Voting in Egypt

All men in Egypt were given the right to vote in 1923. Women in Egypt were allowed to vote in 1956. 

19th Century Food

My video about food in the 19th century is 3 years old https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q97BiiNzwNU 

Christopher Marlowe

The great Elizabethan playwright Christopher Marlowe was baptised on 26 February 1564. We don't know the exact date of his birth because in those days they recorded the date of rhe baptism not the birth. www.localhistories.org/marlowe.html 

Pancake Day

Pancake Day was first recorded in 1439. People were supposed to fast certain foods during Lent. They made pancakes to use up eggs and butter before Lent. Pancake Day is also called Shrove Tuesday. To shrive meant to confess your sins. So people 'shrove' their sins before Lent. The word Lent was an old English word meaning lengthen because the days are getting longer. Find out more in my history of cakes.

Salem Witch Trials

In 1702 the General Court (legislature) of Massachusetts overturned the convictions for witchcraft in Salem and in 1711 they granted compensation to the relatives of the victims bringing the whole sorry episode to an end. In the early 18th century belief in witches died out. Finally, in 1992 a memorial was erected to those who were wrongly executed at Salem. 

Nancy Astor

On 24 February Nancy Astor the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons made her first speech. www.localhistories.org/vote.html 

Estonia

24 February is Estonian Independence Day www.localhistories.org/estonia.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_nR5Mahp8A 

The slave trade

The first country to abolish the slave trade was Denmark in 1792 (although the ban did not take effect until 1803). Britain followed in 1807. The USA abolished the slave trade in 1808. Other European countries followed. Sweden abolished the slave trade in 1813, The Netherlands in 1814, France in 1815, and Spain in 1820. Brazil ended the slave trade in 1851. localhistories.org/a-brief-history-of-slavery

George Washington

George Washington was born on 22 February 1732 www.localhistories.org/washingtonpres.html

John Glenn

On 20 February 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth  

Darwin, Australia

On 19 February 1942 the Japanese bombed Darwin Australia www.localhistories.org/darwinaus.html 

Copernicus

The great astronomer Nicklaus Copernicus was born on 19 February 1473 www.localhistories.org/copernicus.html 

Mary Tudor

Queen Mary Tudor was born on 18 February 1516. www.localhistories.org/mary.html 

Pluto

On 18 February 1930, Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto. 

St Olga of Kyiv

Olga of Kyiv was a formidable woman in the early Middle Ages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc25HATMSjI

Jigsaw Puzzles

John Spilsbury made the first jigsaw puzzle in 1767. He intended to teach geography by cutting maps into pieces but soon people began making jigsaws for entertainment. localhistories.org/a-history-of-toys

The Assyrians

The Assyrians were a warlike people from the north of what is now Iraq. From about 880 BC to 612 BC they ruled a great empire in the Middle East. www.localhistories.org/assyrians.html

Galileo

The great scientist Galileo was born on 15 February 1564 www.localhistories.org/galileo.html 

Arizona

On 14 February 1912, Arizona was admitted to the union as the 48th state 

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Happy birthday Great Ormond Hospital. It opened in London on 14 February 1852. 

St Valentine

Happy St Valentines Day www.localhistories.org/stvalentine.html 

Chile

On 12 February 1818, Chile declared its independence from Spain 

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was born on 12 February 1809 www.localhistories.org/lincolnpres.html

Charles Darwin

The great scientist Charles Darwin was born on 12 February 1809 www.localhistories.org/darwin.html

Queen Victoria

On 10 February 1838 Queen Victoria married her cousin Albert I wrote a history of marriage. 

St Valentine's Day

My video about the history of St Valentine's Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj4xmvX3zAU&t=16s

History of Women's Boxing

This is an interesting article about the history of women's boxing https://allthatsinteresting.com/womens-boxing-history?fbclid=IwAR2tb4cn5l6fthTtsvw38VuK0I1VhA89P61Kpv8FPTgtnVv24YbFNhIAhHY

Medieval Myths

Some common Medieval myths https://www.medievalists.net/2014/06/15-myths-middle-ages/?fbclid=IwAR3iPIh1sIIqqUqm7TgXfmKFMgv5MqeKGF8dR4PY21eV6jXFh08sjUD4irg

Soap

On 9 February 1942 soap became rationed in Britain. It was rationed until 1950. www.localhistories.org/washing.html

Gas Chamber

On 8 February 1924, Gee Jon became the first person to be executed in the gas chamber 

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812 www.localhistories.org/dickens.html 

Thomas More

Thomas More was born on 7 February 1478 www.localhistories.org/more.html

Voting in Britain 1918

On 6 February 1918, a new law giving all men in Britain the vote received royal assent. (Until then about 40% of men in Britain could not vote). The new law also gave the vote to women over 30. localhistories.org/a-history-of-suffrage

Fleas

People used to believe that fleas appeared on 1 March. They used to keep their windows closed on that day to stop the fleas coming in their houses. There was a saying 'The Devil shakes a bag of fleas at every house on 1 March'.

Robert Peel

Robert Peel was born on 5 February 1788. He formed the first modern police force in Britain, in 1829. They were called bobbies or peelers after him.  

Toronto

In 1793 the first governor of Upper Canada, John Graves Simcoe founded a new town. He called the new town York in honor of the Duke of York and he made it the capital of Upper Canada. Its name was later changed to Toronto. 

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka became independent on 4 February 1948  

Public lavatories

There were public lavatories in London in the Middle Ages but the first modern public lavatory in the city opened on 2 February 1852. It was for men. One for women opened on 11 February. localhistories.org/a-history-of-toilets

Herbs

Bay leaves are native to the Mediterranean area. Bay was well known to the Greeks and the Romans, who held it in high regard. Bay was also a popular herb in the Middle Ages and for centuries bay was medicine as well as food. Find out more in my history of herbs