2014 Event Iran balks at the terms for peaceful nuclear development suggested by Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States; the nations hope to reach a deal by July 20th; in exchange, sanctions against Iran will be removed 2013 Event Britain agrees to help Syria destroy over 165 tons of chemical weapons; the stockpile includes substances that could be used to make highly toxic nerve agents 2013 Event Winners of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics include theoretical physicists Francois Englert of Belgium and Peter Higgs of Britain 2013 Event Britain, France and Germany close embassies in Yemen; Canada closes its embassy in Bangladesh; the U.S. closes 22 embassies in the Middle East and North America due to intelligence of an impending Al-Qaeda attack 2013 Event Scientists in Britain identify the mechanism causing human allergy to cats; they believe a general cure for the condition could be available in the next five years 2013 Event George Osborne, Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, announces that G7 finance ministers and central bankers agree that coordinate action should be taken against tax evaders 2013 Event Britain's former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, dies of a stroke at age 87 in London 2013 Event David Milliband announces plans to resign as Britain's Foreign Secretary and move to U.S. state of New York to head the International Rescue Committee 2013 Event Britain's Prime Minister, David Cameron, lays out his intention to renegotiate terms with the EU, and subsequent plan to offer a referendum on his country's withdrawal from the EU if a new deal is agreed 2013 Event Heavy snowfall in Great Britain and Ireland causes Heathrow airport in London to cancel 100 flights; many passengers spend the night sleeping on the floor in the terminal 2012 Event Russia lifts a ban imposed in 1996 on the import of British beef and lamb; the ban, imposed when Britain suffered from mad cow disease (BSE) had been lifted worldwide in 2006 2012 Event Britain's MP Nadine Dorries is suspended from the Conservative Party after deciding to become the first politician to appear on a reality TV series 2012 Event Britain tennis pro Andy Murray wins the16th gold medal for Britain during the 2012 Summer Olympics after defeating Roger Federer in the men's singles final 2012 Event Britain has their greatest success in one day at an Olympics since 1908, winning six gold medals and a silver on Day Eight of the 2012 Summer Olympics 2012 Event David Cameron, Britain's Prime Minister, suggests government spending cuts will be required until the end of the decade 2012 Event France O'Grady is appointed the first female General Secretary by Britain's Trade Union Congress 2012 Event Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne reveals the 2012 British budget which cuts the top rate of income tax 2012 Event Britain has 2.67 million people unemployed, its highest unemployment rate since 1995 2011 Event Ali Larijani, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, attacks Britain, claiming the students represent Iran's public opinion 2011 Event Scientists in New Britain discover the first orchid known to flower at night, Bulbophyllum nocturnum, over the cost of Papua New Guinea 2011 Event In Britain, a ticket holder wins 161,653,000 pounds, the largest EuroMillions jackpot in history 2011 Event Queen Elizabeth II becomes the second-longest-reigning monarch in Britain 2011 Event Over half a million people participate in the world's largest wildlife survey after extreme cold drives exotic birds into Britain's back gardens 2010 Event Britain's Labor Party leader Ed Miliband launches a review of the British Labor Party, calling upon activists to help make it the 'People's Party' once again 2010 Event Students in Britain plan a nationwide protest against a proposal to charge up to $9,000 pounds per year for tuition fees 2010 Event David Cameron, Prime Minister of Britain, embarks on an official visit aimed at building closer economic ties to the People's Republic of China 2010 Event American Idol producer Simon Cowell signs a three-year deal with ITV for 'The X Factor' and 'Britain's Got Talent' 2010 Event Iceland's volcano causes Britain's two busiest airports to close in addition to Dublin Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol 1998 Event Stamps commemorating Princess Diana go on sale across Britain 1998 Event Britain's Queen Mother, 97, gets an emergency hip replacement 1997 Death Hugh Seymour, 8th Marquess of Hertford, Peerage of Great Britain, dies at 67 1997 Event Britain's Andy Green sets jet-powered car record (763.035 mph) 1997 Event Britain's Andy Green sets jet-powered car record (714 mph) 1997 Death Vincent Gulliver, Britain's oldest man, dies at 109 1996 Death Ray Coleman, born in Britain, journalist, author, wrote biographies of The Beatles while editor-in-chief, Melody Maker, music magazine, dies at 59 1996 Event 29th Curtis Cup: Great Britain and Ireland, 11 - 6 1996 Death Helen Chadwick, born in Britain, conceptual artist, feminist perspective, dies at 42 1995 Death Alec Douglas-Home, Prime Minister of Britain 1963 - 1964, dies 1995 Event 35th Walker Cup: Britain - Ireland beats U.S., 14 - 10 1995 Event Britain lifts a 23-year ban on ministerial talks with Sinn Fein 1994 Event Beatles' 1st album in 25 years, Live at BBC, is released in Britain 1992 Event Great Britain issues postage stamp on 100th anniversary of Tolkien 1992 Event After 151 years Britain's "Punch Magazine" final issue 1992 Event Britain Radio Authority licenses Virgin and TV-AM radio licenses 1991 Event Britain's Nick Brown, 591st rank beats 10th-seeded Goran Ivanisevic 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in 2nd round at Wimbledon 1990 Event Margaret Thatcher resigns as Britain's PM, replaced by John Majors 1990 Event Britain's conservatives chose John Major to succeed Margaret Thatcher 1990 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1990 Death Malcolm Muggeridge, WW II spy for Britain, dies at 87 1990 Birthday Eugenie, Princess of Britain 1989 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test 1989 Event 32nd Walker Cup: Britain - Ireland, 12 -11 1989 Event Iran drops diplomatic relations with Britain over Rushdie's book 1989 Event "Friday the 13th" virus strikes hundreds of IBM computers in Britain 1989 Event Computers across Britain hit by "Friday the 13th" virus 1988 Event Britain ends suspects right to remain silent in crackdown on IRA 1988 Event Britain bans broadcast interviews with IRA members 1987 Event Paul Lynch of Great Britain does 32,573 push-ups in 24 hours 1987 Event France and Great Britain send minesweepers to Persian Gulf 1987 Event Great Britain performs nuclear Test at Nevada Test Site 1987 Event Britain's Prince Edward resigns from his Royal Marines training 1986 Death [Maurice] Harold MacMillan, Prime Minister of Great Britain 1957 - 1963, dies at 92 1986 Event Great Britain drops diplomatic relations with Syria 1986 Event Britain's Prince Andrew marries Sarah Ferguson 1986 Event "Today" tabloid launched (Britain's 1st national color newspaper) 1985 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test 1985 Event Britain agrees to return Hong Kong to China in 1997 1985 Event 89th Boston Marathon won by Geoff Smith of Great Britain in 2:14:05 1984 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1984 Event Britain and China initial agreement return Hong Kong to China in 1997 1984 Event Britain and China complete a proposed agreement to transfer Hong Kong to China by 1997 1984 Event Daley Thomas of Britain sets decathalon record (8,847) in LA Cal 1984 Event Last sixpence minted in Great Britain (in use since 1551) 1984 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1984 Event 88th Boston Marathon won by Geoff Smith of Great Britain in 2:10:34 1983 Event Brunei gains complete independence from Britain 1983 Event 1st U.S. cruise missiles arrive in Great Britain 1983 Event 20 killed in Britain's worst helicopter accident 1983 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1982 Event Britain announces it is returning 593 Argentine POWs 1982 Event Britain requests Argentina arrange for return of prisoners 1982 Event Argentina surrenders to Britain on Falkland Is, ends 74-day conflict 1982 Event Pope John Paul II is 1st pope to visit Great Britain 1982 Event BBC warns Britain will bomb Argentina 1982 Event Argentina surrenders to Britain on S Georgia near Falkland Island 1982 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1981 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test 1981 Event Antigua and Barbuda gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1981 Event Britain's Prince Charles announces engagement to Lady Diana Spencer 1980 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1980 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1980 Event Vanuatu (New Hebrides) gains independence from Britain and France 1980 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1979 Event Great Britain grants independence to Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) 1979 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1979 Event Margaret Thatcher becomes the 1st woman prime minister of Great Britain 1979 Event St. Lucia gains independence from Britain 1978 Event 67th Davis Cup: USA beats Great Britain in Rancho Mirage (4-1) 1978 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1978 Event Jacqueline Smith of Great Britain scores 10 straight dead center strikes on a 4" disk in World Parachute Championships in Yugoslavia 1978 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test 1976 Event Britain gives Gilbert Island (Kiribati) self rule 1976 Event Seychelles gains independence from Britain 1976 Event Australian band AC/DC begin their 1st headline tour of Britain 1976 Event Supersonic Concorde, 1st commercial flights, by Britain and France 1975 Event Britain grants internal self-government to Seychelles 1974 Event Irish Republican Army is outlawed in Britain following deaths of 21 1974 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1974 Event 50 MPH speed limit in Britain lifted 1974 Birthday Matt Lucas, born in Paddington, England, comedian, actor, known for 'Little Britain' television show 1974 Event Grenada gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1973 Event Britain's Princess Anne marries commoner, Captain Mark Phillips 1973 Event Britain, Ireland and Denmark become 7th - 9th members of Common Market 1972 Event Access credit cards introduced in Great Britain 1972 Event Great Britain imposes direct rule over Northern Ireland 1972 Event 1st airship flown over Britain in 20 years (Europa) 1971 Event 90 Russian diplomats expelled from Britain for spying 1971 Event Qatar regains complete independence from Britain 1971 Event Qatar declares independence from Britain 1971 Birthday David Walliams, born in Surrey, England, actor, appeared on 'Little Britain', 'Neighbours', 'Capturing Mary', television shows 1971 Event 23rd Walker Cup: Britain - Ireland, 13 - 11 1971 Birthday Amanda Holden, born in Bishop's Waltham, England, actress, judge on television show, 'Britain's Got Talent' 1971 Event After 1,200 years Britain abandons 12-shilling system for decimal 1971 Birthday Lisa Snowdon, born in Hertfordshire, England, model, television personality, host of 'Britain's Next Top Model' 1970 Event Fiji gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1970 Event 74th Boston Marathon won by Ron Hill of Great Britain in 2:10:30 1970 Event Qatar gains independence from Britain 1970 Event White government of Rhodesia declares independence from Britain 1970 Birthday Anita St. Rose, Miss Universe-Great Britain 1996 1969 Event Britain abolishes death penalty 1969 Event St. Vincent and Grenadines gains associated status with Britain 1969 Birthday Ricky Bottalico, New Britain CT, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies 1969 Event Britain's Trans-Arctic expedition makes 1st crossing of Arctic Sea ice 1968 Event Theatre censorship ends in Britain 1968 Event Swaziland gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1968 Event U.S., Britain, U.S.S.R. and 58 nations sign Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty 1968 Event 1st decimal coins issued in Britain (5 and 10 pence) 1968 Event Mauritius gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1967 Event Kuria Muria Islands ceded by Britain to Oman 1967 Event People's Rep of South Yemen (Aden) gains independence from Britain 1967 Death Clement R Attlee, premier pf Great Britain (1945-51), dies at 84 1967 Event Great Britain, Ireland and Denmark apply for Common Market membership 1967 Event Britain grants internal self-government to Swaziland 1967 Event Grenada gains partial independence from Britain 1967 Event Dominica and St. Lucia gain independence from Britain 1966 Event Barbados gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1966 Event Lesotho (Basutoland) gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1966 Event Botswana (Bechuanaland) gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1966 Birthday Jonathan Edwards, Britain, triple jumper, gold medal 2000 Olympics, silver medal 1996 Atlanta 1966 Event Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Smith breaks diplomatic relations with Britain 1965 Event Great Britain sets maximum speed at 70 MPH 1965 Event Beatles last Great Britain concert (Capitol Theatre in Cardiff Wales) 1965 Event Rhodesia proclaimed independence from Britain by Prime Minister Ian D Smith 1965 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1965 Birthday J. K. Rowling, born in Yate, England, author, 'Harry Potter' series of fantasy novels, listed as the 12th richest woman in Britain, 2008, with a net worth of $798 million 1965 Event Republic of Maldives gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1965 Birthday Piers Morgan, born in England, editor of tabloids, the Daily Mirror, News of the World, judge on television show, 'Britain's Got Talent' and 'America's Got Talent' 1965 Event Gambia gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1965 Death Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of Britain, 1940 - 1945, 1951 - 1955, dies at 90 1964 Event IMF grants Great Britain credit of $1 billion 1964 Event Zambia (N Rhodesia) gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1964 Event Malta gains independence from Britain 1964 Event Great Britain performs nuclear Test at Nevada Test Site 1964 Event 9 men sentenced 25-30 years for Britain's 1963 "Great Train Robbery" 1964 Event Britain sets memorial for the late President John F. Kennedy 1964 Birthday Edward Anthony Richard Louis, Prince of Britain/Elizabeth II grandson 1964 Event France and Great Britain sign accord over building channel tunnel 1963 Event Zanzibar gains independence from Britain 1963 Event Senate ratifies treaty with Britain and U.S.S.R. limit nuclear testing 1963 Event Britain, U.S. and U.S.S.R. sign nuclear test ban treaty 1963 Event U.S., U.S.S.R. and Great Britain agree to discuss banning nuclear testing 1963 Event Zanzibar granted internal self-government by Britain 1963 Birthday Helen Patricia Sharman, Great Britain, cosmonaut, Soyuz TM-12 1963 Event Great Britain ends its amateur-professional classes in cricket 1963 Birthday Nick Berry, Britain, actor, Wicksy-EastEnders 1963 Event Somalia drops diplomatic relations with Great Britain 1962 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site 1962 Event Great Britain and France decide to jointly build Concorde 1962 Event Dr. Watson (U.S.), Dr. Crick, and Dr. Wilkins (Britain) win Nobel Prize for Medicine for work in determining structure of DNA 1962 Event Uganda declares independence from Great Britain 1962 Event Trinidad and Tobago gain independence from Britain (National Day) 1962 Birthday Dan Donovan, born in Britain, rocker, musician, member of Big Audio Dynamite, founding member of Dreadzone, toured with The Sisters of Mercy in 1990 1961 Event Britain's EMI Records originally rejects the Beatles 1961 Event Tanganyika gains independence from Britain takes name Tanzania 1961 Event Great Britain limits immigration from Commonwealth countries 1961 Birthday Susan Boyle, born in Blackburn, Scotland, Scottish singer, gained international attention, audience ovation, on television contest, Britain's Got Talent with Les Miserables song, 'I Dreamed a Dream', and 'Cry Me a River', plain appearance contrasts with her powerful voice 1961 Event Tanganyika granted full internal self-government by Britain 1961 Event Russian espionage ring detected in Great Britain 1960 Event In Britain, News Chronicle and Daily Mail merge, and London Evening Star merges with Evening News 1960 Event U.S. and Britain sign accord for nuclear sub bases 1960 Event Nigeria gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1960 Event Britain grants independence to crown colony of Cyprus 1960 Event British Somaliland (now Somalia) gains independence from Britain 1960 Birthday Prince Andrew, Albert Christian Edward, of Britain/Duke of York 1960 Birthday Sean Kerly, born in Whitstable, Kent, England, Sean Robin Kerly, athlete, field hockey player, awarded bronze medal at 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, 1984, scored eight goals at 1988 Olympics in Seoul, playing for Great Britain and Northern Ireland squad 1959 Birthday Simon Cowell, born in Brighton, England, entrepreneur, producer of television shows, 'Britain's Got Talent', 'American Idol', owner of publishing house, Syco 1959 Event Great Britain starts using postal codes 1959 Event 1st heliport in Britain opens in London 1959 Event Britain, Turkey and Greece sign agreement granting Cyprus independence 1958 Birthday Kriss Akabusi, Great Britain, 4X400 runner 1984 Olympics silver 1958 Event Britain transfers Christmas Island (south of Java) to Australia 1958 Event Great Britain performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island 1958 Event Great Britain performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island 1958 Event Great Britain performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island 1958 Event Great Britain performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island 1958 Event Great Britain issues regional stamps for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales 1958 Event Great Britain performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island 1958 Event U.S.S.R. suspends nuclear weapons tests, and urges U.S. and Britain to do same 1958 Event Britain's 1st planetarium opens at Madame Tussaud's in London 1957 Event Great Britain performs atmospheric nuclear test at Christmas Island 1957 Event Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visits White House 1957 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Maralinga Australia 1957 Event 12th Ryder Cup: Britain - Ireland, 7 - 4 at Lindrick GC, England 1957 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Maralinga Australia 1957 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Maralinga Australia 1957 Event Malayasia (formerly Malaya) gains independence from Britain 1957 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Christmas Island (atmospheric) 1957 Event Britain accepts NATO offer to mediate in Cyprus, but Greece rejects it 1957 Event Britain becomes the 3rd nation to explode a nuclear bomb 1957 Event Anthony Eden resigns and Harold Macmillan becomes Prime Minister Britain 1956 Event Britain and France land forces in Egypt 1956 Event Britain and France begin to bomb Egypt to reopen Suez Canal 1956 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Maralinga Australia 1956 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Maralinga Australia 1956 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Maralinga Australia 1956 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Maralinga Australia 1956 Event Great Britain refuses to lend Egypt money to build Aswan Dam 1956 Event After 72 years, Britain gives up Suez Canal to Egyptian control 1956 Event Great Britain performs nuclear Test at Monte Bello Is Australia 1956 Event Premium Savings Bonds introduced in Great Britain 1956 Event Britain abolishes death penalty 1955 Birthday Timothy Kristian Charles Mace, Great Britain, cosmonaut 1955 Event Great Britain proclaims emergency crisis due to railroad strike 1955 Event U.S.S.R. signs peace treaty with France and Great Britain 1955 Birthday Buster Mottram, born in Kingston upon Thames, in south-west London, English tennis player, ranked 15th best tennis player in the world, represented Great Britain in Davis Cup eight times 1955 Birthday Mike Smith, born in Britain, British DJ, radio presenter, racing car driver, pilot, businessman, Breakfast Show Presenter of BBC Radio One 1986 - 1988, used on-air nickname 'Smithy' 1954 Event Britain, England, France and U.S.S.R. agree to end occupation of Germany 1954 Event Egypt and Great Britain sign treaty; British troops departs 1954 Event Roger Bannister awarded Britain's Silver Pears Trophy 1954 Birthday Steve Wright, Britain's wacky DJ/actor, Funny Man 1954 Event Food rationing ends in Britain 1954 Event Great Britain's 2 biggest steel factory nationalized 1954 Event U.S., Great Britain and France reject Russian membership in NATO 1954 Event Roger Bannister of Britain breaks 4 minute mile (3:59:4) 1953 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Emu Field Australia 1953 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Emu Field Australia 1953 Birthday Helen Chadwick, born in Britain, conceptual artist, feminist perspective 1953 Death Mary, queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, dies at 85 1953 Birthday Judi Spiers, born in Britain, Judith Marilyn Spiers, British radio and television presenter, hosted Mr TSW and Miss TSW local beauty contests for new south-west station TSW, appeared in six editions of daytime chat show, presented on Open Air, a BBC1 access television program, in 1986, and Pebble Mill program 1992- 1995, presenter, BBC Radio Devon since 2005 1952 Event Great Britain performs nuclear test at Monte Bello Is Australia 1952 Event Monte Bello-Island (Great Britain 1st atom bomb explosion) 1952 Birthday Philip Green, born in Croyden, England, businessman, owns large retail stores including Arcadia Group, 9th richest person in Britain, worth over $4 billion 1952 Event Helgoland, in North Sea, returned to West Germany by Britain 1952 Event Prime Minister Winston Churchill announces Britain has its own atomic bomb 1952 Death George VI, King of Britain (1936-52), dies at 56 1951 Event Great Britain and Iraq sign new oil contract 1950 Event U.S. and Great Britain recognize Bao Dai Vietnamese regime 1950 Event Britain recognizes Communist government of China 1949 Event Britain nationalizes it's steel and iron industry 1949 Event Britain's 1st launderette opens in Queensway, London 1949 Event U.N. International Court of Justice held Albania responsible for incidents in Corfu Channel and awards Britain damages 1949 Event North Atlantic Treaty, pact signed by U.S., Britain, France and Canada 1948 Event Britain's House of Commons votes to nationalize steel industry 1948 Event 14th Olympic games close at London, Great Britain 1948 Event Alcoholic Anonymous founded in Britain 1948 Event Britain's National Health Service Act begins 1948 Event France and Great Britain and Benelux sign Treaty of Brussels 1948 Event Britain nationalizes its railways 1947 Event Britain's Princess Elizabeth, marries Duke Philip Mountbatten 1947 Birthday Lyndon Harrison, born in Britain, Baron Harrison, life peer, House of Lords, Member of the European Parliament 1989 - 1999 1947 Event Pakistan gains independence from Britain 1947 Event Britain's Princess Elizabeth and Lt Philip Mountbatten's engagement 1947 Birthday Paul Patterson, born in Britain, composer, professor, Royal Academy of Music, composes for orchestra, ensemble, film, television, education 1947 Birthday Peter Bird, born in Britain, ocean rower, first person to cross the Pacific ocean solo, trip from San Francisco to Great Barrier Reef, lasted 294 days 1947 Event Britain nationalizes its coal industry 1946 Event President Truman questions Great Britain Jews about Palestine 1946 Event Britain transfers illegal immigrants bound to Palestine, to Cyprus 1946 Birthday John Astor, born in Britain, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever, businessman, Conservative Party, House of Lords, Shadow Minister of Defense 1946 Event Jordan gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1946 Event Britain signs treaty granting independence to Jordan 1946 Death William Joyce, (Lord Haw Haw), hanged in Britain for treason 1945 Event Truman announced atomic bomb secret shared with Britain and Canada 1945 Event Winston Churchill resigns as Britain's Prime Minister 1945 Birthday Clive Hollick, born in Britain, Labor Party, financier, youngest director of Hambros Bank, 1973, CEO, Mills & Allen International, MAI 1945 Event "Kiss Me Kate" opens in Britain 1944 Birthday Alan Howarth, born in Britain, born Alan Thomas Howarth, Baron Howarth of Newport, politician, Member of Parliament 1983 - 2005, member of the Privy Council 1944 Birthday Alan Horwarth, born in Britain, politician, Baron Howarth of Newport, Member of Parliament for Statford-on-Avon and Newport East, educated at King's College, Cambridge, Conservative Party 1944 Birthday James Cran, born in Britain, politician, Conservative Party, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness 1997 - 2005 1943 Event U.S. bombs Rabaul, New Britain 1943 Event Great Britain establishes bases on Azores 1943 Event U.S. and Britain invade Sicily in WW II, Operation Husky 1943 Birthday James Wallace Beaton, born in Britain, Chief Superintendent, The Queen's Police Officer 1983 - 1992, saved Princess Anne from kidnapper 1974 1943 Event U.S. and Britain relinquish extraterritorial rights in China 1943 Death Robin G Collingwood, English philosopher (Roman Britain), dies at 53 1942 Event During WW II, Britain launches major offensive at El Alamein, Egypt 1942 Event Great Britain convoy PQ16 departs to Russia 1942 Birthday Lynn Davies, born in Nantymoel, Wales, 'Lynn the Leap', long jumper, captain, Britain's Olympic long jump team 1964, won Olympic gold medal 1942 Event Convoy QP9 departs Great Britain to Murmansk 1942 Event Japanese troops occupy Rabaul New Britain 1942 Event Japanese air raid on Rabaul, New Britain 1942 Event Japanese air raid on Rabaul New Britain 1942 Event Japanese air raid on Rabaul New Britain 1941 Event U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan, U.S. enters WW II 1941 Birthday Lisa Davina Phillip, born in Britain, actress, singer, voice actor, played role of teenage prostitute Macy in film 'Laters' 1941 Event Italian army under general Aosta surrenders to Britain in Ethiopia 1941 Event Germans made their last major air attack on Britain 1941 Event Italian army under Aosta surrenders to Britain at Amba Alagi Ethiopia 1941 Event Last great German air attack on Great Britain (Birmingham) 1941 Event Britain leases defense bases in Trinidad to U.S. for 99 years 1941 Event Franklin D. Roosevelt signs Lend-Lease Bill to lend money to Britain 1941 Event Australia and Britain attack Tobruk Libya 1940 Event Battle of Britain: Germany and Britair control of English Channel, ends 1940 Event Tide turns in Battle of Britain in WW II, RAF beats Luftwaffe 1940 Event U.S. gives Britain 50 destroyers in exchange for Newfoundland base lease 1940 Event 1st Polish squadrons fight along in the Battle of Britain 1940 Event Hitler orders total blockade of Great Britain 1940 Event Germany air attack on South England (Battle of Britain begins) 1940 Event Battle of Britain began as Germany launches air attacks 1940 Event Hitler orders Great Britain to surrenders 1940 Event Battle of Britain began as Nazi forces attacked by air, 114 days 1940 Event Diplomatic relations broken between Britain and Vichy government in France 1940 Event Italy declares war on France and Britain during WW II 1940 Birthday James Blyth, born in Britain, businessman, head of defense sales for Ministry of Defense, chairman, London Business School, CEO, The Boots Company 1940 Event Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Britain 1940 Event Mussolini joins Hitler in Germany's war against France and Britain 1940 Event Britain's 1st WW II rationing (bacon, butter and sugar) 1939 Event Adolf Hitler denies he intends to go to war against France and Britain 1939 Birthday Leon Britain, vice president, Commission of European Communities 1939 Event 1st German air attack on Great Britain in WW II 1939 Event Great Britain and France declare war on Germany after invasion of Poland 1939 Event Britain declares war on Germany. France follows 6 hours later quickly joined by Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada 1939 Event John Cobb (Britain) drives 365.85 MPH (593.48 KPH) at Bonneville Flats 1939 Birthday Warwick Hutton, born in Britain, illustrator, artist, author, created illustrations for children's books, worked with texts by Hans Christian Andersen 1939 Event Great Britain and Poland sign military pact 1939 Event Britain and France agree to support Poland if invaded by Germany 1939 Event Great Britain recognizes Franco-regime in Spain 1939 Event 1st Anderson bomb shelter in Britain erected in an Islington garden 1938 Birthday Richard Stoker, born in Britain, composer, writer, guitarist, fellow, Royal Academy of Music, studied under Nadia Boulanger in Paris 1938 Event 10th Walker Cup: Britain - Ireland, 7 - 4 1938 Event Great Britain recognizes Italian annexation of Abyssinia 1938 Event Britain and France recognize Franco government in Spain 1937 Event 32nd Davis Cup: USA beats Great Britain in Wimbledon (4-1) 1937 Birthday Ray Coleman, born in Britain, journalist, author, wrote biographies of The Beatles while editor-in-chief, Melody Maker, music magazine 1937 Birthday Terry Dicks, born in Britain, politician, Conservative Party, Member of Parliament for Hayes and Harlington 1983 - 1997 1936 Death George V, King of Britain (1910-36), dies at 70 1935 Event 1st greeting telegram sent in Britain 1935 Event Great Britain boxers beat U.S. team in 1st International Golden Gloves 1935 Event Driving tests introduced in Great Britain 1934 Event 29th Davis Cup: Great Britain beats USA in Wimbledon (4-1) 1934 Event Driving tests introduced in Britain 1933 Event Britain's Fred Perry thwarts Australian Jack Crawford's bid for a Grand Slam by defeating him at U.S. Tennis championship 1933 Event 28th Davis Cup: Great Britain beats France in Paris (3-2) 1933 Event 4th Ryder Cup: Great Britain, 6 -5 at Southport and Ainsdale, England 1933 Birthday Barry Norman, Britain, film critic, Film Greats 1933 Birthday Penelope Lively, born in Cairo, Egypt, writer, novelist, won Booker Prize for 'Moon Tiger', influenced by social changes in 20th century Britain 1932 Event Iraq gains full independence from Britain, joins League of Nations 1932 Birthday Dom Philip Jebb, headmaster, Downside School Great Britain 1932 Event Great Britain and France sign peace treaty 1932 Birthday Lady Littler, CEO, Gaming Board for Great Britain 1932 Birthday Richard Thomas, born in Britain, admiral, served as Black Rod, House of Lords 1992 - 1995, UK Military Representative to NATO 1989 - 1992 1931 Event Britain abandons gold standard/pound devalues 20% 1931 Birthday David Shepherd, born in Britain, painter, artist, considered world's most famous conservationists, famous for paintings of wildlife 1930 Birthday Peter Woods, born in Britain, journalist, newsreader, broadcaster, famous newsreader, appeared on News Room for BBC News 1930 Birthday Ken Coates, born in Britain, politician, Labor Party, Member, European Parliament 1989 - 1999, chair, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation 1930 Event Great Britain signs accord for Independence of Iraq 1930 Birthday Hugo Gryn, born in Britain, rabbi, broadcaster, appeared on BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day, leading voice in interfaith dialogue 1930 Event U.S., Britain and Japan sign London Naval Treaty 1930 Birthday Hugh Seymour, born in Britain, 8th Marquess of Hertford, Peerage of Great Britain 1930 Birthday Roger Sims, born in Britain, politician, Conservative Party, Member of Parliament for Chislehurst 1974 - 1997 1929 Event Ramsey MacDonald forms minority Labour government in Britain 1929 Event 2nd Ryder Cup: Britain - Ireland, 7 - 5 at Moortown, England 1928 Death Hubert H Asquith, premier Great Britain (1908-16), dies at 75 1927 Event Iraq gains independence from Britain, but British troops remain 1927 Event Saudi Arabia becomes independent of Great Britain (Treaty of Jedda) 1926 Event General strike hits Britain 1925 Event Italy, Britain and Egypt sign Jaghbub accord (Italy) 1925 Death Alexandra, Danish princess/Queen of Great Britain, dies at 80 1925 Event Netherlands and Great Britain return to gold standard 1925 Event Great Britain goes back to gold standard 1925 Birthday Gerald Malcolm Durrell, Britain, zoologist/writer, Mockery Bird 1924 Event Imperial Airways forms in Britain 1924 Event Soviet Union formally recognized by Britain 1924 Event Ramsey MacDonald forms 1st Labour government in Britain 1923 Event Britain takes over Southern Rhodesia from British South Africa Co 1923 Event Baldwin-Mellon-agreement concerning Britain entering the war 1923 Event Britain recognizes Transjordan with Abdullah as its leader 1923 Event 1st flight of Sabena: Brussel-Lympne, Great Britain 1923 Birthday Samuel Selvon, born in Trinidad, author, writer-in-residence, University of Calgary, Canada, wrote 'The Lonely Londoners', focusing on West Indians' immigration to Britain, cultural differences 1923 Event Great Britain lowers import duty on German products from 26% to 5% 1922 Event Egypt regains independence from Britain, but British troops remain 1922 Event Great Britain grants Egypt independence 1921 Event Dr. Marie Stopes opens Britain's 1st birth control clinic (London) 1921 Birthday Adrian Cruft, born Adrian Francis Cruft, son of Eugene Cruft, born in Britain, composer, dubbed a performer's composer, composed church, chamber and orchestral works 1920 Birthday Dorothy Tyler-Odam, born in Great Britain, high jumper, Olympics silver 1936, 1948 1919 Event Paris Peace Conference disposes of German colonies; German East Africa is assigned to Britain and France, German SW Africa to South Africa 1919 Event Afghanistan Emir Amanoellah begins war against Great Britain 1918 Birthday Martin Ryle, Britain, radio astronomer/astronomer royal, 1972-82 1918 Event Britain opens offensive on Western front during WW I 1918 Event Britain grants women (30 and over) vote 1917 Event 1st tank battle (Britain breaks through German lines) 1917 Event Britain grants Royal Letters Patent to New Zealand 1916 Event Conscription begins in Britain 1916 Event Britain begins "Summer Time" (Daylight Savings Time) 1916 Event Conscription begins in Britain 1916 Event Britain's military service act enforced (conscription) 1916 Event German colony of Cameroon surrenders to Britain and France 1916 Event Britain proclaims Gilbert and Ellice Is colony in Pacific 1915 Event Britain annexes Gilbert and Ellice archipelago 1915 Event Great Britain declares war on Bulgaria 1915 Event Italy secretly signes Pact of London with Britain, France and Russia 1915 Event 1st German Zeppelin attack over Great Britain, 4 die 1914 Event Great Britain declares Egypt a protectorate 1914 Birthday Colin Gray, born in Christchurch, New Zealand, fighter ace in World War II, recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, fought Battle of France, Battle of Britain, Channel Front 1914 Event Great Britain and France and Russia declares war on Turkey 1914 Event Great Britain annexes Cyprus 1914 Event Great Britain and France declare war on Turkey 1914 Event Gr Britain/France/Belgium/Russia sign pact of London 1914 Event Great Britain declares war on Austria-Hungary 1914 Event Germany declares war on Belgium; Britain declares war on Germany 1914 Event Great Britain declares war on Germany 1914 Event Great Britain mobilizes 1911 Event Britain's 1st seaplane flies 1911 Event Britain's 1st twin-engine airplane (Short S.39) test flown 1910 Event Funeral for Britain's King Edward VII 1910 Birthday Abraham A. Ribicoff, born in New Britain, Connecticut, Senator-D-Connecticut 1963 - 1981, Governor of Connecticut 1955 - 1961 1909 Event Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy asks Serbia to set no territorial demands 1908 Birthday Radie Britain, composer 1908 Birthday Walter Annenberg, born in Milwaukee, publisher, Triangle-TV Guide and Ambassador to Great Britain 1908 Event U.S. and Great Britain demand end of abuses in Congo 1907 Event Britain and Russia sign treaty with Afghanistan, Persia and Tibet 1907 Event Britain grants responsible government to former colony of Transvaal 1906 Event Great Britain, France and Italy grant Independence to Ethiopia 1906 Event France and Britain agree to joint control of New Hebrides 1906 Event Britain's 1st modern and largest battleship "HMS Dreadnought" launched 1904 Event Great Britain and France sign Cordial Entente concerning colonial matter 1902 Event Boer War Ends; Treaty of Unity signed, Britain annexes Transvaal 1902 Event Empire Day 1st celebrated in Britain 1902 Event Great Britain and Boers resume peace talks in Pretoria 1901 Event Great Britain annexes Gold Coast (Ghana) 1901 Death Victoria, Alexandrine, Britain's Queen (1837-1901), dies at 81 1900 Event Great Britain beats France in cricket in Olympic Games 1900 Event Britain annexes Orange Free State (as Orange River Colony) 1900 Event Britain annexes Orange Free State 1900 Event Great Britain annexes Tonga archipelago 1900 Event Britain proclaims protectorate over kingdom of Tonga 1899 Event South African Boers declare war on Great Britain 1898 Event Battle of Omdurman: Lord Kitchener retakes Sudan for Britain 1898 Event China leases Hong Kong's new territories to Britain for 99 years 1897 Event Automobile Club of Great Britain established (now: Royal Auto Club) 1897 Event Great Britain signs treaty with emperor Menelik II of Abyssinia 1894 Event Death duties 1st introduced in Britain 1893 Event Thomas F. Bayard becomes 1st U.S. ambassador in Great Britain 1891 Event Britain is linked to the continent by Telephone 1890 Event Great Britain proclaims Zanzibar as a protectorate 1890 Event Great Britain and Germany sign Zanzibar-Helgoland Treaty 1889 Birthday Robin G Collingwood, English philosopher, Roman Britain 1887 Event Austria-Hungary/Italy/Great Britain signs military treaty of Balkan 1887 Birthday Anthony G de Rothschild, Britain, philanthropist 1887 Event Britain celebrates golden jubilee of Queen Victoria 1886 Event Great Britain/Germany divide boundaries in East-Africa 1886 Event Great Britain annexes Kermadec-Island near New Zealand 1885 Event Great Britain declares Bechuanaland a protectorate 1884 Event Great Britain recognizes King Leopold II's Congo Free State 1883 Event Inland postal service begins in Great Britain 1882 Event 1st cargo of frozen meat leaves New Zealand for Britain, on SS Dunedin 1881 Event Boers and Britain sign peace accord; end 1st Boer war 1879 Event Battle at Rorkes Drift: Britain ends attack on Zulus 1878 Event Cyprus ceded by Turkey to Britain for administrative purposes 1877 Birthday Charlotte Hughes, 1990, oldest person in Great Britain 1877 Event Great Britain annexes Walvis Bay at Cape colony 1876 Event Lacrosse introduced in Britain and Canada 1876 Event Direct telegraph link established between Britain and New Zealand 1872 Event Britain pays U.S. $15 M for damages during Civil War 1872 Event Britain introduces secret ballot voting 1871 Event Great Britain annexes Griqualand South Africa 1868 Event Britain annexed Basutoland in Africa 1868 Event Great Britain annexes Basutoland in Africa 1867 Birthday Mary, queen of Great Britain and North Ireland 1865 Event Great Britain delegate's world 1st maximum speed laws 1865 Birthday George V, Saksen-Coburg [Windsor], King of Great Britain, 1910-36 1864 Event Great Britain gives Isotope Islands back to Greece 1863 Birthday Arthur Henderson, Britain, socialist/disarmament worker, Nobel 1934 1862 Event Great Britain and France recognizes independence of Zanzibar 1861 Event Confederate government appoints commissioners to Britain 1860 Event Britain formally returns Mosquito Coast to Nicaragua 1858 Event Britain's Queen Victoria telegraphs President James Buchanan 1854 Event Allied armies, including those of Britain and France, land in Crimea 1854 Event During the Crimean War, Britain and France declare war on Russia 1854 Event Great Britain and Orange Free state sign Convention of Bloemfontein 1854 Birthday James Frazer, Britain, anthropologist/author, The Golden Bough 1852 Birthday Hubert H Asquith, premier Great Britain, L, 1908-16 1851 Event Window tax abolished in Britain 1849 Event Britain formally annexs Punjab after defeat of Sikhs in India 1849 Event Corn Laws abolished in Britain 1848 Event Britain takes Mosquito Coast from Nicaragua 1846 Event Oregon country divided between U.S. and Britain at 49th parallel 1844 Birthday Alexandra, Danish princess, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland 1843 Event Great Britain annexes Natal 1842 Event Great Britain and China sign Treaty of Nanking, ends Opium war 1841 Event Britain obtains Sarawak from Brunei, James Brooke appointed Rajah 1841 Event Hong Kong proclaimed a sovereign territory of Britain 1840 Event Waitangi Day; treaty signed between Britain and Maoris of New Zealand 1839 Event Jem Mason on Lottery wins 1st Grand National Steeplechase (Britain) 1838 Event Britain's Queen Victoria crowned in Westminster Abbey 1838 Birthday Randal Cremer, born in Britain, trade unionist, pacifist, Nobel 1903 1833 Event Britain abolishes slavery in colonies; 700,000 slaves freed 1833 Birthday Norman Willis, union leader, Britain's Trades Union Congress 1833 Event Britain seizes control of Falkland Islands in South Atlantic 1831 Event Robert Jenkins loses an ear, starts war between Britain and Spain 1829 Event Britain abolished "suttee" in India, widow burning herself to death on her husband's funeral pyre 1825 Event Russia and Britain establish Alaska-Canada boundary 1820 Death George III, king of Great Britain (1760-1820), dies at 81 1819 Birthday Victoria Alexandrine, Queen of Great Britain, 1837 - 1901 1818 Event U.S. and Britain agree to joint control of Oregon country 1816 Event Great Britain annexes Tristan da Cunha 1814 Event Britain and allies march into Paris after defeating Napoleon 1813 Birthday Isaac Pitman, Britain, inventor, stenographic shorthand 1812 Event War of 1812 begins as U.S. declares war against Britain 1811 Event President Madison prohibits trade with Britain for 3rd time in 4 years 1809 Event Treaty of Dardanelles concluded between Britain and France 1807 Event Congress passes Embargo Act, to force peace between Britain and France 1806 Death William Pitt, the Younger, Prime Minister Great Britain 1783 - 1806, dies at 46 1806 Event Britain occupies Cape of Good Hope 1803 Event Britain declares war on France after Napoleon Bonaparte continues interfering in Italy and Switzerland 1801 Event Ireland and Great Britain, England and Scotland, form United Kingdom 1801 Event United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland established 1796 Event Last of Britain's troops withdraws from U.S. 1795 Event U.S. and Great Britain sign Jay Treaty, 1st U.S. extradition treaty 1794 Event Jay Treaty, 1st U.S. extradition treaty, signed with Great Britain 1792 Event Captain George Vancouver claims Puget Sound for Britain 1791 Event Britain's Observer, oldest Sunday newspaper in world, 1st published 1784 Event E Kidner opens 1st cooking school, in Great Britain 1783 Event Britain evacuates New York City, their last military position in US 1782 Event Britain signs agreement recognizing U.S. independence 1781 Event French fleet stopped Britain from seizing the Cape of Good Hope 1780 Event Britain declares war on Holland 1779 Event John Adams negotiates Revolutionary War peace terms with Britain 1776 Event Declaration of Independence - U.S. gains independence from Britain 1775 Event Citizens of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina declare independence of Britain 1774 Event Britain gives Quebec, Labrador and territory north of Ohio 1774 Event Britain passes Coercive Act against Massachusetts 1771 Event Spain cedes Falkland Islands to Britain 1766 Event Britain repeals the Stamp Act 1766 Event Britain repeals Stamp Act 1766 Death James III Edward, Old Pretender, king of Great Britain and Ireland, dies at 77 1765 Event Britain enacts Quartering Act, required colonists to provide temporary housing to British soldiers 1763 Event George III of Great Britain issues Proclamation of 1763, closing lands in North America north and west of Alleghenies to white settlement 1761 Event British fleet occupies Belle Britain 1760 Death George II (August), king of Great Britain (1727-60), dies at 76 1758 Event Britain capture Ft. Duquesne (Pittsburgh) from French 1758 Birthday Horatio Nelson, Burnham Thorpe Britain, naval hero, Trafalgar 1756 Event Britain declares war on France (7 Years' or French and Indian War) 1753 Birthday Benjamin Thompson, physicist, Royal Institute of Great Britain 1752 Event Last day of Julian calendar in Britain, British colonies 1738 Birthday George III, king of Great Britain, 1760-1820 1737 Death Caroline of Ansbach, queen of Great Britain, dies 1713 Event Peace of Utrecht; France cedes Maritime provinces to Britain - English, Prussian, Savoois, Portuguese and French peace treaty 1707 Event England, Wales and Scotland form U.K. of Great Britain 1707 Event English/Scottish parliament accept Act of Union, form Great Britain 1701 Event Great Britain and Ireland union is in effect, creating United Kingdom 1700 Event Pacific Island of New Britain discovered 1689 Event William III and Mary II crowned as joint rulers of Britain 1688 Birthday James III Edward, Old Pretender, recognized as King of Britain by Pope 1683 Birthday George II [August], King of Great Britain, 1727-60 1679 Event Britain's King Charles II ratified Habeas Corpus Act 1660 Birthday Georg Ludwig, German monarch of Hannover/King George I of Gt Britain 1649 Death Charles I, King of Great Britain (1625-49), beheaded for treason 1641 Event Britain and Scotland sign Treaty of Pacification 1632 Event Britain grants 2nd Lord Baltimore rights to Chesapeake Bay area 1618 Event Captain John Gilbert patents 1st dredger in Britain 355 Event Emperor Constantine II crowns cousin Julianus keizer of Britain
