Witchcraft
On the 5th of December, 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued the Summis desiderantes affectibus, a papal bull appointing Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger as inquisitors to root out alleged witchcraft in Germany. I have chosen witchcraft today as, together with...
Mary Celeste
On the 4th of December, 1872, the American brigantine Mary Celeste was found drifting in the Atlantic. She had departed New York Harbour on the 7th of November, bound for Genoa, Italy. She was carrying a cargo of 1,701 barrels of industrial alcohol. Her captain was...
Camelot
The anniversaries which catch my eye today, the 3rd of December, are the the hoisting of the Continental Union Flag (the precursor of the Stars and Stripes) on the USS Alfred by John Paul Jones in 1775, and the debut of the musical Camelot at the Majestic Theatre on...
Sir Christopher Wren
On the 2nd of December, 1697, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, rebuilt to Sir Christopher Wren’s design after the Great Fire of London, was consecrated. Sir Christopher Wren (1632–1723) was one of the most influential architects in British history, renowned for his role in...
Sir Christopher Hatton
On the 1st of December, 1577, Christopher Hatton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I. Sir Christopher Hatton (1540–1591) was an influential courtier, statesman, and Lord Chancellor in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. His life provides a fascinating glimpse into the...
Cities for Life Day
The 30th of November Is celebrated as “Cities for Life Day”. It began in 1786 on the day that the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, under Pietro Leopoldo, became the first civil state in the world to do away with torture and capital punishment. I confess that I had not known...
UN Partition Plan for Palestine
On the 29th of November, 1947, the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was adopted by the UN General Assembly. The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine of 1947 was a pivotal moment in the history of the Middle East, representing a formal international...
Royal Society
The Royal Society, formally known as The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is one of the oldest and most prestigious scientific institutions in the world. It was founded in 1660 during a period of profound intellectual transformation often...
Marcus Aurelius
On the 27th of November, 176 CE, Marcus Aurelius granted his son, Commodus, the rank of Imperator, and made him Supreme Commander of the Roman legions. I have written about Commodus before, and the Miracle of the Rain, but there must be more we can explore about...
Witchcraft
On the 5th of December, 1484, Pope Innocent VIII issued the Summis desiderantes affectibus, a papal bull appointing Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger as inquisitors to root out alleged witchcraft in Germany. I have chosen witchcraft today as, together with...
Mary Celeste
On the 4th of December, 1872, the American brigantine Mary Celeste was found drifting in the Atlantic. She had departed New York Harbour on the 7th of November, bound for Genoa, Italy. She was carrying a cargo of 1,701 barrels of industrial alcohol. Her captain was...
Camelot
The anniversaries which catch my eye today, the 3rd of December, are the the hoisting of the Continental Union Flag (the precursor of the Stars and Stripes) on the USS Alfred by John Paul Jones in 1775, and the debut of the musical Camelot at the Majestic Theatre on...
Sir Christopher Wren
On the 2nd of December, 1697, Saint Paul’s Cathedral, rebuilt to Sir Christopher Wren’s design after the Great Fire of London, was consecrated. Sir Christopher Wren (1632–1723) was one of the most influential architects in British history, renowned for his role in...
Sir Christopher Hatton
On the 1st of December, 1577, Christopher Hatton was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I. Sir Christopher Hatton (1540–1591) was an influential courtier, statesman, and Lord Chancellor in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. His life provides a fascinating glimpse into the...
Cities for Life Day
The 30th of November Is celebrated as “Cities for Life Day”. It began in 1786 on the day that the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, under Pietro Leopoldo, became the first civil state in the world to do away with torture and capital punishment. I confess that I had not known...
UN Partition Plan for Palestine
On the 29th of November, 1947, the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine was adopted by the UN General Assembly. The United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine of 1947 was a pivotal moment in the history of the Middle East, representing a formal international...
Royal Society
The Royal Society, formally known as The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, is one of the oldest and most prestigious scientific institutions in the world. It was founded in 1660 during a period of profound intellectual transformation often...
Marcus Aurelius
On the 27th of November, 176 CE, Marcus Aurelius granted his son, Commodus, the rank of Imperator, and made him Supreme Commander of the Roman legions. I have written about Commodus before, and the Miracle of the Rain, but there must be more we can explore about...