Submarine

Submarine

On the 17th of February 1864, during the American Civil War, the H.L. Hunley became the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic. Having been commissioned in the Royal Naval Resrerve, I have immense respect for submariners. I posted very...

read more
Triennial Act

Triennial Act

There have been several Triennial Acts, but the first one received Royal Assent on 16th February 1641. The purpose of the act was to require that Parliament meet for at least a fifty day session, once every three years. It doesn’t sound much, does it. But this was...

read more
Socrates

Socrates

On the 15th February 399 B.C. Socrates was sentenced to death by the city of Athens. I thought I had already posted about Socrates, but I appear to mistaken. I have posted on philosophy, but Socrates did not get the attention he deserves. Socrates (469 - 399 B.C.) was...

read more
The Battle of Cape St. Vincent

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought on 14th February 1797. By the late 18th century, Europe was engulfed in war following the French Revolution. Britain and Spain had been allies in earlier conflicts, but in 1796, Spain allied with France against Britain as part...

read more
Galileo

Galileo

On 13th February 1633, the polymath genius, Galileo Galilei, arrived in Rome to be tried by the inquisition for professing his belief that the Earth revolves around the Sun. I have posted about Galileo before, and he is a character in Fire and Earth, the second book...

read more
Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane Grey

On 12th February 1554 Lady Jane Grey was executed after only nine days as queen.  Jane was born in 1537, the great-granddaughter of Henry VII through her mother, Lady Frances Brandon, who was the daughter of Mary Tudor, Henry VIII’s sister. This royal lineage placed...

read more
Shylock

Shylock

Claire and I went to see a quite brilliant performance of The Merchant of Venice last night at the Theatre Royal in Bath. Claire said it was the most moving performance she has seen of any play, anywhere, and I wholeheartedly agree. There were a few adaptations:...

read more
Britannicus

Britannicus

On 11th February 55 AD Britannicus was murdered. I recently posted about the murder of Emperor Commodus, but it’s never too soon for another grisly Roman murder. Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, commonly known as Britannicus, was the son of the Roman Emperor...

read more
William Davenant

William Davenant

On 10th February 1635 William Davenant’s play, “The Temple of Love”, was performed at Whitehall featuring Queen Henrietta Maria. Sir William Davenant was an English poet, playwright, and theatrical figure, best known for his role in the development of English drama...

read more
Submarine

Submarine

On the 17th of February 1864, during the American Civil War, the H.L. Hunley became the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic. Having been commissioned in the Royal Naval Resrerve, I have immense respect for submariners. I posted very...

read more
Triennial Act

Triennial Act

There have been several Triennial Acts, but the first one received Royal Assent on 16th February 1641. The purpose of the act was to require that Parliament meet for at least a fifty day session, once every three years. It doesn’t sound much, does it. But this was...

read more
Socrates

Socrates

On the 15th February 399 B.C. Socrates was sentenced to death by the city of Athens. I thought I had already posted about Socrates, but I appear to mistaken. I have posted on philosophy, but Socrates did not get the attention he deserves. Socrates (469 - 399 B.C.) was...

read more
The Battle of Cape St. Vincent

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent

The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought on 14th February 1797. By the late 18th century, Europe was engulfed in war following the French Revolution. Britain and Spain had been allies in earlier conflicts, but in 1796, Spain allied with France against Britain as part...

read more
Galileo

Galileo

On 13th February 1633, the polymath genius, Galileo Galilei, arrived in Rome to be tried by the inquisition for professing his belief that the Earth revolves around the Sun. I have posted about Galileo before, and he is a character in Fire and Earth, the second book...

read more
Lady Jane Grey

Lady Jane Grey

On 12th February 1554 Lady Jane Grey was executed after only nine days as queen.  Jane was born in 1537, the great-granddaughter of Henry VII through her mother, Lady Frances Brandon, who was the daughter of Mary Tudor, Henry VIII’s sister. This royal lineage placed...

read more
Shylock

Shylock

Claire and I went to see a quite brilliant performance of The Merchant of Venice last night at the Theatre Royal in Bath. Claire said it was the most moving performance she has seen of any play, anywhere, and I wholeheartedly agree. There were a few adaptations:...

read more
Britannicus

Britannicus

On 11th February 55 AD Britannicus was murdered. I recently posted about the murder of Emperor Commodus, but it’s never too soon for another grisly Roman murder. Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, commonly known as Britannicus, was the son of the Roman Emperor...

read more
William Davenant

William Davenant

On 10th February 1635 William Davenant’s play, “The Temple of Love”, was performed at Whitehall featuring Queen Henrietta Maria. Sir William Davenant was an English poet, playwright, and theatrical figure, best known for his role in the development of English drama...

read more