29th May 1630

29th May 1630

On This Day… 29th May 1630 King Charles II Born   Reigned: 1660 – 1685. Born at St James’s Palace. The son of the beheaded Charles I, he was the king “restored” to the throne after the civil war.   Married Catherine of Braganza in 1662...
28th May 1759

28th May 1759

On This Day… 28th May 1759 William Pitt (the younger) Born   Born Hayes, Kent. Son of William Pitt the Elder. Tory. Entered parliament in 1781, became Chancellor of the Exchequer and then, aged 24, Prime Minister: 1783-1801 and again: 1804-6.   Reputed to drink...
27th May 1932

27th May 1932

On This Day… 27th May 1932 Jeffrey Bernard Born   Journalist. Born 11 Hampstead Square. His chaotic life, spent mainly in the bar of the Coach and Horses, Greek Street, led to the play ‘Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell’ by Keith Waterhouse, the title being...
26th May 1940

26th May 1940

On This Day… 26th May 1940 Dunkirk Evacuation Started   In May 1940, British, French and Belgian troops were cut off on the French coast by German forces and faced death or capture. A hastily assembled fleet of 850 ‘little ships’, code-named...
25th May 1903

25th May 1903

On This Day… 25th May 1903 Ralph Reader Born   Squadron Leader Ralph Reader CBE, officer commanding the Royal Air Force Gang Shows 1939 – 1946. Recognised for exceptional services to world Scouting, 1975. Originator of the Scouting Gang Show. Born...