The funeral of Pocahontas, 1617
In 1596 an Algonquian princess with the formal names of Matoaka and Amonute was born in an area known as Tenakomakah (modern day Virginia). She was the daughter of Wahunsunacawh…
Pact of the League of Arab States signed, 1945
The late-nineteenth century saw the emergence of an Arab patriotism that opposed Ottoman rule. The British exploited this opposition during the First World War by sending Captain T. E. Lawrence…
Elisha Otis installed his first passenger elevator, 1857
Man has used hoisted platforms to move materials since ancient times, but the ever present danger of the rope or cable snapping prevented the widespread use of such devices to…
Ludwig van Beethoven died, 1827
Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, then part of the Electorate of Cologne, in December 1770. He came from a musical family: his grandfather was musical director at the…
First Rugby Union international, 1871
The issue of the sporting journal Bell’s Weekly published on 8th December 1870 included the following challenge issued by the captains of five Scottish rugby clubs: “with a view of…
First seaplane flight, 1910
On 28th March 1910, Henri Fabre made the first successful flight in a seaplane at Martigues, near Marseilles. Fabre took four years to design and build the Fabre Hydravion, nicknamed…
Eiffel Tower inaugurated, 1889
In 1884, the French structural engineer and architect, Gustave Eiffel, started to draw up plans for a 300-metre tall iron tower. He submitted his design as an entrance arch to…
The United States Mint established, 1792
On 2nd April 1792, the U.S. Congress passed An act establishing a mint, and regulating the Coins of the United States, more commonly known as The Coinage Act. This legislation…
The Beatles held the top five slots on U.S. singles chart, 1964
In April 1963, The Beatles had their first number one hit single in the United Kingdom. “From Me To You” was the first of eleven consecutive singles released by the…
First modern Olympiad, 1896
On 6th April 1896, the Greek King, George I, officially opened the first summer Olympic games of the modern period at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, Greece, with the words:…