May
1
1707. The Union of England and Scotland was proclaimed.
2
1945. Germany surrendered to the Allies ending
the war in Europe in WW2.
3
1841. New Zealand was declared a British colony.
4
1979. Margaret Thatcher became the first female prime minister of Britain.
5
1821. Death of Napoleon Bonaparte. The end of an era which shaped the future
of Britain and Europe for the next 100 years.
6
1840. The first postage stamp in Britain - the Penny Black- was issued.
7
1915. The liner Lusitania was sunk by a German U Boat off Southern Ireland
with the loss of nearly 1,200 lives including many women and chidren.
8
1559. Queen Elizabeth 1st signed the Act of Uniformity (concerning
the Book of Common Prayer)
9
1386. The Treaty of Windsor signed between England and Portugal creating an
alliance between the two countries. Portugal is England's oldest ally.
10
1940. At the age of 65 Winston Churchill became prime minister of Britain.
He described it as "walking with destiny".
11
1812. British prime minister Spencer Perceval was assassinated in the House
of Commons.
12
1809. Arthur Wellesley (later to become Duke of Wellington) defeated the French
at Oporto and forced them to retreat from Portugal.
13
1643. Oliver Cromwell defeated the Royalists at the Battle of Grantham in the
English Civil War.
14
1264. The English Barons under Simon de Montfort defeated King Henry 3rd at
the Battle of Lewes.
15
1957. Britain exploded its first thermonuclear bomb at Christmas Island in
the Pacific.
16
1220. Henry 2nd laid the foundation stone of the new Lady Chapel
at Westminster Abbey.
17
1900. The Relief of Mafeking, South Africa, by British troops during the Boer
War.
18
1764. British Parliament amended the Sugar Act to tax American Colonists.
19
1649. England was declared a Commonwealth following the Civil War.
20
1191. Richard the Lionheart (King Richard 1st) conquered Cyprus
en route to joining the Crusaders in the Middle East.
21
1894. The Manchester Ship Canal was officially opened.
22
1914. Britain gained control of oil in the Persian Gulf.
23
878. King Alfred the Great defeated the Danes at the Battle of Edington.
24
1941. The British battleship HMS Hood was sunk by the German battleship, Bismarck
off Greenland.
25
1914. The House of Commons passed the Irish home Rule Bill.
26
1798. Income Tax was introduced in Britain - 10% on income over £200.
27
1941. The Bismarck was sunk by the British off the French Coast.
28
1539. Six Articles of Religion Act received Royal Assent "abolishing diversity
of opinions" in England after Henry 8th's argument with Bishops.
29
1940. British forces began evacuation from Dunkirk.
30
1948. The British Citizenship Act conferred the status of British subjects
on all Commonwealth citizens.
31
1916. The Battle of Jutland began between the
British and German fleets. Indecisive, although
British losses were heavier.
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