A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 7 January
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 7 January?
- 1327 The Parliament that removes Edward II from the throne begins
A Parliament began meeting at the Palace of Westminster that would help remove King Edward II from the throne. - 1558 France captures Calais, England's last town in mainland Europe
French troops led by Francis, Duke of Guise, captured the port of Calais from England. - 1785 A gas balloon makes the first flight across the English Channel
French inventor Jean-Pierre Blanchard and American doctor John Jeffries flew from Dover, in England, to Calais, in France, in a gas balloon. - 1835 HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin aboard, reaches the Chonos Islands
The Royal Navy survey ship HMS Beagle dropped anchor off the Chonos Archipelago, a group of islands. - 1904 Marconi's company chooses CQD as a radio distress call
The Marconi International Marine Communication Company announced that ships in distress, or needing help, should send the radio call 'CQD'. - 1925 Born: Gerald Durrell
Gerald Durrell was a British naturalist, writer, zookeeper and conservationist. - 1985 Born: Lewis Hamilton
Sir Lewis Hamilton is a British racing driver who competes in Formula One. - 1989 Non-league Sutton United knock Coventry City out of the FA Cup
In one of the most famous shocks in FA Cup history, Sutton United beat Coventry City 2–1.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1327 | The Parliament that removes Edward II from the throne begins | 2026 − 1327 = | |
| 1785 | A gas balloon makes the first flight across the English Channel | 2026 − 1785 = | |
| 1904 | Marconi's company chooses CQD as a radio distress call | 2026 − 1904 = | |
| 1985 | Born: Lewis Hamilton | 2026 − 1985 = |
3. Put them in order
Write 1 next to the oldest event, then 2, 3 and so on up to the newest. Use list 1 to help you!
- A gas balloon makes the first flight across the English Channel
- HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin aboard, reaches the Chonos Islands
- France captures Calais, England's last town in mainland Europe
- The Parliament that removes Edward II from the throne begins
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Non-league Sutton United knock Coventry City out of the FA Cup”?
- A. 1927
- B. 1989
- C. 1939
In which year did this happen: “The Parliament that removes Edward II from the throne begins”?
- A. 1558
- B. 1327
- C. 1785
Which of these happened first?
- A. The Parliament that removes Edward II from the throne begins
- B. Non-league Sutton United knock Coventry City out of the FA Cup
- C. Marconi's company chooses CQD as a radio distress call
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 7 January. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1327 → 699 years; 1785 → 241 years; 1904 → 122 years; 1985 → 41 years.
Order: 1 = The Parliament that removes Edward II from the throne begins (1327), 2 = France captures Calais, England's last town in mainland Europe (1558), 3 = A gas balloon makes the first flight across the English Channel (1785), 4 = HMS Beagle, with Charles Darwin aboard, reaches the Chonos Islands (1835).
Quiz: 1. B (1989); 2. B (1327); 3. A (The Parliament that removes Edward II from the throne begins).