Historic Newspapers

Day 25: The first earliest definitive date Christmas was celebrated on December 25th was in the year 352. We hope you all enjoy the celebrations today, however you spend it. #historicnewspapers #history #christmas #firstchristmas

Day 24: On this day in 1167 the 'worst-ever' King was born. King John was described as selfish, suspicious, vengeful, and cynical. He is probably best known for causing the creation of the Magna Carta. #historicnewspapers #kingjohn #magnacarta #history

Day 23: In 1888 following an argument with Paul Gaugin, an artist he had been working with, Vincent Van Gogh cut his ear off. Allegedly he then sent his ear to a prostitute for protection. #historicnewspapers #historicfacts #vincentvangogh #vangogh #artist

Day 22: After inventing the lightbulb in 1879, Thomas Edison created the first string of Christmas Tree lights in 1882. Lights are a must for the Christmas tree, but tinsel seems to split opinions. Do you love or hate tinsel at Christmas? #historicnewspapers #tinsel #lights

Day 21: In 1891 the first game of basketball was played. The game was played based on the rules by James Naismith. Naismith went on to become the first basketball coach at Kansas University, where he led the Jayhawks. #historicnewspapers #basketball #firstgame #kansasuniversity

Day 20: 1812 "Grimm's Fairy Tales" by Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm is first published. Including well-known stories like Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White, which have inspired many re-tellings to become the modern Fairy Tales we now recognise. #historicnewspapers

Day 19: 1154 King Henry II is crowned King of England. His reign is often remembered through the murder of his former friend and supporter Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. #historicnewspapers #kinghenry #thomasbecket #historicfacts #kingofengland

Day 18: In 1892 The Nutcracker, now one of the most performed ballets, debuted in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The Nutcracker has become a tradition around Christmas and can be seen in many theatres across the world. #historicnewspapers #thenutcracker #ballet #Tchaikovsky

Day 16: 1907, Theodore Roosevelt sent the 'Great White Fleet' to prove the US's new presence as a world power. Did you know? Roosevelt was blind in one eye after a boxing injury in the White House. #roosevelt #historicnewspapers #greatwhitefleet #americanhistory #didyouknow

Day 15: December 15th, 1966, Walter Elias Disney, passed away. Walt Disney was a pioneer of the American animation industry, bringing us much-loved characters including Mickey Mouse. #historicnewspapers #historicfacts #onthisday #waltdisney #disney

Day 14: In 2016 University of Toronto scientists made a discovery. They found the world's oldest pool of water. The water was dated 2 billion years old, becoming the oldest known water. #historicnewspapers #historicfact #scinece #discovery #onthisday

Day 13: December 13th, 1961, The Beatles signed the formal agreement to be managed by Brian Epstein. Brian would manage the band until his death in 1967. Brian also famously managed Cilla Black. #historicnewspapers #historicfacts #thebeatles #cillablack #onthisday

Day 12: 1965, Gale Sayers ties NFL record for most touchdowns in a game. With 6 in 61-20 victory over San Fransico 49ers. This record was held alongside two other players. #historicnewspapers #historicfacts #nfl #footballfacts #galesayers #touchdowns

Day 11: You get two facts today because...there's no post on Sunday! On 11th December 1913, the Mona Lisa was recovered two years after is was stolen from the Louvre Museum, Paris. #historicnewspapers #christmas #monalisa #louvre #louvremuseum #historicfacts #artfacts

10th December 1936, Edward VIII executed an Instrument of Abdication which was given legal effect the following day. Edward is one of the shortest-reigning monarchs in British history. His coronation was planned for May 1937. #historicnewspaper #didyouknow #kingedeward

1869, the first traffic lights were installed outside the Palace of Westminster in London. A British railroad engineer modified a signaling system from the railway to control traffic and allow people to cross the road safely. #historicnewspapers #onthisday #didyouknow

Day 7: On this day in 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued his Amnesty Proclamation and plan for the Reconstruction of the South. This was just 19 days after his Gettysburg Address, which he started with which infamous line? #abrahamlincoln #gettyburg #america #historicnewspapers

Day 7: 110 years ago today, a bust of Queen Nefertiti was found in El-Amarna, Egypt. Neferneferuaten Nefertiti was the great royal wife of King Akhenaten, and possibly one of the most iconic Egyptian Queens. #queennefertiti #historicnewspapers #christmas #egypt #nefertitibust

In 1877 Thomas Edison records himself reciting the traditional nursery rhyme "Mary had a little lamb" into the newly invented Phonograph. Did you know, the phonograph was instrumental in the development of Jazz? #thomasedison #historicnewspaper #didyouknow #onthisday

Day 5: 1717 notorious English pirate Blackbeard ransacks the merchant sloop "Margaret" and imprisons Henry Bostock. This later became the first record of Blackbeard. #blackbeard #historicnewspapers #historicnews #pirate #onthisday #25days #christmas