Marguerite de Bohun
@mdebohun.bsky.social
Ageing teenager who loves history, watercolouring, trivia and knitting. Not so keen on English weather and American politics.
On a different note - my latest knitting project - for a friend!
March 2, 2025 at 5:53 PM
On a different note - my latest knitting project - for a friend!
Today 1969 the dream of space-age travel began when Concorde took to the skies from Toulouse. The dream was shattered after just 34 years.
March 2, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Today 1969 the dream of space-age travel began when Concorde took to the skies from Toulouse. The dream was shattered after just 34 years.
Roderick Maclean made an unsuccessful attempt to shoot Qn Victoria as she was leaving Windsor rail station today 1882 - the crowd jumped him
March 2, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Roderick Maclean made an unsuccessful attempt to shoot Qn Victoria as she was leaving Windsor rail station today 1882 - the crowd jumped him
In early March 1564 Elizabeth I suggested that Mary Queen of Scots marry Lord Robert Darnley - both tall and well-educated. A good match?
Mary Queen of Scots and Darnley married on 29 July 1565. That date rings a bell, ah yes, Prince Charles & Diana. Another doomed marriage!
Mary Queen of Scots and Darnley married on 29 July 1565. That date rings a bell, ah yes, Prince Charles & Diana. Another doomed marriage!
March 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
In early March 1564 Elizabeth I suggested that Mary Queen of Scots marry Lord Robert Darnley - both tall and well-educated. A good match?
Mary Queen of Scots and Darnley married on 29 July 1565. That date rings a bell, ah yes, Prince Charles & Diana. Another doomed marriage!
Mary Queen of Scots and Darnley married on 29 July 1565. That date rings a bell, ah yes, Prince Charles & Diana. Another doomed marriage!
Today 1954 the US exploded the most powerful bomb ever made = 15M tons of TNT, and the Bikini Atoll island in the South Pacific died.
The bomb was more powerful than expected - Japanese fishermen on boats more than 70 miles away were badly burnt by white ash.
The bomb was more powerful than expected - Japanese fishermen on boats more than 70 miles away were badly burnt by white ash.
March 2, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Today 1954 the US exploded the most powerful bomb ever made = 15M tons of TNT, and the Bikini Atoll island in the South Pacific died.
The bomb was more powerful than expected - Japanese fishermen on boats more than 70 miles away were badly burnt by white ash.
The bomb was more powerful than expected - Japanese fishermen on boats more than 70 miles away were badly burnt by white ash.
Radar was demonstrated for the first time today in 1935 by Robert Watson-Watt at Daventry.
February 26, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Radar was demonstrated for the first time today in 1935 by Robert Watson-Watt at Daventry.
French novelist, dramatist and poet, Victor Hugo, who wrote Les Miserables, was born today in 1802.
February 26, 2025 at 12:12 PM
French novelist, dramatist and poet, Victor Hugo, who wrote Les Miserables, was born today in 1802.
OTD 1962 The Beatles played a concert at the Birkenhead YMCA for £30. The audience didn't enjoy the show - they were booed off. WHAT!
February 24, 2025 at 10:22 AM
OTD 1962 The Beatles played a concert at the Birkenhead YMCA for £30. The audience didn't enjoy the show - they were booed off. WHAT!
Viscount Bernard Montgomery of Alamein, British Field Marshall and Commander of the Eighth Army in WWII, died today in 1976.
February 24, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Viscount Bernard Montgomery of Alamein, British Field Marshall and Commander of the Eighth Army in WWII, died today in 1976.
English comedian Stan Laurel died today 1965. In 1961 he was given a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award for his pioneering work in comedy.
February 23, 2025 at 11:42 PM
English comedian Stan Laurel died today 1965. In 1961 he was given a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award for his pioneering work in comedy.
English poet, John Keats, died of tuberculosis today in 1821 in Rome, aged just 25. His last wish was to be placed under a tombstone bearing no name/date.
Keats lover, Fanny Brawne stayed in mourning for six years after his death. Of her he said, "Love is my religion ... I could die for you."
Keats lover, Fanny Brawne stayed in mourning for six years after his death. Of her he said, "Love is my religion ... I could die for you."
February 23, 2025 at 9:19 PM
English poet, John Keats, died of tuberculosis today in 1821 in Rome, aged just 25. His last wish was to be placed under a tombstone bearing no name/date.
Keats lover, Fanny Brawne stayed in mourning for six years after his death. Of her he said, "Love is my religion ... I could die for you."
Keats lover, Fanny Brawne stayed in mourning for six years after his death. Of her he said, "Love is my religion ... I could die for you."
In a brutal Kremlin coup on the evening of 23 March 1801 (I’m a month ahead of myself - tant pis!) mentally unbalanced Tsar Paul I was strangled in his bed by a group of drunk Russian officers.
February 23, 2025 at 9:12 AM
In a brutal Kremlin coup on the evening of 23 March 1801 (I’m a month ahead of myself - tant pis!) mentally unbalanced Tsar Paul I was strangled in his bed by a group of drunk Russian officers.
Elizabeth Taylor died in Los Angeles at the age of 79 today in 2011. She was wed more times than Henry VIII - eight marriages. One of the secrets of her beauty was that she had two rows of eyelashes, a bit like a camel.
February 23, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Elizabeth Taylor died in Los Angeles at the age of 79 today in 2011. She was wed more times than Henry VIII - eight marriages. One of the secrets of her beauty was that she had two rows of eyelashes, a bit like a camel.
Residents of Churchill, Canada, leave their cars unlocked to offer an escape for pedestrians who might encounter unfriendly (hangry) polar bears - not like these ones.
February 21, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Residents of Churchill, Canada, leave their cars unlocked to offer an escape for pedestrians who might encounter unfriendly (hangry) polar bears - not like these ones.
On her 60th birthday, Dame Margot Fonteyn was named 'prima ballerina assolutta' by the Imperial Russian Ballet, an award given only twice before. The epitome of a prima ballerina, Dame Margot, died in Panama today in 1991, aged 73. See her 1984 interview
February 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
On her 60th birthday, Dame Margot Fonteyn was named 'prima ballerina assolutta' by the Imperial Russian Ballet, an award given only twice before. The epitome of a prima ballerina, Dame Margot, died in Panama today in 1991, aged 73. See her 1984 interview
After being arrested, imprisoned and tortured in 1592, English Jesuit priest, Robert Southwell was tried and convicted of high treason. At his execution OTD 1595 he prayed for Elizabeth I. As the crowd pitied him he was allowed to hang until he was dead before being disemboweled. Gut wrenching!
February 21, 2025 at 5:16 AM
After being arrested, imprisoned and tortured in 1592, English Jesuit priest, Robert Southwell was tried and convicted of high treason. At his execution OTD 1595 he prayed for Elizabeth I. As the crowd pitied him he was allowed to hang until he was dead before being disemboweled. Gut wrenching!
Astatine is a very rare radioactive, unstable chemical element with the chemical symbol At and atomic number 85. It is estimated that there is less than one ounce of it on earth where it occurs naturally. It is black and solid with a metallic appearance and used in the treatment of thyroid cancer.
February 19, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Astatine is a very rare radioactive, unstable chemical element with the chemical symbol At and atomic number 85. It is estimated that there is less than one ounce of it on earth where it occurs naturally. It is black and solid with a metallic appearance and used in the treatment of thyroid cancer.
A new instant breakfast cereal went on sale in the US today in 1906. The Battle Creek Toasted Cornflake Co sold boxes of twice-baked wheat flakes! The company’s founder, William K. Kellogg, had helped develop the flakes 30 years earlier at a Seventh Day Adventist Sanitarium as a veggie health food.
February 19, 2025 at 4:35 PM
A new instant breakfast cereal went on sale in the US today in 1906. The Battle Creek Toasted Cornflake Co sold boxes of twice-baked wheat flakes! The company’s founder, William K. Kellogg, had helped develop the flakes 30 years earlier at a Seventh Day Adventist Sanitarium as a veggie health food.
Author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, died today 2016.
February 19, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Author of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee, died today 2016.
Mary Tudor, aka Mary I or more often, Bloody Mary, was born today in 1517.
February 18, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Mary Tudor, aka Mary I or more often, Bloody Mary, was born today in 1517.
Itinerant English tinker & preacher, John Bunyan, with hardly any formal education published the first part of Pilgrim's Progress OTD 1678.
February 18, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Itinerant English tinker & preacher, John Bunyan, with hardly any formal education published the first part of Pilgrim's Progress OTD 1678.
German professor of theology, composer, priest, and monk, Martin Luther, the father of the reformation, died at his birthplace in in Eisleben, Germany, aged 63 today in 1546 - worn out by overwork, oh and maybe also from siring six children - unusual for a monk to be married, eh?
February 18, 2025 at 8:45 PM
German professor of theology, composer, priest, and monk, Martin Luther, the father of the reformation, died at his birthplace in in Eisleben, Germany, aged 63 today in 1546 - worn out by overwork, oh and maybe also from siring six children - unusual for a monk to be married, eh?
George Plantagenet, first duke of Clarence, first earl of Salisbury, first earl of Warwick - third son of Richard Plantagenet, was drowned (executed for "unnatural, loathly treasons") against his brother Edward IV today in 1478, in a butt of Malmsey wine at the Tower of London.
February 18, 2025 at 8:41 PM
George Plantagenet, first duke of Clarence, first earl of Salisbury, first earl of Warwick - third son of Richard Plantagenet, was drowned (executed for "unnatural, loathly treasons") against his brother Edward IV today in 1478, in a butt of Malmsey wine at the Tower of London.
After the longest murder trial in British legal history, James Hanratty was found guilty of the murder of Michael Gregston and sentenced to hang today in 1962. He was hanged on 4th April that year at HMP Prison, Bedford.
Below, first Hanratty then Gregston.
Below, first Hanratty then Gregston.
February 17, 2025 at 9:12 PM
After the longest murder trial in British legal history, James Hanratty was found guilty of the murder of Michael Gregston and sentenced to hang today in 1962. He was hanged on 4th April that year at HMP Prison, Bedford.
Below, first Hanratty then Gregston.
Below, first Hanratty then Gregston.