On This Day


25 APRIL 1945 Soviet and US troops meet at the Elbe River American forces pushing east and Russian forces advancing west meet near Torgau. The contact cuts Germany in two and brings closer the end of the Nazi state.

25 April 1945 | Soviet and US troops meet at the Elbe


  MARY SHELLEY’S FRANKENSTEIN IS FIRST PUBLISHED 11 MARCH 1818 Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is first published in London. First published anonymously, it has never been out of print. It was adapted for the stage as early as 1822 and has become a favourite for depiction in film and television.

11 March 1818 | Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is first published



  BELL MAKES THE FIRST TRUE ‘PHONE CALL 10 MARCH 1876   Alexander Graham Bell makes the first bi-directional transmission of clear speech. The first words spoken were “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.” Mr Watson answered and history was made. The first commercial services would start a year later.

10 March 2017 | Bell makes the first true ‘phone call


ÉAMON DE VALERA BECOMES LEADER OF IRELAND 9 MARCH 1932 Éamon de Valera becomes President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State. This office would be replaced by the Taoiseach in the 1937 Constitution of Ireland. De Valera was instrumental in moving Ireland from British Dominion to a truly independent republic.

9 March 1932 | Éamon de Valera becomes leader of Ireland



THE TREATY OF GRANADA COMPLETES  THE RECONQUISTA 25 NOVEMBER 1491 The Treaty of Granada was signed and ratified on November 25, 1491 between Boabdil, the sultan of Granada, and Ferdinand and Isabella, the King and Queen of Castile, León, Aragon and Sicily. The Capitulation of Granada effectively completed the Christian reconquest of Spain.

25 November 1491 | The Treaty of Granada is signed


THE FIRST BOOK FEATURING PADDINGTON BEAR IS PUBLISHED 13 OCTOBER 1958 The first book featuring Paddington Bear is published. Paddington, created by Michael Bond and primarily illustrated by Peggy Fortnum, recently made the transition to the big screen in Paddington the Movie.

13 October 1958 | Paddington Bear is first published



THE BATTLE FOR HAVANA IN THE WAR OF JENKINS’ EAR 12 OCTOBER 1748 The Royal Navy meets the Armada Española in the Battle for Havana. Although the British secured a tactical victory, they didn’t press home their advantage. This was the last engagement of the fantastically named War of Jenkins’ Ear.

12 October 1748 | Battle for Havana in the War of Jenkins’ ...


THE GREAT FIRE OF CHICAGO BURNS THE WINDY CITY 10 OCTOBER 1871 After blazing for a day and a half, the Great Fire of Chicago reduces 3.3 square miles of the Windy City to cinders. Up to 300 people are killed and 100,000 made homeless. Many of the city’s buildings were wooden, providing ready fuel for the intense conflagration.   Hello! Thank you for visiting! If you’ve […]

10 October 1871 | The Great Fire of Chicago burns out



OTTOMAN NAVY DEFEATED IN THE BATTLE OF LEPANTO 7 OCTOBER 1571 A coalition of Spanish and Italian naval forces meet their Ottoman rivals at the Battle of Lepanto. The engagement marks the end of Ottoman expansion in the Mediterranean and cements Spain’s growing reputation as an imperial sea power.

7 October 1571 | The Battle of Lepanto


BRITISH RAIL STARTS INTERCITY 125 SERVICES 4 OCTOBER 1976 British Rail’s InterCity 125 service, the world’s fastest diesel-powered train, began operations on the Western Region. These trains will  only start to be replaced by the new Class 800 Intercity Express from next year.

4 October 1976 | British Rail starts InterCity 125 services



GERMAN REUNIFICATION COMPLETES 3 OCTOBER 1990 The states of the German Democratic Republic join the Federal German Republic to form a single state. The day is commemorated as a holiday in Germany – the Day of German Unity (Tag der deutschen Einheit).

3 October 1990 | German reunification completes


THE TEXAS REVOLUTION BEGINS IN GONZALES 2 OCTOBER 1835 A rebellion breaks out in the Spanish controlled province of Texas. Just over six months later, the victorious Texan rebels took control of an independent Republic of Texas. Ten years later, Texas became the USA’s 28th state.

2 October 1835 | The Texas Revolution begins



THE SOVIET UNION’S FIRST FIVE YEAR PLAN IS ANNOUNCED 1 OCTOBER 1966 Josef Stalin announces the start of the USSR’s first Five Year Plan. The intention was to industrialise the vast and still largely agrarian country. In terms of factory output it succeeded, but at what human costs?

1 October 1928 | Stalin announces the first Five Year Plan




THE METROPOLITAN POLICE OF LONDON IS FOUNDED 29 SEPTEMBER 1829 Metropolitan Police patrols first take to the streets of London on 29 September 1829. This was despite resistance from many Londoners who saw them as a force for government oppression and a threat to civil liberties.

29 September 1829 | The Metropolitan Police of London is founded


WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR LANDS AT PEVENSEY 28 SEPTEMBER 1066 On one of the most dramatic days of English history, William, Duke of Normandy, lands his invasion fleet at Pevensey. His c. 10,000 men would go on to defeat Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings.  

28 September 1066 | William the Conqueror lands in England