Richard The Lionheart
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...
Daniel Defoe
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...
Jim Lovell
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...
Haarlem
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,...
First Encounter
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...
Charles Neville
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...
Mary Queen of Scots
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...
Sir Francis Drake
On 13th December 1577 Sir Francis Drake set sail from Plymouth on his three year circumnavigation of the globe. It was an extraordinary expedition that cemented his reputation as one of England’s greatest explorers and privateers. Commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I,...
Beethoven and Haydn
The On This Day website tells me that on the twelfth of December 1792, Beethoven had his first lesson in composition from Haydn. I’ve posted about being interviewed at the Dartmouth Book Festival by John Suchet. I doubt that anyone knows more about Beethoven than...
Richard The Lionheart
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...
Daniel Defoe
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...
Jim Lovell
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...
Haarlem
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,...
First Encounter
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...
Charles Neville
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...
Mary Queen of Scots
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...
Sir Francis Drake
On 13th December 1577 Sir Francis Drake set sail from Plymouth on his three year circumnavigation of the globe. It was an extraordinary expedition that cemented his reputation as one of England’s greatest explorers and privateers. Commissioned by Queen Elizabeth I,...
Beethoven and Haydn
The On This Day website tells me that on the twelfth of December 1792, Beethoven had his first lesson in composition from Haydn. I’ve posted about being interviewed at the Dartmouth Book Festival by John Suchet. I doubt that anyone knows more about Beethoven than...