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History of England
Journey back in time to England
(United Kingdom)
Visit England. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.
Are you from England ? Do you have ancestors from there? Tell us YOUR story!

In 1591, Sir John Harington of England invented the flush toilet.
In 1666, Isaac Newton of England, discovers gravity.
In 1698, Thomas Savery, of England, invents the steam engine.
In 1870, The British House of Lords officially decided that a man cannot marry his widow's sister.
In England, Santa Claus is known as Father Christmas. Children set their Christmas wish lists on fire instead of putting them in the mail. Gifts are not placed under the Christmas tree, they are placed at the foot of the bed inside a big stocking.
Crimbo is an English slang word for Christmas.
Instead of leaving cookies and milk for Santa, children in England leave brandy, cookies and mince pie for Father Christmas.
The pulling of Christmas crackers often accompanies food on Christmas Day. Invented by a London baker in 1846, a cracker is a brightly colored paper tube, twisted at both ends, which contains a party hat, riddle and toy or other trinket. When it is pulled by two people it gives out a crack as its contents are dispersed. worldholidaytraditions.com
The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day. It is a day for servants to receive a Christmas box.
There is MUCH more to discover about England. Read on!
Old Photos, Pictures, Advertisements and Postcards from England
Internet Genealogy by Moorshead Magazines Ltd
History, News and Stories of England

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The Stone of Destiny was stolen from Scotland by King Edward I of England in 1296 and placed under the throne at Westminster Abbey in London.
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1430 - Capture, trial, and execution of Joan of Arc
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1455 - The Wars of the Roses begin in England
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1509 - King Henry VIII marries his first wife, Katherine of Aragon
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1533 - Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn
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1534 - Henry VIII broke with the Church in Rome with the Act of Supremacy, which made the king head of the Church of England
www.datesandevents.org/ places-timelines/ 16-england-history-timeline.htm
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1536 - Anne Boleyn tried for treason, adultery and incest and executed on Tower Hill on May 19th
www.datesandevents.org/ places-timelines/ 16-england-history-timeline.htm
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1547 - King Henry VIII died; Edward VI (age nine) became King
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1549 - Book of common prayer introduced; First Act of Uniformity passed, banning Roman Catholic mass
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1553 - King Edward VI died; Lady Jane Grey declared Queen of England for nine days; Mary I crowned Queen
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1558 - French retook Calais; Queen Mary I died; Elizabeth I crowned Queen
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1559 - Mary, Queen of Scots, claimed her royal right to the English throne
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1567 - Mary, Queen of Scots, abdicated, son James declared King
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1587 - Queen Elizabeth ordered execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, for treason
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1591 - The flush toilet is invented (Sir John Harington, England)
Harington devised England's first flushing toilet - called the Ajax. It was installed at his manor in Kelston...
The forerunner to the modern... Read MORE...
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1601 - Queen Elizabeth I died; James VI of Scotland became James I of England, first Stuart king
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1621 - Thirty Years War began (Protestants against Catholics)
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1625 - King James I died; son Charles I crowned
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1642-1645 - 1641 - English Civil War began; 1645 - Civil War ended, Charles I defeated
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1649 - King Charles I tried for levying war; found guilty and was executed; son Charles II declared himself King
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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(1653 - 1658) Lord Cromwell ruled England as Lord Protector
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1654 - England declared war on Spain
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1660 - Monarchy restored with King Charles II
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1665 - Great Plague struck London; over 75,000 died
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1666 - Isaac Newton discovers gravity
"...According to the well-known story, it was on seeing an apple fall in his orchard at some time during 1665 or 1666 that Newton conceived that the... Read MORE...
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1685 - King Charles II died; brother James, Duke of York, crowned King James II
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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(1688 - 1689) Glorious Revolution took place, King James II deposed by Parliament
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1689 - William & Mary assume English throne. Peter the Great assumes Russian throne.
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1694 - Queen Mary II died; Bank of England established
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1698 - The steam engine is invented (Thomas Savery, England)
"Thomas Savery was an English inventor credited with making important advancements and discoveries in the development of the steam engine. He was... Read MORE...
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1702 - King William III died; Anne, daughter of James II, crowned Queen
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1702 - March 11 - 1st English daily newspaper "Daily Courant" publishes
www.onthisday.com
1702 - May 14 - England & Netherlands declare war on France & Spain
www.onthisday.com
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1707 - Act of Union passed - united England and Scotland as Great Britain
www.worldatlas.com/ webimage/ countrys/ europe/ england/ uketimeln2.htm
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1709 - February 2 - British sailor Alexander Selkirk is rescued after being marooned on a desert island for 5 years, his story inspires "Robinson Crusoe"
www.onthisday.com
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1712 - July 20 - The Riot Act takes effect in Great Britain.
www.onthisday.com
1714 - January 7 - Typewriter patented by Englishman Henry Mill (built years later)
onthisday.com
January 7, 1714
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1717 - March 2 - The Loves of Mars and Venus becomes the first ballet performed in England
www.onthisday.com
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1720 - June 10 - Mrs Clements of England markets first paste-style mustard
"In 1720 Mrs Clements, in Durham, England, developed a process to remove the husks from ground mustard and make smooth mustard. This was the first... Read MORE...
1733 - May 17 - Great Britain passes Molasses Act, putting high tariffs on rum & molasses imported to the colonies from a country other than British possessions
onthisday.com
1735 - September 22 - Robert Walpole becomes the first British "Prime Minister" (actually First Lord of the Treasury) to live at 10 Downing Street
onthisday.com
September 22, 1735
1750s - The game of cricket became popular in England
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1754 - Beginning of the French and Indian War between Great Britain and France for control of the North American colonies. It is part of the Seven Years War.
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December 1780 - Britain declared war on Dutch Republic (Fourth Anglo-Dutch War)
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Treaty of Paris signed by King George III April 9, 1784
British gave United States all land between Atlantic Ocean and Mississippi River from Canada to Florida. Spain received Florida. -
1800 - Population of the Kingdom of Great Britain - 10,481,401
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1801 - Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland creates the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
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1824 - Portland cement is invented (Joseph Aspdin, England)
One of the greatest commodities in the United States today is a greyish powder commonly sold in 50-pound bags for about 10 cents a pound.
Modern... Read MORE...
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1825 - The locomotive is invented (George Stephenson, England)
"... in 1811 George Stephenson made an engine. 'At last something practical has been designed,' thought many. George improved his design, and by 1825 ... Read MORE...
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1826 - The gas stove is invented (James Sharp, UK)
...John Baptist von Helmont, born at Brussels in 1677, while engaged in chemical research, discovered gas and named it. An English rector, Rev. Dr.... Read MORE...
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1827 - Matches are invented (John Walker, England)
In 1827 the first friction match was invented in England by John Walker. Walker's matches were sticks tipped with a mixture of chemicals that burst... Read MORE...
1839 - February 26 - The Grand National horse race was first run
The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England.-
1839 - April 9 – The world's first commercial electric telegraph line comes into operation alongside the Great Western Railway line in England, from London Paddington station to West Drayton.
April 9, 1839
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1843 - The Christmas card is invented (Sir Henry Cole and John Callcott Horsley, England)
"The custom of sending Christmas cards was started in the UK in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole. He was a civil servant (Government worker) who had helped... Read MORE...
1851 - August 22 - The first America's Cup yacht race was held, with the US schooner America beating the British yacht Aurora.
The course was called "The Queen's Course". The course was near Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight, where the Royal Yacht Squadron headquarters are... Read MORE...
1863 - December 19 - The first ever soccer match was played, between Barnes Football Club and Richmond Football Club. The final score: 0-0.
1870 - A sexton in Middlesex, England, while digging a grave, found twenty-five silver coins, dating back to the Stuart period.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 4, 1870
1870 - The British House of Lords has officially decided that a man cannot marry his widow's sister.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 4, 1870
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1895 - England
England, ing'gland (L. An'glia; Fr. Angleterre, 6N' l'tain'; It. Inghilterra, £, Sp. and Port. Ingla terra, ing-glà-tèR'Rā; Ger. England, &ng’lānt;... Read MORE...
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1900 - Population of United Kingdom (including Ireland) - 39,875,900
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1901 - January 22 - Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom dies at age 81, after more than 63 years on the throne, and her son the Prince of Wales formally succeeds her as King Edward VII.
www.wikipedia.org
January 22, 1901
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1902 - August 9 – Edward VII is crowned King of the United Kingdom.
www.wikipedia.org
August 9, 1902
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1940 - May 10 - Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain
May 10, 1940
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In the early hours of Christmas Day 1950 three Glasgow (Scotland) students broke into Westminster Abbey (England) and stole the Stone of Destiny from beneath the throne at Westminster Abbey in London.
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1979 - May 4 - Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female prime minister of Great Britain
May 4, 1979
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1982 - Women are allowed to spend their money in English pubs without being refused service.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/us-money-blog/2014/aug/11/women-rights-money-timeline-history
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1985 - May 16 - Hole in Ozone layer is discovered by British scientists
The discovery of the annual depletion of ozone above the Antarctic was first announced in a paper by Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shanklin ... Read MORE...
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On St Andrews Day 1996 the Stone of Destiny completed a 400 mile, police escorted journey from Westminster Abbey to Edinburgh Castle.
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England Genealogy
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Updated: 6/25/2020 10:18:28 AM
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