UK
King of the Anglo Saxons c860 AD
The first ‘King of England’ emerges out of the Dark Ages
Read MoreDefining the English Yard 1824
The unit of measurement ‘the yard’ has been in English usage for hundreds of years. Quite how it’s length came to be a unit of measurement is lost but various theories abound, it roughly equates to a man’s stride or it has been suggested that it is the girth of a man. The need to…
Read MoreThe Athenaeum Pall Mall
The Athenaeum is a club in London’s Pall Mall. It was founded in 1824 by a chap called John Crocker. He encouraged scientists, writers and artists to join the club and amongst it’s notable members are Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, T.S Eliot, J.M.W Turner and Keats to name but a few. The importance of ‘the…
Read MoreEdmund Halley died 1742
Halleys Comet Astronomer who again is contributing to the observations of the natural world and universe that free-up and discard old thinking , creating the climate that would foster the period of enlightenment that was to follow.
Read MoreRobert Walpole died 1745
Robert Walpole survived for three years after his resignation in 1742 but he had been very ill with kidney disease for a number of years. His last few months were spent in great pain and eventually under heavy sedation. He died on 18th March 1745.
Read MoreGeorge II reigned 1727 – 1760
George II reigned over 33 years of rapid change in the political and economic circumstances of Britain
Read More1824 Patent for Portland cement
The 1824 patent for portland cement, an immensely important patent that allowed us the docks, the sewers and tunnels under the Thames.The importance of Portland cement in the development of English towns and cities cannot be underestimated.
Read More1825 Invention of the electromagnet
The electromagnet invented 1825 by William Sturgeon who was a remarkable self taught shoemaker, philosopher and scientist.
Read More1833 Factory Act
How effective was the Factory Act of 1833?
Read More1833 Michael Faraday introduces laws of electrolysis
Michael Faraday quite possibly the most important and influential scientist of the C19th
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