British History by Month: August

1st

1798

Admiral Nelson destroyed the French fleet in this naval battle, with the French Flagship, L'Orient, exploding after it's magazine ignited

2nd

1610

This English explorer sailed into the bay that now shares his name, believing he had made it through the northwest passage into the Pacific Ocean

3rd

1460

This Scottish monarch, who became the first not to be crowned at Scone, died aged 29

4th

1914

Britain declared war on Germany, beginning British involvement in the First World War, after Germany had violated this treaty by invading Belgum

5th

1583

This area of modern-day Canada is claimed by Humphrey Gilbert, becoming the first English colony in North America and therefore beginning the British Empire

6th

1881

This man, who went on to discover Penicillin and save millions of lives around the World, was born

7th

1995

This British athlete twice broke his own World Record, that still stands to this day, on his way to winning gold at the World Championships in Gothenburg

8th

1588

The nine-hour long Battle of Gravelines took place, resulting in an English victory and contributing to the failure of this invasion fleet

9th

1757

This Scottish engineer, who built 1200 bridges and over 1000 miles of roads in Britain, also having an English town named after him, was born

10th

1842

An Act of Parliament was passed on this day, barring women and children from working in these workplaces

11th

1971

This British Prime Minister captained the British team to victory during the Admiral's Cup

12th

1877

British explorer Henry Morton Stanley reached the mouth of the river

13th

1704

The Duke of Marlborough, direct relative of Winston Churchill, defeated the French and Bavarians at this battle, changing the tide of the War of Spanish Succession

14th

1968

The first British troops were deployed to Northern Ireland as part of this 'limited' operation, that would go on to last 38 years

15th

1945

The hostilities of the Second World War were finally ended, the day being marked by this celebration

16th

1819

This massacre took place in Manchester when cavalry charged into a crowd of protestors discussing parliamentary representation; 18 people were killed around 700 were injured

17th

1958

Britain announced it would continue to test Nuclear weapons on this Indian Ocean island

18th

1825

Scottish explorer, Alexander Gordon Laing, became the first European to reach this African city, being murdered there shortly after

19th

1970

The 1,000th episode of this UK soap opera was broadcast; it is the World's longest running soap opera today

20th

1956

This power station became Britain's first nuclear power station when it opened on this day

21st

2023

This disgraced nurse, found guilty of murdering seven babies, was given a whole-life term on this day

22nd

1788

This British colony was Africa is founded, intended to be a home for freed slaves

23rd

1305

This Scotsman was hung, drawn and quartered, with various parts of his body going on to be displayed in cities across Britain

24th

1814

This iconic American landmark is razed to the ground by British troops following the Battle of Bladensburg

25th

1919

The first daily international air service began between London and this city

26th

55BC

This Roman Emperor attempts his first invasion of Britain, but after landing and participating in a few skirmishes with the Britons, he returned to Gaul

27th

1900

Britain's first long distance journey by this form of transport took place, taking two days to complete the journey between London and Leeds

28th

2016

The last 22 remaining outlets of this British retailer closed, bringing an end to 88 years of retail history

29th

1831

Michael Faraday demonstrates this device for the first time at the Royal Institute in London

30th

1871

This physicist, who first split the atom at the University of Manchester, was born in New Zealand

31st

1900

This beverage first went on sale in Britain