Year
|
Hint
|
Answer
|
1799
|
HMS Lutine sinks in the North Sea. Her salvaged bell is now used for ceremonial purposes at the headquarters of this major insurance market in London.
|
Lloyd's
|
1798
|
This scientist publishes "An Inquiry Into the Causes and Effects of the Variolæ Vaccinæ". He goes on to become a pioneer of the smallpox vaccine.
|
Edward Jenner
|
1797
|
Three of the stones making up this prehistoric monument fall due to heavy frosts.
|
Stonehenge
|
1796
|
This Scottish explorer reaches the Niger River at Ségou, the first European to do so. He became well known for his influential book 'Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa'.
|
Mungo Park
|
1795
|
This person is born; he will later be known as 'The Sporting Parson' and will become an enthusiastic dog breeder, developing this terrier breed that carries his name.
|
Jack Russell
|
1794
|
British troops capture this Caribbean island from the French.
|
Martinique
|
1793
|
During the French Revolutionary Wars, the Royal Navy boards and captures French warships sheltering in this neutral port in northern Italy.
|
Genoa
|
1792
|
This household name high street retailer begins life as a news vendor in London.
|
W.H. Smith
|
1791
|
The Constitutional Act is enacted in London giving this future independent country its first parliamentary constitution.
|
Canada
|
1790
|
A bill become law to establish this port and town in South Wales, now the site of a major gas and oil terminal.
|
Milford Haven
|
1789
|
Captain William Bligh is cast adrift after a mutiny on this Royal Navy ship.
|
HMS Bounty
|
1788
|
Claimant to the throne, Charles Edward Stuart, also known by this name, dies in exile.
|
Bonnie Prince Charlie
|
1787
|
Captain Arthur Phillip leaves Portsmouth with this group of 11 ships, carrying around 700 convicts to this destination in Australia.
|
Botany Bay
|
1786
|
This poem by Robert Burns is first published in the Caledonian Mercury.
|
Address to a Haggis
|
1785
|
The first successful crossing of this stretch of water in a balloon is accomplished.
|
English Channel
|
1784
|
A tax is introduced, charging per thousand of these items which are used in house building.
|
Bricks
|
1783
|
This famous figure, remembered as 'England's greatest gardener' dies in London.
|
'Capability' Brown
|
1782
|
David Tyrie becomes the last person in Britain to suffer this punishment.
|
Hanging, drawing and Quartering
|
1781
|
At this battle General Charles Cornwallis surrenders to General George Washington, ending the armed struggle of the American Revolutionary War.
|
Yorktown
|
1780
|
Robert Raikes promotes this national, christian, educational movement from his home in Gloucester.
|
Sunday Schools
|
1779
|
The first ever 'Oaks' horse race is run at this Surrey race course.
|
Epsom
|
1778
|
Joseph Bramah registers a patent for this household sanitary device.
|
Flush toilet
|
1777
|
A 93 mile long canal is completed connecting the Trent with this other river.
|
Mersey
|
1776
|
This book by Economist Adam Smith is published for this first time.
|
The Wealth of Nations
|
1775
|
Inventor Richard Arkwright receives a patent for his carding machine used for converting this raw material to a form suitable for spinning.
|
Cotton
|
1774
|
Yorkshire born chemist Joseph Priestley isolates what he called dephlogisticated air for the first time. We now know it by this name.
|
Oxygen
|
1773
|
This future governor of New South Wales is born in Scotland. He is remembered today in the name of an Australian city.
|
Thomas Brisbane
|
1772
|
This future Lake Poet and founder of the Romantic Movement is born in Devon.
|
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
|
1771
|
James Cook returns to Britain on this ship after his first global circumnavigation.
|
HMS Endeavour
|
1770
|
The future politician William Huskisson is born. He later gains lasting posterity when run over by this means of public transport, becoming its first casualty.
|
Railway locomotive
|
1769
|
This brand of London dry gin is produced for the first time.
|
Gordon's
|
1768
|
This art institution is founded for the purpose of promoting the creation, enjoyment and appreciation of the visual arts.
|
Royal Academy of Arts
|
1767
|
The final volume of this novel by Laurence Sterne, inspired by Don Quixote, is published
|
Tristram Shandy
|
1766
|
The paper "On Factitious Airs", is published by this scientist, and is credited as showing the discovery of hydrogen.
|
Henry Cavendish
|
1765
|
This ship is launched. In the 21st century it remains the oldest naval ship still in commission.
|
HMS Victory
|
1764
|
Artist William Hogarth dies. He is perhaps best known for this series of eight paintings.
|
A Rake's Progress
|
1763
|
George Grenville, representing this political faction, becomes Prime Minister.
|
Whig
|
1762
|
The first recorded mention occurs of this food item, named after a British earl.
|
Sandwich
|
1761
|
This house is acquired by King George III as a private residence for Queen Charlotte.
|
Buckingham Palace
|
1760
|
This period of great technological and economic change begins, bringing in novel ways of working and living, resulting in a fundamentally transformed society.
|
Industrial Revolution
|
1759
|
A new lighthouse is lit for the first time on these dangerous rocks off the coast of Cornwall.
|
Eddystone
|
1758
|
British and French fleets fight at the Battle of Negapatam during this global conflict.
|
Seven Years' War
|
1757
|
This future Scottish civil engineer is born. He goes on to establish himself as arguably the greatest builder of roads, bridges and canals Britain has ever seen.
|
Thomas Telford
|
1756
|
The Treaty of Westminster is signed between Britain and this German state, intended to guarantee the neutrality of Hanover.
|
Prussia
|
1755
|
This lexicographer's book, "A Dictionary of the English Language" is finally published.
|
Samuel Johnson
|
1754
|
This English author, remembered for his comic novel 'Tom Jones', dies in Lisbon.
|
Henry Fielding
|
1753
|
The Cornish Stannary Parliament, responsible for governing the mining of this metal, is discontinued after more than 500 years.
|
Tin
|
1752
|
Britain adopts this calendar to realign the date of Easter to that defined by the Church.
|
Gregorian
|
1751
|
The first factory of what will become this well-known porcelain manufacturing company is established in the West Midlands.
|
Royal Worcester
|
1750
|
This society is founded, catering for those who share a passion for horseracing.
|
Jockey Club
|
1749
|
This law enforcement body, London's first professional police force, is founded.
|
Bow Street Runners
|
1748
|
These items, resulting in a standard sartorial appearance, are issued to the Royal Navy for the first time.
|
Uniforms
|
1747
|
James Lind undertakes experiments on the effect of citrus fruit as a cure for this disease.
|
Scurvy
|
1746
|
This conflict, the final pitched battle on British soil, brings an end to the Jacobite Rising.
|
Culloden
|
1745
|
The dominant west towers of the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter, the site of many coronations, and known by this more famous name, are finally completed.
|
Westminster Abbey
|
1744
|
The earliest known laws for this popular sport are drafted.
|
Cricket
|
1743
|
Scottish folklore tells of how an old man named MacQueen of Findhorn kills the very last of these animals to be found living wild in Britain.
|
Wolf
|
1742
|
James Bradley is appointed to this senior position, simultaneously becoming director of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich.
|
Astronomer Royal
|
1741
|
This influential actor, playwright, manager and producer makes his London stage debut. His legacy is to have venues named after him in multiple countries.
|
David Garrick
|
1740
|
The patriotic song is first performed in an open-air performance at Cliveden.
|
Rule, Britannia
|
1739
|
This highwayman is hanged after which his exploits are romanticised in fiction.
|
Dick Turpin
|
1738
|
John Wesley's evangelical conversion essentially launches this Protestant denomination.
|
Methodism
|
1737
|
Construction begins on this iconic circular library building in the University of Oxford.
|
Radcliffe Camera
|
1736
|
This Act comes into effect making it a crime to claim that someone has magical powers and abolishes the hunting and execution of anyone believed to possess them.
|
Witchcraft
|
1735
|
George Hadley publishes the first explanation of these equatorial east to west winds.
|
Trade winds
|
1734
|
The Bank of England moves to this location in London which it still occupies.
|
Threadneedle Street
|
1733
|
John Kay patents this device to greatly speed up the process of weaving cloth.
|
Flying Shuttle
|
1732
|
Trinity House moors the world's first of these navigation aids in the Thames Estuary.
|
Lightship
|
1731
|
An incident involving an assault on the captain of a British ship off the coast of Florida gives its name to this later conflict between Britain and Spain.
|
War of Jenkins' Ear
|
1730
|
The future pottery manufacturer is born in Staffordshire.
|
Josiah Wedgwood
|
1729
|
This Dartmouth born inventor dies. He is best known for creating the atmospheric engine that still bears his name - the first practical fuel-burning engine.
|
Thomas Newcomen
|
1728
|
This type of bank account credit is offered to a customer for the very first time.
|
Overdraft
|
1727
|
George II is crowned at Westminster Abbey for which this Handel anthem was composed.
|
Zadok the Priest
|
1726
|
This French Enlightenment writer and philosopher begins a three year exile in Britain.
|
Voltaire
|
1725
|
This future statesman is born. He will later be known for his association with India.
|
Robert Clive
|
1724
|
George Stubbs is born. He goes on to be best known for his paintings of this animal.
|
Horses
|
1723
|
The Black Act is passed making this rural crime a capital offence.
|
Poaching
|
1722
|
This muzzle-loading musket becomes the British Army's standard infantry firearm.
|
Brown Bess
|
1721
|
This person becomes de facto first Prime Minister of Great Britain.
|
Robert Walpole
|
1720
|
This future brewer and M.P. is born. His early brewery develops into a major company that still bears his name.
|
Samuel Whitbread
|
1719
|
This novel by Daniel Defoe is published for the first time.
|
Robinson Crusoe
|
1718
|
Lieutenant Robert Maynard kills this infamous pirate in hand to hand combat..
|
Blackbeard
|
1717
|
This music by Handel is performed on a barge on the River Thames for the king.
|
Water Music
|
1716
|
William Wake is appointed to this position in the Church of England.
|
Archbishop of Canterbury
|
1715
|
London enjoys 3 minutes 33 seconds of totality during this natural phenomenon.
|
Solar Eclipse
|
1714
|
This Queen dies and is succeeded by George I.
|
Anne
|
1713
|
The Treaty of Utrecht cedes this Mediterranean territory to Britain.
|
Gibraltar
|
1712
|
This character is created as a national personification of England, and Britain in general.
|
John Bull
|
1711
|
On Christmas Day this cathedral is declared officially complete by Parliament.
|
St. Paul's
|
1710
|
The world's first legislation of this form comes into effect, giving protection for creative work.
|
Copyright
|
1709
|
Abraham Darby successfully uses coke in a blast furnace to produce this material.
|
Cast iron
|
1708
|
The Scottish Militia Bill is denied this approval by Queen Anne making it the last time this has been withheld at Westminster.
|
Royal Assent
|
1707
|
Great Britain becomes a sovereign country after ratification of these Acts of Parliament.
|
Acts of Union
|
1706
|
This tea marketer opens its first shop in London, still operating today at the same premises.
|
Twinings
|
1705
|
Edmond Halley publishes a paper on the astronomical movements of this type of object.
|
Comet
|
1704
|
The major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession sees the Grand Alliance, led by the Duke of Marlborough and Eugene of Savoy secure an overwhelming victory.
|
Blenheim
|
1703
|
This scientist is elected president of the Royal Society in London.
|
Isaac Newton
|
1702
|
Britain's first daily newspaper, the Daily Courant, begins publication in this London street.
|
Fleet Street
|
1701
|
This agriculturalist invents a drill for efficiently planting seeds in rows.
|
Jethro Tull
|
1700
|
This treaty is signed in an attempt to resolve disagreements between England and Spain.
|
Treaty of London
|
Just as a FYI, there is a memorial to the shooting of the last wolf in a parking area on the A9 road north of Inverness.