A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 27 January
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 27 January?
- AD 98 Trajan becomes emperor of Rome
Trajan became Roman emperor after the death of Nerva, who had adopted him as his son. - 1820 A Russian expedition discovers the continent of Antarctica
A Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev came close to the coast of Antarctica, discovering the continent. - 1832 Born: Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll was the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, an English author, poet, mathematician and photographer. - 1880 Thomas Edison is granted a patent for his electric light bulb
American inventor Thomas Edison received a patent for his incandescent lamp, a type of electric light bulb. - 1916 Britain brings in conscription during the First World War
The Military Service Act became law, bringing in conscription in Great Britain during the First World War. - 1944 Born: Mairead Maguire
Mairead Maguire is a peace activist from Northern Ireland. - 1967 The UK, USA and Soviet Union sign the Outer Space Treaty
The United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Outer Space Treaty. - 2010 Apple introduces the first iPad
Apple introduced the first iPad, a tablet computer.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| AD 98 | Trajan becomes emperor of Rome | 2026 − 98 = | |
| 1832 | Born: Lewis Carroll | 2026 − 1832 = | |
| 1916 | Britain brings in conscription during the First World War | 2026 − 1916 = | |
| 1967 | The UK, USA and Soviet Union sign the Outer Space Treaty | 2026 − 1967 = |
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 Russian expedition discovers the continent of Antarctica
- Trajan becomes emperor of Rome
- Britain brings in conscription during the First World War
- Thomas Edison is granted a patent for his electric light bulb
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “The UK, USA and Soviet Union sign the Outer Space Treaty”?
- A. 1944
- B. 1967
- C. 2017
In which year was Lewis Carroll born?
- A. 1799
- B. 1832
- C. 2011
Which of these happened first?
- A. Britain brings in conscription during the First World War
- B. Trajan becomes emperor of Rome
- C. The UK, USA and Soviet Union sign the Outer Space Treaty
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 27 January. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 98 → 1,928 years; 1832 → 194 years; 1916 → 110 years; 1967 → 59 years.
Order: 1 = Trajan becomes emperor of Rome (AD 98), 2 = A Russian expedition discovers the continent of Antarctica (1820), 3 = Thomas Edison is granted a patent for his electric light bulb (1880), 4 = Britain brings in conscription during the First World War (1916).
Quiz: 1. B (1967); 2. B (1832); 3. B (Trajan becomes emperor of Rome).