Income Tax
On the 9th of January 1799 the Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, introduced income tax in order to raise money for the war against Napoleon. I’ve written about tax before, a necessary burden for a just society. William Pitt the Younger was a prominent British...
Writing Inspiration
Although most of my posts are inspired by historical events of this day, as a writer I’m also interested in all things writing, especially writing inspiration. Today I can address both, since the On This Day website tells me that on the 8th of January 1981 Isabel...
Francis and Anthony Bacon
On the 7th January 1618 Francis Bacon became Lord Chancellor of England. Francis Bacon (1561-1626) and his younger brother, Anthony Bacon (1558-1601), were prominent figures in the intellectual and political landscape of late Elizabethan and early Jacobean England....
George Villiers
On 6th December 1617 George Villiers was made Earl of Buckingham by King James I, replacing Robert Carr, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628). He was a prominent figure in the early 17th century English court, known for his close relationship with King James I, and his...
The Dreyfus Affair
The On This Day website tells me that on 5th January 1895 Captain Dreyfus was convicted of treason by a French military court. Encyclopedia Britannica says that the conviction was in December 1894. Never mind, I’ll write about it anyway. The Dreyfus Affair concerned...
King Charles I
King Charles I's attack on Parliament on 4th January 1642 marked a pivotal moment in English history, leading to the English Civil War. The conflict arose from escalating tensions between the monarchy and Parliament over issues of governance, taxation, and the...
Leonardo da Vinci
On 3rd January 1496 Leonardo da Vinci unsuccesfully tested his flying machine. Leonardo da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance polymath, is renowned for his contributions to art, science, and engineering. Among his many visionary ideas, his fascination with flight...
Reconquista
On 2nd January 1492 Muhammad XII, the last Emir of Granada, surrendered the city to Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabel I of Castile, ending both the Reconquista and centuries of Muslim rule in the Iberian peninsula The Reconquista began in 711 AD when Muslim forces,...
Rio de Janeiro
I have posted about our trip this year to South America. Rio de Janeiro and the Amazon Rainforest were the highlights if Brazil. It was on the 1st of January 1502, that the area now known as Rio de Janeiro was discovered by a Portuguese expedition led by Gonçalo...
Income Tax
On the 9th of January 1799 the Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, introduced income tax in order to raise money for the war against Napoleon. I’ve written about tax before, a necessary burden for a just society. William Pitt the Younger was a prominent British...
Writing Inspiration
Although most of my posts are inspired by historical events of this day, as a writer I’m also interested in all things writing, especially writing inspiration. Today I can address both, since the On This Day website tells me that on the 8th of January 1981 Isabel...
Francis and Anthony Bacon
On the 7th January 1618 Francis Bacon became Lord Chancellor of England. Francis Bacon (1561-1626) and his younger brother, Anthony Bacon (1558-1601), were prominent figures in the intellectual and political landscape of late Elizabethan and early Jacobean England....
George Villiers
On 6th December 1617 George Villiers was made Earl of Buckingham by King James I, replacing Robert Carr, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628). He was a prominent figure in the early 17th century English court, known for his close relationship with King James I, and his...
The Dreyfus Affair
The On This Day website tells me that on 5th January 1895 Captain Dreyfus was convicted of treason by a French military court. Encyclopedia Britannica says that the conviction was in December 1894. Never mind, I’ll write about it anyway. The Dreyfus Affair concerned...
King Charles I
King Charles I's attack on Parliament on 4th January 1642 marked a pivotal moment in English history, leading to the English Civil War. The conflict arose from escalating tensions between the monarchy and Parliament over issues of governance, taxation, and the...
Leonardo da Vinci
On 3rd January 1496 Leonardo da Vinci unsuccesfully tested his flying machine. Leonardo da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance polymath, is renowned for his contributions to art, science, and engineering. Among his many visionary ideas, his fascination with flight...
Reconquista
On 2nd January 1492 Muhammad XII, the last Emir of Granada, surrendered the city to Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabel I of Castile, ending both the Reconquista and centuries of Muslim rule in the Iberian peninsula The Reconquista began in 711 AD when Muslim forces,...
Rio de Janeiro
I have posted about our trip this year to South America. Rio de Janeiro and the Amazon Rainforest were the highlights if Brazil. It was on the 1st of January 1502, that the area now known as Rio de Janeiro was discovered by a Portuguese expedition led by Gonçalo...