General Booth’s Salvation Army band
On this day in 1829 William Booth, founder and first General of the Salvation Army was born. After years of work as a travelling Methodist... Read More
Brunel’s dream ticket, from London to New York
On this day in 1806 the engineer and designer Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born. His works such as the Great Western Railway, numerous bridges and... Read More
Wordsworth’s French, illegitimate daughter
On this day in 1770 the English poet William Wordsworth was born. A career poet who became Poet Laureate in his later years, Wordsworth is... Read More
Algernon Swinburne, poet, alcoholic and algolagniac
On this day in 1837 the poet Algernon Charles Swinburne was born. Swinburne was a well-born and clever young man who did well at Oxford... Read More
Oliver Goldsmith, playwright and compulsive gambler
On this day in 1774 the poet, novelist and playwright Oliver Goldsmith died aged 43. Dr Samuel Johnson wrote this epitaph: “Oliver Goldsmith: A Poet,... Read More
April Fool’s Day – who cares ?
On this day people like to play tricks on each other. Nobody knows why – perhaps that’s what the attraction is. It seems to have... Read More
Andrew Marvell survives the English Civil War
On this day in 1621 the English poet Andrew Marvell was born. He was a clever and educated man who managed successfully to steer his... Read More