A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 14 February
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 14 February?
- 1613 Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I, marries Frederick V
Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King James VI and I, married Frederick V, a German prince, at Whitehall Palace in London. - 1614 Born: John Wilkins
John Wilkins was an English clergyman, scientist and writer, and one of the founders of the Royal Society. - 1797 Jervis and Nelson win the Battle of Cape St Vincent
A British fleet led by Admiral Sir John Jervis defeated a larger Spanish fleet off Cape St Vincent in Portugal. - 1852 Great Ormond Street Hospital for children is founded in London
The Hospital for Sick Children in Great Ormond Street, London, was founded after a long campaign by Dr Charles West. - 1869 Born: C. T. R. Wilson
Charles Thomson Rees Wilson was a Scottish physicist and weather scientist. - 1876 Alexander Graham Bell applies for a patent for the telephone
Scottish-born inventor Alexander Graham Bell applied for a patent for the telephone in the United States. - 1895 Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is first performed
Oscar Wilde's comedy The Importance of Being Earnest was performed for the first time, at the St James's Theatre in London. - 1990 Voyager 1 photographs Earth as a 'pale blue dot'
Looking back from over 6 billion kilometres away, NASA's Voyager 1 space probe photographed Earth.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1613 | Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I, marries Frederick V | 2026 − 1613 = | |
| 1797 | Jervis and Nelson win the Battle of Cape St Vincent | 2026 − 1797 = | |
| 1869 | Born: C. T. R. Wilson | 2026 − 1869 = | |
| 1895 | Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is first performed | 2026 − 1895 = |
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!
- Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I, marries Frederick V
- Jervis and Nelson win the Battle of Cape St Vincent
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for children is founded in London
- Alexander Graham Bell applies for a patent for the telephone
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is first performed”?
- A. 1895
- B. 1613
- C. 1852
In which year did this happen: “Alexander Graham Bell applies for a patent for the telephone”?
- A. 1876
- B. 1556
- C. 2005
Which of these happened first?
- A. Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is first performed
- B. Great Ormond Street Hospital for children is founded in London
- C. Alexander Graham Bell applies for a patent for the telephone
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 14 February. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1613 → 413 years; 1797 → 229 years; 1869 → 157 years; 1895 → 131 years.
Order: 1 = Princess Elizabeth, daughter of James I, marries Frederick V (1613), 2 = Jervis and Nelson win the Battle of Cape St Vincent (1797), 3 = Great Ormond Street Hospital for children is founded in London (1852), 4 = Alexander Graham Bell applies for a patent for the telephone (1876).
Quiz: 1. A (1895); 2. A (1876); 3. B (Great Ormond Street Hospital for children is founded in London).