Scott Allsop's Blog, page 232

7th January 1785: First aerial crossing of the English Channel completed in a hydrogen balloon

The first aerial crossing of the English Channel was conducted by Frenchman Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American John Jeffries in a gas-filled balloon. Born to a peasant family in Normandy, Blanchard fled to Paris as a...

5th January 1066: Death of Edward the Confessor sparks a succession crisis

A succession crisis was sparked following the death of Edward the Confessor, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. Edward was crowned King of England in 1042 and earned a reputation as a pious and gentle...

3rd January 1870: Construction begins on the Brooklyn Bridge

Although numerous suspension bridges had been built prior to the Brooklyn Bridge, nothing came close to the almost 1,600 foot span across the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan. German immigrant John Augustus Roebling was...

1st January 1772: First traveller’s cheques, known as “circular notes”, put on sale

The first traveller’s cheques, in the form of a ‘circular note’ issued by a bank, went on sale in London. Devised by the Scottish banker Robert Herries, circular notes were an immediate hit with young...

30th December 1993: Israel and the Vatican City begin diplomatic relations

Relations between Catholicism and Judaism cover a long, complex and violent history in which Christians revered the Jewish scriptures yet held Jews collectively responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. However, the murderous anti-Semitism of the...

28th December 1895: Wilhelm Röntgen publishes his discovery of X-rays

Röntgen was experimenting with vacuum tubes at the University of Würzburg when he discovered the new ‘invisible light’ on 8 November 1895. Although his lab notes were burned after his death in 1923, Röntgen’s biographers...

27th December 537: Hagia Sophia basilica inaugurated

On the 27th December 537, Hagia Sophia was inaugurated by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and Patriarch Menas of Constantinople. The current building is the third church of Holy Wisdom to be built on the site,...

26th December 1973: Horror film The Exorcist first released in cinemas

The Exorcist is one of the highest-grossing films of all time, but originally opened in just twenty-six American cinemas. Famed for its ground-breaking special effects, the film terrified audiences yet was nominated for ten Academy...

25th December 1066: William the Conquerer crowned king of England

On the 25th December 1066, William of Normandy was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey. The event ended in chaos as Norman guards outside mistook the sounds of the cheering crowd inside for the...

24th December 1826: The Eggnog Riot broke out at West Point Military Academy, New York

Earlier in 1826, the academy’s strict superintendent Colonel Sylvanus Thayer had banned the purchase, storage and consumption of alcohol due to concerns about drunkenness among the cadets. However, the new rules were ignored by cadets...