A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 20 January
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 20 January?
- 1265 Simon de Montfort's parliament meets, with ordinary townspeople
Simon de Montfort, a powerful nobleman who had taken control of England after rebelling against King Henry III, called a parliament at Westminster. - 1356 Edward Balliol gives up his claim to the Scottish throne
Edward Balliol gave up his claim to be King of Scots in return for a pension from England. - 1649 The trial of King Charles I begins
After years of civil war between the king's supporters and Parliament, a special court began the trial of King Charles I in London. - 1726 Bach leads the first performance of a new cantata
German composer Johann Sebastian Bach led the first performance of his church cantata Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen, which means 'My sighs, my tears'. - 1775 Born: André-Marie Ampère
André-Marie Ampère was a French scientist and mathematician who helped to found the science of electromagnetism, which studies how electricity and magnetism are linked. - 1788 The main part of the First Fleet reaches Botany Bay
The main group of ships of the First Fleet arrived at Botany Bay, in Australia, marking the start of British settlement there. - 1930 Born: Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin is an American astronaut who was the second person to walk on the Moon. - 2009 Barack Obama becomes the first African American US president
Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, outside the Capitol building in Washington, DC. He was the first African American to become president.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1265 | Simon de Montfort's parliament meets, with ordinary townspeople | 2026 − 1265 = | |
| 1649 | The trial of King Charles I begins | 2026 − 1649 = | |
| 1775 | Born: André-Marie Ampère | 2026 − 1775 = | |
| 1930 | Born: Buzz Aldrin | 2026 − 1930 = |
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!
- The trial of King Charles I begins
- Edward Balliol gives up his claim to the Scottish throne
- Simon de Montfort's parliament meets, with ordinary townspeople
- Bach leads the first performance of a new cantata
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Simon de Montfort's parliament meets, with ordinary townspeople”?
- A. 1265
- B. 1401
- C. 1775
In which year did this happen: “Edward Balliol gives up his claim to the Scottish throne”?
- A. 1356
- B. 1775
- C. 1783
Which of these happened first?
- A. The main part of the First Fleet reaches Botany Bay
- B. Edward Balliol gives up his claim to the Scottish throne
- C. Simon de Montfort's parliament meets, with ordinary townspeople
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 20 January. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1265 → 761 years; 1649 → 377 years; 1775 → 251 years; 1930 → 96 years.
Order: 1 = Simon de Montfort's parliament meets, with ordinary townspeople (1265), 2 = Edward Balliol gives up his claim to the Scottish throne (1356), 3 = The trial of King Charles I begins (1649), 4 = Bach leads the first performance of a new cantata (1726).
Quiz: 1. A (1265); 2. A (1356); 3. C (Simon de Montfort's parliament meets, with ordinary townspeople).