Gutenberg Bible
On This Day tells me that on the 23rd of February 1455 Johannes Gutenberg printed his first bible. It does add that this is an estimated date. Johannes Gutenberg (c. 1400 - 1468) was a German inventor and printer who developed the first practical method of printing...
Galileo
On the 22nd of February, 1632, Galileo’s “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” was published. I have posted about Galileo before, because he is a character in Fire and Earth, the second book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. Galileo dedicated his book...
Joan of Arc
On the 21st of February 1431, the interrogation began in the trial of Joan of Arc for heresy. The trial of Joan of Arc (1412 - 1431) was a politically motivated inquisition orchestrated by the English and their allies during the Hundred Years’ War. Joan, a young...
Anthony Eden and Memorable Writing
On the 20th of February 1938 Anthony Eden resigned as Foreign Secretary because of the appeasement policy of Neville Chamberlain’s government. As a writer I’m interested in what makes writing memorable. There is one page of writing that I have read once, and that must...
Happy Parliament
The Happy Parliament of 1624 was the last Parliament of King James I of England and earned its name because it convened in a period of rare agreement between the king, his son Prince Charles, and Parliament. It was opened on the 19th of February and marked a...
Quantum Mechanics and Detctive Fiction
I have posted about quantum mechanics previously in my post on Schroedinger’s Cat. My introduction to quantum mechanics was at Oxford whilst studying Engineering Science. The mysteries of the quantum world involve the dual nature of light in which it can behave as...
Malmsey Wine
On 18th of February 1478, George, Duke of Clarence was executed. He was the brother of King Edward IV. It is said that to avoid bloodshed he was drowned in a vat of malmsey wine, supposedly George’s favourite tipple. George, Duke of Clarence (1449 - 1478), was a...
Submarine
On the 17th of February 1864, during the American Civil War, the H.L. Hunley became the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic. Having been commissioned in the Royal Naval Resrerve, I have immense respect for submariners. I posted very...
Triennial Act
There have been several Triennial Acts, but the first one received Royal Assent on 16th February 1641. The purpose of the act was to require that Parliament meet for at least a fifty day session, once every three years. It doesn’t sound much, does it. But this was...
Gutenberg Bible
On This Day tells me that on the 23rd of February 1455 Johannes Gutenberg printed his first bible. It does add that this is an estimated date. Johannes Gutenberg (c. 1400 - 1468) was a German inventor and printer who developed the first practical method of printing...
Galileo
On the 22nd of February, 1632, Galileo’s “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” was published. I have posted about Galileo before, because he is a character in Fire and Earth, the second book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. Galileo dedicated his book...
Joan of Arc
On the 21st of February 1431, the interrogation began in the trial of Joan of Arc for heresy. The trial of Joan of Arc (1412 - 1431) was a politically motivated inquisition orchestrated by the English and their allies during the Hundred Years’ War. Joan, a young...
Anthony Eden and Memorable Writing
On the 20th of February 1938 Anthony Eden resigned as Foreign Secretary because of the appeasement policy of Neville Chamberlain’s government. As a writer I’m interested in what makes writing memorable. There is one page of writing that I have read once, and that must...
Happy Parliament
The Happy Parliament of 1624 was the last Parliament of King James I of England and earned its name because it convened in a period of rare agreement between the king, his son Prince Charles, and Parliament. It was opened on the 19th of February and marked a...
Quantum Mechanics and Detctive Fiction
I have posted about quantum mechanics previously in my post on Schroedinger’s Cat. My introduction to quantum mechanics was at Oxford whilst studying Engineering Science. The mysteries of the quantum world involve the dual nature of light in which it can behave as...
Malmsey Wine
On 18th of February 1478, George, Duke of Clarence was executed. He was the brother of King Edward IV. It is said that to avoid bloodshed he was drowned in a vat of malmsey wine, supposedly George’s favourite tipple. George, Duke of Clarence (1449 - 1478), was a...
Submarine
On the 17th of February 1864, during the American Civil War, the H.L. Hunley became the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic. Having been commissioned in the Royal Naval Resrerve, I have immense respect for submariners. I posted very...
Triennial Act
There have been several Triennial Acts, but the first one received Royal Assent on 16th February 1641. The purpose of the act was to require that Parliament meet for at least a fifty day session, once every three years. It doesn’t sound much, does it. But this was...