31st May 1578 English explorer Martin Frobisher sailed from Harwich to Frobisher Bay in Canada. 1669 Citing poor eyesight, Samuel Pepys records the last event in his diary. 1838 The last battle on English soil took place at the Battle of Bosenden Wood between armed soldiers and 40 agricultural peasants. 1859 The clock in the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament was started, with the bell (Big Ben) sounding for the first time on 11th July 1859. 1889 A painting of a small dog listening to a phonograph was shown to the general manager of The Gramophone Company in London by the painter, Francis Barraud. It soon became the famous trademark for the company His Masters Voice. 1902 The Peace of Vereeniging ended the Boer War. 1910 Lord Baden-Powells sister Agnes formed the Girl Guides. 1911 The White Star liner Titanic was launched at Belfast. At the ceremony, a White Star Line employee claimed, Not even God himself could sink this ship. 1916 World War 1: The Battle of Jutland in which the Royal Navy lost one battleship, one cruiser and five destroyers. 1930 Don Bradman became the first Australian to score 1,000 runs in England between the start of the cricket season and the end of May. 1939 Terry Waite, religious adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury was born. 1956 Len Hutton, England cricketer, was knighted. 1985 The Football Association, supported by Margaret Thatcher, banned English clubs from playing in Europe following the Heysel stadium tragedy.
Posted on: Sat, 31 May 2014 17:14:08 +0000
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