Scott Allsop's Blog, page 11

2nd June 1896: Guglielmo Marconi files a patent application for his system of wireless telegraphy

Marconi filed a patent application in London for a spark-gap transmitter that generated radio waves and a coherer as a receiver to detect the signals, which was the first patent for a communication system based on radio ...

1st June 1946: Ion Antonescu, the former Prime Minister of Romania, executed by firing squad

Beginning in May 1946, Ion Antonescu's trial was overseen by the People’s Tribunal in Bucharest that found him guilty of war crimes, crimes against peace, and crimes against humanity. He was sentenced to death by firing ...

31st May 1916: Battle of Jutland begins in the North Sea, marking the largest naval battle of the First World War

While the British lost 14 ships and over 6,000 personnel, compared to Germany’s 11 ships and 2,500 personnel, the strategic outcome of the Battle of Jutland favoured ...

30th May 1899: Female bandit Pearl Hart and her partner, Joe Boot, commit one of the last recorded stagecoach robberies

Pearl Hart became a celebrity and acquired the nickname ‘Bandit ...

29th May 1660: Charles II restored to the English throne, marking the end of over a decade of republican rule

Charles arrived in Dover on 25 May and entered London on 29 May, which was also his 30th birthday. He was welcomed with public celebrations and a general sense of relief, and was formally crowned at Westminster Abbey the following ...

28th May 1754: Battle of Jumonville Glen in Pennsylvania marks the beginning of the French and Indian War

While precise details are unclear, it’s known that the engagement lasted only about 15 minutes. Around a quarter of the French soldiers were killed, including their commander, Joseph Coulon de ...

27th May 1703: The foundation of St Petersburg by Tsar Peter the Great

In 1703 Peter’s forces captured Swedish possessions at the mouth of the Neva river, and it was here that he laid the foundation stone for the Peter and Paul Fortress on Zayachy ...

26th May 1923: First 24 Hours of Le Mans motor race begins, establishing the endurance racing format

The first race began at 4 p.m. on 26 May 1923 and concluded at the same time on the following day. Taking place on public roads closed for the occasion, the circuit of just over 17 kilometres included long straights, village roads, and tight ...

25th May 1977: The first Star Wars film is released in cinemas

The first instalment of the Star Wars film series was released in cinemas in the United States of ...

23rd May 1949: West Germany formally established, otherwise known as the Federal Republic of Germany

West Germany was a federal parliamentary republic with a Chancellor as head of government and a President who held a largely ceremonial ...