Lady Godiva, Coventry’s streaker
On this day in 1040 Lady Godiva rode naked on horseback through Coventry, according to legend, to force her husband, the Earl of Mercia, to... Read More
Bill Haley, twentieth century Shaker
On this day in 1955 the recording Rock around the Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets reached number one in the Billboard listings. It... Read More
Betty Ford, President’s wife and addict
On this day in 2011 Betty Ford, First Lady to US President Gerald Ford,died. During her husband’s terms of office, she was a well-liked and... Read More
Independence Day – US Congress hangs together
On this day in 1776 US congress proclaimed the Declaration of Independence from Britain. There is not much more about this event that hasn’t already... Read More
Karl Benz introduces the motor car
On this day in 1886, the first motor car was driven in Germany by Karl Benz. With more than a billion cars in the world... Read More
Ernest Hemingway, for whom the bell tolled
On this day in 1961 the author Ernest Hemingway died by his own hand – he used his favourite shotgun. One of the greatest writers... Read More
George Sand breaks free of convention
On this day in 1804 was born the French writer Armandine Aurore Lucille Dudevant (nee Dupin), whose pseudonym was George Sand. This rebellious, cross-dressing, cigar-smoking,... Read More