Cologne Cathedral
The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral was laid on the 15th of August, 1248. The cathedral was completed in 1880. I’ve worked on some long construction projects in my time, but that takes the biscuit. Situated in Cologne, Germany, this majestic structure is not...
King Duncan I
On the 14th of August, 1040, King Duncan I was killed in battle by his cousin, Macbeth. King Duncan I of Scotland, also known as Donnchad mac Crain, reigned from 1034 until his death in 1040. Born around 1001, Duncan was the grandson of King Malcolm II through his...
Cardinal Richelieu
On the 13th of August, 1624, King Louis XIII appointed Cardinal Richelieu as his prime minister. I have written about Richelieu before, and he is a character in my work in progress, the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. Armand Jean du Plessis, better...
Antiseptic
On the 12th of August, 1865, Joseph Lister performed the first antiseptic surgery. Since I introduced a doctor as an important character in Called to Account, the fourth book of the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures, I have had to research the history of medicine. Joseph...
Hedy Lamarr
On the 11th of August, 1942, the actress Hedy Lamarr and the composer George Antheil were granted a patent for a frequency hopping, spread-spectrum communication system that later became the basis for modern technologies in wireless telephones, two-way radio...
Overcoming the Monster
I’m currently reading John Le Carré’s George Smiley series, in order. Writers are readers too, and although there’s little similarity between Elizabethan and Cold War tradecraft, at a human level the spies are essentially the same. There isn’t much more I can do with...
Treaty of Nonsuch
The Treaty of Nonsuch was signed on the 10th of August, 1583, by Queen Elizabeth I and the Dutch rebels fighting Spanish rule. Historical Context The treaty emerged amidst the backdrop of the Dutch Revolt, an uprising of the Seventeen Provinces against the Spanish...
Watergate
On the 9th of August, 1974, Richard Nixon resigned as President of the United States as a direct result of the Watergate scandal. Origins of the Scandal The roots of the Watergate scandal trace back to the Nixon administration's attempts to secure re-election in 1972....
Battle of Gravelines
On the 8th of August, 1588, the Battle of Gravelines ended Spain’s first attempt to invade England with their Armada. It was a pivotal naval engagement between the English fleet and the Spanish Armada during the Anglo-Spanish War. This battle, occurring off the coast...
Cologne Cathedral
The foundation stone of Cologne Cathedral was laid on the 15th of August, 1248. The cathedral was completed in 1880. I’ve worked on some long construction projects in my time, but that takes the biscuit. Situated in Cologne, Germany, this majestic structure is not...
King Duncan I
On the 14th of August, 1040, King Duncan I was killed in battle by his cousin, Macbeth. King Duncan I of Scotland, also known as Donnchad mac Crain, reigned from 1034 until his death in 1040. Born around 1001, Duncan was the grandson of King Malcolm II through his...
Cardinal Richelieu
On the 13th of August, 1624, King Louis XIII appointed Cardinal Richelieu as his prime minister. I have written about Richelieu before, and he is a character in my work in progress, the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. Armand Jean du Plessis, better...
Antiseptic
On the 12th of August, 1865, Joseph Lister performed the first antiseptic surgery. Since I introduced a doctor as an important character in Called to Account, the fourth book of the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures, I have had to research the history of medicine. Joseph...
Hedy Lamarr
On the 11th of August, 1942, the actress Hedy Lamarr and the composer George Antheil were granted a patent for a frequency hopping, spread-spectrum communication system that later became the basis for modern technologies in wireless telephones, two-way radio...
Overcoming the Monster
I’m currently reading John Le Carré’s George Smiley series, in order. Writers are readers too, and although there’s little similarity between Elizabethan and Cold War tradecraft, at a human level the spies are essentially the same. There isn’t much more I can do with...
Treaty of Nonsuch
The Treaty of Nonsuch was signed on the 10th of August, 1583, by Queen Elizabeth I and the Dutch rebels fighting Spanish rule. Historical Context The treaty emerged amidst the backdrop of the Dutch Revolt, an uprising of the Seventeen Provinces against the Spanish...
Watergate
On the 9th of August, 1974, Richard Nixon resigned as President of the United States as a direct result of the Watergate scandal. Origins of the Scandal The roots of the Watergate scandal trace back to the Nixon administration's attempts to secure re-election in 1972....
Battle of Gravelines
On the 8th of August, 1588, the Battle of Gravelines ended Spain’s first attempt to invade England with their Armada. It was a pivotal naval engagement between the English fleet and the Spanish Armada during the Anglo-Spanish War. This battle, occurring off the coast...