Welcome to the History of Britain! The home nations share a varied and shared history unlike anywhere else, so we thought it only right to create a section dedicated to our mutual heritage.
The Sons of Africa were a abolitionist group formed in the late 1700s by freed slaves in London. They worked closely with The Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, founded by Granville Sharp and Thomas Clarkson…
“Death or glory!” cried Horatio Nelson as he rammed the Captain into the Spanish ship San Nicolas. It was the first time since 1513 that an officer of such a high rank had personally led a boarding party…
On 23rd July 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie landed on the Isle of Eriskay off the west coast of Scotland. This was the start of the ‘Forty-Five’ Jacobite Rebellion which culminated in the last major battle to be fought on British soil…
On 1st July 1916 at around 7.30 in the morning, whistles were blown to signal the start of what would be the bloodiest day in the history of the British Army. ‘Pals’ from towns and cities across Britain and Ireland, who had volunteered together only months earlier, would rise from their trenches and walk slowly towards the German front-line…
On the 5th July 1948 an historic moment occurred in British history, a culmination of a bold and pioneering plan to make healthcare no longer exclusive to those who could afford it but to make it accessible to everyone: the NHS was born.
George VI became King unexpectedly, after the abdication of his brother Edward VIII, in December 1936, the year of three kings…
King George V’s reign, from 1910 to 1936, encompassed the Great War, the Great Depression and witnessed the rise of Fascism. It also saw the fall from power of five emperors and eight kings…
King Edward VII was the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. When Prince of Wales, he was nicknamed ‘Edward the Caresser’ on account of his mistresses…
In July 1756, 20-year-old Elizabeth Marsh was travelling alone from Gibraltar to England when her ship was captured by Barbary pirates…
On 8th June 75 years ago, thousands of people lined London’s streets to see the triumphant Victory Parade celebrating the end of World War 2 – and I was among them, with my parents and younger brother…
Click here for this month's articles in our History of England magazine.
Click here for this month's articles in our History of Scotland magazine.
Click here for this month's articles in our History of Wales magazine.