A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 2 February
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 2 February?
- 1141 King Stephen is captured at the Battle of Lincoln
At the Battle of Lincoln, King Stephen of England was defeated and captured by forces loyal to his cousin and rival, Empress Matilda. - 1645 Royalists win the Battle of Inverlochy in Scotland
A Royalist army of Scottish Highlanders and Irish troops won the Battle of Inverlochy in Scotland. - 1709 Castaway Alexander Selkirk is rescued from a desert island
Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk was rescued by the English captain Woodes Rogers and his crew. - 1814 London's last frost fair is held on the frozen River Thames
The last ever frost fair was held on the frozen River Thames in London. - 1901 The funeral of Queen Victoria takes place
The funeral of Queen Victoria took place. - 1912 Born: Millvina Dean
Millvina Dean was a British woman who sailed on the RMS Titanic when she was just two months old. - 1990 F. W. de Klerk promises to free Nelson Mandela
South Africa's president, F. W. de Klerk, announced that the African National Congress would no longer be banned. - 2004 Roger Federer becomes the world's top men's tennis player
Swiss tennis star Roger Federer became the world number one in men's singles.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1141 | King Stephen is captured at the Battle of Lincoln | 2026 − 1141 = | |
| 1709 | Castaway Alexander Selkirk is rescued from a desert island | 2026 − 1709 = | |
| 1901 | The funeral of Queen Victoria takes place | 2026 − 1901 = | |
| 1990 | F. W. de Klerk promises to free Nelson Mandela | 2026 − 1990 = |
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!
- Castaway Alexander Selkirk is rescued from a desert island
- Royalists win the Battle of Inverlochy in Scotland
- King Stephen is captured at the Battle of Lincoln
- London's last frost fair is held on the frozen River Thames
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Castaway Alexander Selkirk is rescued from a desert island”?
- A. 1912
- B. 1141
- C. 1709
In which year did this happen: “The funeral of Queen Victoria takes place”?
- A. 1901
- B. 1913
- C. 1925
Which of these happened first?
- A. Royalists win the Battle of Inverlochy in Scotland
- B. The funeral of Queen Victoria takes place
- C. Castaway Alexander Selkirk is rescued from a desert island
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 2 February. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1141 → 885 years; 1709 → 317 years; 1901 → 125 years; 1990 → 36 years.
Order: 1 = King Stephen is captured at the Battle of Lincoln (1141), 2 = Royalists win the Battle of Inverlochy in Scotland (1645), 3 = Castaway Alexander Selkirk is rescued from a desert island (1709), 4 = London's last frost fair is held on the frozen River Thames (1814).
Quiz: 1. C (1709); 2. A (1901); 3. A (Royalists win the Battle of Inverlochy in Scotland).