UK only 13th March 1619 The death of Richard Burbage, English actor and theatre owner. Richard and his brother Cuthbert had family interests in two London theatres, and ended up tied up in lawsuits. The Blackfriars Theatre they kept, the other, called simply The Theatre, was dismantled when they could not resolve terms for a new lease with the landowner. The beams, posts, and other remnants of The Theatre were moved to a new location on the south side of the Thames River and reassembled into a new playhouse called the Globe, famous as Shakespeares Globe Theatre. 1733 Dr Joseph Priestley, scientist (and discoverer of oxygen) was born. He was also a theologian, clergyman and natural philosopher, 1764 The birth, in Falloden, Northumberland, of Charles Earl Grey, British Prime Minister. He is linked with Earl Grey tea, after a blended tea was supplied to him as a gift and the sample was copied. He is commemorated by Greys Monument - see picture, a 135 ft high column in the centre of Newcastle Upon Tyne. 1842 The death of the English army officer Henry Shrapnel, inventor of the shrapnel shell which is named after him. The shell was a hollow cannon ball filled with shot which burst in mid-air and was used as an anti-personnel weapon. 1873 Eight clubs met to form the Scottish Football Association. They were Queens Park, Clydesdale, Vale of Leven, Dumbreck, Third Lanark, Eastern, Granville and Kilmarnock. 1926 Alan Cobham landed at Croydon Aerodrome, near London, after a 16,000-mile flight to Cape Town and back to establish a commercial air route across Africa. Formerly a member of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, he became a test pilot for the de Havilland aircraft company, and was the first pilot for the newly formed de Havilland Aeroplane Hire Service. In 1932 he started National Aviation Day displays which toured the country and was generally known as Cobhams Flying Circus. 1927 The lance ceased to be an official weapon in the British Army. 1935 Voluntary driving tests were introduced in Britain and became compulsory in June of the same year. 1961 Three men and two women went on trial at the Old Bailey charged with plotting to pass official secrets to the Russians. All 5 were found guilty and sentences were passed, up to 25 years. An official report blamed lax security at the Admiralty for the spy ring. 1961 Black and white Bank of England five pound notes ceased to be legal tender. 1970 Conservatives celebrated a record majority in the Bridgwater by-election. It was the first time 18-year-olds had been allowed to vote since the age of majority was reduced from 21 to 18 in January. Susan Wallace became the first 18-year-old to cast her vote. 1972 Britain and China resumed full diplomatic relations after a break of 22 years. 1996 Thomas Hamilton, a lone gunman carrying 4 handguns killed 16 children and their teacher at a school in Dunblane, Scotland. The killer fired randomly around the school gym in an attack that lasted just three minutes, but caused carnage in the class of five and six year olds. He then turned the gun on himself. Hamilton had been a scout master briefly before being sacked by the Scout Association. The event became a rallying point for anti-gun legislation.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 08:01:18 +0000
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