History Facts 20th June

HISTORY FACTS JUNE 20th

On this day in history, 20th June, 1837, William IV, King of the United Kingdom, kicked the bucket.

 

Some interesting facts about William IV: He was the last monarch to appoint a Prime Minister against the will of Parliament. Even the current Queen, Elizabeth II, can appoint who she likes as Prime Minister, even if the British Public voted for someone else. But it's a power the Queen doesn't use.

 

When William died, he had no surviving direct heirs. He did, however, have 8 illegitimate kids from shacking up with an actress by the name of Dorothea Jordan.

 

What's interesting about that? Well, glad you asked. He was succeeded by his niece, Victoria. But the current British Prime Minister, David Cameron, is a descendant of the liaison between King William IV and the actress.

On this day in history, 20th June, 1819, the United States vessel SS Savannah arrived at Liverpool, United Kingdom. It was the first steam-powered vessel to cross the Atlantic.

 

Now, that is impressive. A steam-powered ship steaming all the way across the Atlantic ocean.

 

However, in reality, the vessel may have been steam-powered, but it made most of the journey under sail. The only parts it made under steam were the start, getting out of the harbour, and the end, getting into dock. But, yeah, still impressive.

 

20th June, 1248, the University of Oxford received its Royal Charter. The University of Oxford is a really old university that is really old, although not the really oldest. Although it is the oldest in the English speaking world.

 

But not the oldest of the oldest.

 

That one goes to another university. The one in Italy. What's it called?

 

Also not the best university in the world. That is obviously Cambridge.