by David West | Apr 4, 2025 | News
On the 4th of April, 1581, Francis Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I following his circumnavigation of the world. Francis Drake, a prominent figure in the late 16th century, was a pivotal character in the maritime history of England, celebrated for his daring...
by David West | Apr 3, 2025 | News
On the 3rd of April, 1721, Robert Walpole became, in effect, the first Prime Minister of Great Britain, although he didn’t use that title. Born on the 26th of August, 1676, in Houghton, Norfolk, Walpole’s political career spanned six decades, during which he...
by David West | Apr 2, 2025 | News
Ludwig Van Beethoven led the premiere of his first symphony in Vienna, on the 2nd of April, 1800. Beethoven, a name that resonates through the annals of classical music history, remains one of the most influential and revered composers of all time. Born in Bonn,...
by David West | Apr 1, 2025 | News
On the 1st of April 1572 the Sea Beggars, or Waterguezen, captured Brielle. In my account of the life of my ancestor, the Elizabethan spy, Sir Anthony Standen, he serves with the Sea Beggars for a few months. The book is called The Spy who Sank the Armada, the first...
by David West | Mar 31, 2025 | News
The Alhambra Decree, also known as the Edict of Expulsion, stands as one of the most pivotal and controversial decisions in Spanish history. Issued on the 31st of March, 1492, by the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, this decree...
