Historical Fun

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 cr...

On This Day In History - 20th June   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.   20th June, 1631, The Irish village of Baltimore is attacked by Algerian Pirates . Because, yep, that's where Algerian pirates go when they want to do pirate things.   They captured over a hundred of the settlers, who, at the time, were busy working on a pilchard farm. After washing them to get the stink of pilchards out, they were taken as slaves to work on the galleys. Or back in the Harem. Hmm, wonder which was worse?   20th June, 1685, James Scott, 1st Duke o...