by David West | Jul 7, 2026 | News
On the 7th of July in 1456 Joan of Arc was acquitted of heresy, 25 years after her execution. In 1928 sliced bread was invented, and in 1953 Che Guevara set off on his grand tour of Central and South America. But I’ve already written about those, so today I give you...
by David West | Jul 6, 2026 | News
On the 6th of July, 1885, Louis Pasteur successfully tested his vaccine against rabies on Joseph Meister, a boy who had been bitten by a rabid dog. Pasteur got a mention in my post on antiseptics, but let us look into vaccination. The origins of vaccination can be...
by David West | Jul 5, 2026 | News
On the 5th of July, 1851, Thomas Cook organised the first package holiday, or excursion, from Leicester to Loughborough. I have posted on a few of the package holidays that Claire and I have taken, such as the Valley of the Kings, and Machu Picchu. Let’s explore the...
by David West | Jul 4, 2026 | News
I have written about the Battle of Marathon. So let’s have a look at a later Ancient Greek battle. The Battle of Mantinea was fought on the 4th of July in 362 BCE. The Battle of Mantinea, fought in 362 BC, was one of the most significant and decisive engagements of...
by David West | Jul 3, 2026 | News
On the 3rd of July, 987, Hugh Capet was crowned King of France. Hugh Capet (c.939–996) was one of the most important, yet often understated figures in European history. As the founder of the Capetian dynasty, his accession to the throne in 987 marked the beginning of...
