A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 28 January
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 28 January?
- 1457 Born: Henry VII
Henry VII, also known as Henry Tudor, was born at Pembroke Castle in Wales. - 1521 The Diet of Worms meets to discuss Martin Luther
Emperor Charles V and the leaders of the Holy Roman Empire met at a great assembly called the Diet of Worms, in Germany. - 1547 Nine-year-old Edward VI becomes King of England
Nine-year-old Edward VI became King of England and Ireland after the death of his father, Henry VIII. He was the only surviving son of Henry and his third wife, Jane Seymour. - 1754 Horace Walpole invents the word 'serendipity'
The English writer Horace Walpole invented the word 'serendipity' in a letter to a friend. - 1813 Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is published
Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice was first published. - 1896 Walter Arnold becomes the first person convicted of speeding
Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, became the first person to be convicted of speeding. - 1958 Lego files a patent for its famous building bricks
The Danish toy company Lego filed a patent in Denmark for the design of its plastic bricks. - 1986 Born: Jessica Ennis-Hill
Jessica Ennis-Hill is a British athlete who competed in the heptathlon, which combines seven different track and field events.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1457 | Born: Henry VII | 2026 − 1457 = | |
| 1547 | Nine-year-old Edward VI becomes King of England | 2026 − 1547 = | |
| 1813 | Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is published | 2026 − 1813 = | |
| 1958 | Lego files a patent for its famous building bricks | 2026 − 1958 = |
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!
- Horace Walpole invents the word 'serendipity'
- Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is published
- The Diet of Worms meets to discuss Martin Luther
- Nine-year-old Edward VI becomes King of England
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Nine-year-old Edward VI becomes King of England”?
- A. 1547
- B. 1457
- C. 1958
In which year did this happen: “Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is published”?
- A. 1813
- B. 1986
- C. 1754
Which of these happened first?
- A. Horace Walpole invents the word 'serendipity'
- B. Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is published
- C. Nine-year-old Edward VI becomes King of England
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 28 January. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1457 → 569 years; 1547 → 479 years; 1813 → 213 years; 1958 → 68 years.
Order: 1 = The Diet of Worms meets to discuss Martin Luther (1521), 2 = Nine-year-old Edward VI becomes King of England (1547), 3 = Horace Walpole invents the word 'serendipity' (1754), 4 = Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice is published (1813).
Quiz: 1. A (1547); 2. A (1813); 3. C (Nine-year-old Edward VI becomes King of England).