Wellington slept at Waterloo
On this day in 1815 the Battle of Waterloo was fought. As the Duke of Wellington later remarked, it was: ‘A damned close run thing.’... Read More
James Weldon Johnson leads the Harlem Renaissance
On this day in 1871 the American lawyer, civil rights activist and poet James Weldon Johnson was born. Johnson was also a diplomat who served... Read More
James Joyce, Bloomsday and faulty plumbing
On this day in 1904 all the events in James Joyce’s book Ulysses took place; it is known as ‘Bloomsday’ because the book’s hero is... Read More
El Cid leads his army against the Moors in Spain
On this day in 1094 Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (known as El Cid), occupied the town of Valencia. When much of Spain was under Moorish... Read More
King Richard II, winner at fourteen, died alone at thirty-three
On this day in 1381 King Richard II of England met the leaders of the Peasants’ revolt outside London. It was the bravest and most... Read More
William Butler Yeats, poet of passion and joy
On this day in 1865 Irish poet William Butler Yeats was born. In 1923 he received the Nobel Prize for literature. Much of his best... Read More
Harriet Martineau speaks her mind
On this day in 1802 Harriet Martineau the English writer and sociologist was born. Martineau’s work was admired by Queen Victoria and among her acquaintances... Read More