was one of the UK's best-paid stars during his heyday in the 1930s and 1940s.

1970 Rabies ban on British pet imports. The British Government announced an indefinite ban on the importation of domestic pets.

1987 MS Herald of Free Enterprise, a roll on/roll off ferry, capsized moments after leaving the Belgian port of Zeebrugge on the night of 6 March 1987, killing 193 passengers and crew.
 
1899
German chemist, Felix Hoffmann at German company, Bayer patents aspirin{acetylsalicylic acid}
1933
Eleanor Roosevelt becomes the 1st 1st lady to hold an official press conference in the White House
1966
Barry Sadler's single' Ballad of the Green Berets' hits #1 on music charts stays there for 13 weeks
2000
15th RocknRoll Hall of Fame inductees inc Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Earth, Wind&Fire, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Lovin Spoonful
2018
WWII U.S. aircraft carrier USS Lexington is rediscovered in Australia's Coral sea. It was originally lost during the Battle of Coral Sea in 1942
 
March 7th






On 7th March 1695, Sir John Trevor from the Brynkinalt estate near Chirk in Denbighshire, Speaker of the House of Commons, was expelled for taking a bribe of 1000 guineas (£1.6 million in 2009). He remained the only Speaker to be forced out of office until Michael Martin resigned in 2009.

Interestingly, Trevor was severely cross-eyed, which caused confusion as to which MP had 'caught the Speaker's eye' and led to many of them speaking out of turn.



On 7 March 1744, the world's first golf club was founded in Edinburgh.





1876The Scottish-born inventor, Alexander Graham Bell, patented the telephone. Bell's father, grandfather, and brother had all been associated with work on elocution and speech, and both his mother and wife were deaf; factors that profoundly influenced Bell's life's work. Ironically, Bell considered the telephone an intrusion on his real work as a scientist and he refused to have a telephone in his study.

1900A fire at Buckingham Palace destroyed part of its roof.




1926The first transatlantic telephone call was made, from London to New York.



In 1929, the United Kingdom held a general election that would have a significant impact on the political landscape. On March 7th, the results of the election were announced.The Labour Party, led by Ramsay MacDonald, won the election and formed a minority government.





1968The first news programme in colour was broadcast on BBC2.



On March 5, 1990, the Soviet Congress of People’s Deputies repealed the Communist Party’s monopoly on power.



1965 The Mannish Boys (featuring young David Bowie ) released their first single on this day March 5 which is a rendition of Bobby Bland‘s song ‘I Pity the Fool’.






1987: The first five Beatles albums, Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night, Beatles for Sale and Help! are released in the United States on Compact disc. But only only in mono as Capitol Records decided to release the original UK mixes. It would not be until 2009 before the stereo mixes would be released on CD.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top