Just in case you weren’t sure, it REALLY sucked to be a woman in 18th century England
The Decorated Duchess
A very happy birthday to Sarah Churchill, first Duchess of Marlborough, and one of the most influential women in English history. She was born Sarah Jennings on June 5, 1660....
Good Christmas, Bad Christmas
In 1777, in the midst of the American Revolution, General George Washington led his army of about 11,000 men to Valley Forge, PA to camp for the winter. For many...
Hope He Got Lei’d While He was There
On November 26, 1778, Captain James Cook decided to stretch his legs a bit and became the first European to visit the Hawaiian island of Maui. Cook, who joined the...
The War of Jenkins’ Ear
If you’re going to have a war, you may as well name it something interesting and memorable, right? On October 23, 1739, the awesomely named War of Jenkins’ Ear began...
The Battle of Prestonpans
In the early morning hours of September 21, 1745, the first significant conflict of the Jacobite rising of 1745 was fought at Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland. The Battle of Prestonpans...
Pilloried
As a journalist, this story makes me happy for modern-day freedom of the press: on July 31, 1703, Daniel Defoe was placed in a pillory for his incendiary political writings. The...
John Adams: Reunion
John and Abigail reunite and spend a few years at European courts before returning home to their grown children and new estate next to their old farm. Soon after, John’s elected vice president.
John Adams: Don’t Tread on Me
Adams is sent to France, where he proves just how ill-suited he is to the role of diplomat
All Together Now
On May 1, 1328, the English Parliament ratified the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton, ending the First War of Scottish Independence, which had dragged on since 1296. Under the provisions of the...