Scott Allsop's Blog, page 255

13th April 1919: British troops commit the Amritsar Massacre

Troops from the British Indian Army committed the Amritsar Massacre when they opened fire on nonviolent protesters and pilgrims at Jallianwala Bagh. The First World War had seen the introduction of a series of emergency...

12th April 1945: Harry Truman becomes president of the USA

On the 12th April 1945, Harry Truman became the 33rd President of the United States when his predecessor, Franklin D Roosevelt, suddenly died while having his portrait painted. Truman was Roosevelt’s Vice-President, but had only...

11th April 1950: Stone of Scone rediscovered 4 months after its disappearance

The Stone of Scone was found on the site of the High Altar at Arbroath Abbey, nearly four months after it disappeared from Westminster Abbey. The Stone of Scone is a block of red sandstone...

10th April 1858: The ‘Big Ben’ bell cast in Whitechapel

On the 10th April 1858 Big Ben – the bell inside the clocktower at the Palace of Westminster in Britain – was cast. Many people think the name Big Ben applies to the clock itself,...

9th April 1767: John Hancock forcibly removes British customs officials from his ship

John Hancock, one of Boston’s wealthiest merchants and a leading figure in Boston politics, forcibly removed customs officials from his ship Lydia. Despite emerging victorious from the Seven Years’ War that had ended in 1763,...

8th April 1904: France and Britain sign the Entente Cordiale

On 8th April 1904, a series of agreements between Britain and France known as the Entente Cordiale were signed. The name is French for “warm understanding,” with the Entente Cordiale settling imperialistic disputes between Britain...

7th April 1141: Matilda declared the ‘Lady of England and Normandy’

Matilda, the daughter of King Henry I of England, was declared the ‘Lady of England and Normandy’ in advance of a coronation that never took place. Matilda had married the future Holy Roman Emperor, Henry...

6th April 1917: The USA declares war on Germany in WW1

The United States entered the First World War after Congress declared war on the German Empire. American President Woodrow Wilson had made his case for war before a special joint session of Congress four days...

5th April 1951: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg sentenced to death for spying

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death in the United States for conspiracy to commit espionage.  Julius and Ethel Rosenberg met when they were members of the Young Communist League in New York. It...

4th April 1925: Adolf Hitler orders the establishment of the SS

  The Nazi Party founded a paramilitary organisation that became the Schutzstaffel, better known as the SS. The organisation was established on the orders of Adolf Hitler to act as his personal bodyguard. He had...