British History by Month: March

1st

1978

This British comedian's coffin was stolen from a cemetery in Switzerland

2nd

1791

John Wesley died aged 87, being the founder of this religious movement based upon his life and teachings, which now has 80 million followers worldwide

3rd

1857

The second iteration of this colonial war began

4th

1824

This rescue organisation was founded by William Hillary; inspired by seeing a shipwreck off the Isle of Man

5th

1133

This King, who would become the first Plantagenet King of England, was born

6th

1957

This country became the first British colony in Africa to gain independence

7th

1876

This Scottish inventor patents the telephone, despite refusing to have one in his own study

8th

1963

The first of this model of Ford car was produced in Liverpool

9th

2015

3,000 skeletons began to be excavated from beneath this London Underground station, some of whom were victims of the Black Death

10th

1629

Realising he could rule without Parliament in peacetime, Charles I dissolved it on this day, beginning this period

11th

1858

This significant colonial uprising came to an end after 10 months of severe unrest

12th

1710

Composer Thomas Arne was born, eventually becoming best known for this piece of music

13th

1927

This weapon ceased to be an official weapon of the British Army on this date

14th

2018

This world-renowned physicist died aged 76

15th

1906

This car and aero-engine manufacturer was founded by two business partners on this date

16th

1872

The first final of this prestigious sports competition took place at the Kennington Oval

17th

1337

The Duchy of Cornwall was founded, becoming the first Duchy in England, when this heir to the throne was made Duke

18th

1745

This man, who had become Britain first Prime Minister, died aged 68

19th

1969

British troops landed on this Caribbean island, upon it declaring itself a republic

20th

1972

The PIRA carries out the first of this kind of attack in Belfast, killing seven

21st

1556

This man, the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury, is burnt at the stake for heresy under Mary I, becoming a martyr in the process

22nd

1926

These, now pivotal, parts of road safety were introduced in London, causing multiple accidents on their first day

23rd

1645

This pirate, who gained a notorious reputation and was executed for piracy in 1701, despite only taking part in a handful of skirmishes, was born

24th

1944

76 British prisoners of war began their escape from this German POW camp, with the events later being dramatised into a film

25th

2002

This iconic sports commentator, who marked England's World Cup Final Victory with the phrase: 'Some people are on the pitch...they think it's all over....it is now!, died aged 81

26th

1923

BBC Radio first started broadcasting these regularly in their broadcasts

27th

1966

The World Cup trophy was found by this dog, after being stolen a week earlier

28th

1760

This man, notable for being a leading campaigner against slavery in the British Empire and helping to pass the Slave Trade Act of 1807, was born

29th

1461

28,000 people were killed during this battle, fought in blizzard conditions, during the War of the Roses

30th

1994

The West Indies dismiss England for this run total, their lowest total since 1887

31st

1924

This airline, Britain's first national airline, was founded in Croyden