A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 11 February
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 11 February?
- 1144 Robert of Chester translates Europe's first book on alchemy
Robert of Chester, an English scholar, finished translating a book about alchemy from Arabic into Latin. - 1586 Francis Drake's English force captures Cartagena
During a war between England and Spain, Sir Francis Drake led an English attack on Cartagena de Indias. - 1800 Born: Henry Fox Talbot
Henry Fox Talbot was an English scientist and inventor who was a pioneer of photography. - 1826 England's first secular university is founded in London
London University, which later became University College London (UCL), was founded. - 1938 The BBC shows the first science fiction on television
The BBC broadcast part of R.U.R., a play by the Czech writer Karel Čapek. - 1963 The Beatles record their first album in a single day
The Beatles recorded their first album, Please Please Me, in just one day at EMI Studios in London. - 1990 Nelson Mandela walks free after 27 years in prison
Nelson Mandela was released from Victor Verster Prison near Paarl in South Africa. - 1999 Pluto moves back outside Neptune's orbit
Pluto crossed the path of Neptune's orbit and moved back out beyond it.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1144 | Robert of Chester translates Europe's first book on alchemy | 2026 − 1144 = | |
| 1800 | Born: Henry Fox Talbot | 2026 − 1800 = | |
| 1938 | The BBC shows the first science fiction on television | 2026 − 1938 = | |
| 1990 | Nelson Mandela walks free after 27 years in prison | 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!
- The BBC shows the first science fiction on television
- Robert of Chester translates Europe's first book on alchemy
- Francis Drake's English force captures Cartagena
- England's first secular university is founded in London
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “The BBC shows the first science fiction on television”?
- A. 1826
- B. 1938
- C. 1144
In which year did this happen: “England's first secular university is founded in London”?
- A. 1999
- B. 1946
- C. 1826
Which of these happened first?
- A. England's first secular university is founded in London
- B. The Beatles record their first album in a single day
- C. The BBC shows the first science fiction on television
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 11 February. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1144 → 882 years; 1800 → 226 years; 1938 → 88 years; 1990 → 36 years.
Order: 1 = Robert of Chester translates Europe's first book on alchemy (1144), 2 = Francis Drake's English force captures Cartagena (1586), 3 = England's first secular university is founded in London (1826), 4 = The BBC shows the first science fiction on television (1938).
Quiz: 1. B (1938); 2. C (1826); 3. A (England's first secular university is founded in London).