I have posted about inventors and inventions before. You may, like me, be sitting near a Christmas tree bedecked with baubles and a string or two of electric fairy lights. On the 22nd of December 1882 Thomas Edison created the first string of electric Christmas tree...

On 21st December 1934 the French film Zouzou, starring Josephine Baker premiered in Paris. Josephine Baker was the first black woman to star in a major motion picture. I have posted about her before, focusing on her work as a spy during World War II. Zouzou is a...

On 20th December 1192 Richard I was captured near Vienna by Leopold of Austria on his return from the Third Crusade. Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart (1157–1199), is one of history’s most iconic monarchs. Born to King Henry II of England and...

On 19th December 1686 Robinson Crusoe left his desert island after 28 years of being marooned, according to Daniel Defoe’s famous novel. Daniel Defoe (c. 1660 – April 24, 1731) was an English writer, journalist, businessman, and covert government agent, widely...

On 18th December 1965 Gemini 7 splashed down after almost two weeks orbiting the Earth. It was Jim Lovell’s first space flight, Frank Borman was the Pilot in Command. I have posted about my favourite films, and although I named several, Apollo 13 is top. James Arthur...

On This Day tells me that on 17th December 1572 the Spanish set fires in Haarlem, in the Netherlands, during the Eighty Years War. Sir Anthony Standen was sent by Walsingham as a spy during that war. In my account of his incredible life, The Spy who Sank the Armada,...

I have posted recently about potatoes and Sir Walter Raleigh. Discoveries like potatoes and tobacco would probably not have been made without contact with native Americans. That’s where Myles Standish comes in. Myles Standish (c. 1584–1656) was an English military...

On 15th December 1569 Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland (1542–1601) fled to Scotland after the failure of his rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I. He was an English nobleman whose life is remembered for his role in the northern rebellion against Queen Elizabeth...

On 14th December 1542 Princess Mary Stuart became Queen Mary I of Scotland upon the death of her father King James V. She was just six days old. Her early reign was governed by regents due to her infancy. Mary was sent to France at the age of five, betrothed to the...

I have posted about inventors and inventions before. You may, like me, be sitting near a Christmas tree bedecked with baubles and a string or two of electric fairy lights. On the 22nd of December 1882 Thomas Edison created the first string of electric Christmas tree...

On 21st December 1934 the French film Zouzou, starring Josephine Baker premiered in Paris. Josephine Baker was the first black woman to star in a major motion picture. I have posted about her before, focusing on her work as a spy during World War II. Zouzou is a...

On 20th December 1192 Richard I was captured near Vienna by Leopold of Austria on his return from the Third Crusade. Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart (1157–1199), is one of history’s most iconic monarchs. Born to King Henry II of England and...

On 19th December 1686 Robinson Crusoe left his desert island after 28 years of being marooned, according to Daniel Defoe’s famous novel. Daniel Defoe (c. 1660 – April 24, 1731) was an English writer, journalist, businessman, and covert government agent, widely...

On 18th December 1965 Gemini 7 splashed down after almost two weeks orbiting the Earth. It was Jim Lovell’s first space flight, Frank Borman was the Pilot in Command. I have posted about my favourite films, and although I named several, Apollo 13 is top. James Arthur...

On This Day tells me that on 17th December 1572 the Spanish set fires in Haarlem, in the Netherlands, during the Eighty Years War. Sir Anthony Standen was sent by Walsingham as a spy during that war. In my account of his incredible life, The Spy who Sank the Armada,...

I have posted recently about potatoes and Sir Walter Raleigh. Discoveries like potatoes and tobacco would probably not have been made without contact with native Americans. That’s where Myles Standish comes in. Myles Standish (c. 1584–1656) was an English military...

On 15th December 1569 Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland (1542–1601) fled to Scotland after the failure of his rebellion against Queen Elizabeth I. He was an English nobleman whose life is remembered for his role in the northern rebellion against Queen Elizabeth...

On 14th December 1542 Princess Mary Stuart became Queen Mary I of Scotland upon the death of her father King James V. She was just six days old. Her early reign was governed by regents due to her infancy. Mary was sent to France at the age of five, betrothed to the...