Months Past

The ‘most controversial character in the history of discovery’ was born on March 9th, 1454. But who was Amerigo Vespucci?

The events leading up to Britain and France's declarations of war on Russia on successive days on 27 and 28 March 1854.

Stalin's security chief Lavrenti Beria was executed on December 23rd, 1953.

The week-long hurricane that struck the south of England and the English Channel on November 24th, 1703, was beyond anything in living memory.

The Russian socialist movement divided on November 16th, 1903.

The East India Company's army led by Arthur Wellesley defeated the Mahrattas at the Battle of Assaye on September 23rd, 1803.

The Nine Days Queen was pronounced monarch on July 10th, 1553.

The founder of Methodism was born on 17 June 1703.

Richard Cavendish describes how King Alexander and Queen Draga of Serbia were assassinated during the night of June 10th/11th, 1903.

Pepys rose from humble origins to become secretary of the Admiralty, a member of parliament and the president of the Royal Society.