A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 21 February
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 21 February?
- 1746 Jacobites win the siege of Inverness
During the Jacobite rising of 1745, supporters of Prince Charles Edward Stuart surrounded Old Fort George, a castle in Inverness held by government soldiers. - 1804 Trevithick's steam locomotive makes the first railway journey
Cornish inventor Richard Trevithick's steam engine pulled a train along the tramway of the Penydarren Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. - 1828 The first Native American newspaper is published
The first issue of the Cherokee Phoenix was printed in New Echota, the capital of the Cherokee Nation, in what is now the United States. - 1842 John Greenough gets the first US patent for a sewing machine
American John Greenough was granted the first United States patent for a sewing machine. - 1946 Born: Alan Rickman
Alan Rickman was an English actor known for his deep and distinctive voice. - 1952 People in Britain no longer have to carry identity cards
It stopped being necessary for people in the United Kingdom to carry an identity card. - 1958 Gerald Holtom presents his design for the peace symbol
British designer Gerald Holtom showed his new symbol to the Direct Action Committee, a group campaigning against nuclear weapons. - 1972 Soviet robot spacecraft Luna 20 lands on the Moon
Luna 20, an uncrewed Soviet spacecraft, made a gentle landing in a mountainous area of the Moon.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1746 | Jacobites win the siege of Inverness | 2026 − 1746 = | |
| 1828 | The first Native American newspaper is published | 2026 − 1828 = | |
| 1946 | Born: Alan Rickman | 2026 − 1946 = | |
| 1958 | Gerald Holtom presents his design for the peace symbol | 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!
- Jacobites win the siege of Inverness
- Trevithick's steam locomotive makes the first railway journey
- The first Native American newspaper is published
- John Greenough gets the first US patent for a sewing machine
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “People in Britain no longer have to carry identity cards”?
- A. 1952
- B. 1946
- C. 1842
In which year did this happen: “Jacobites win the siege of Inverness”?
- A. 1885
- B. 1907
- C. 1746
Which of these happened first?
- A. People in Britain no longer have to carry identity cards
- B. Trevithick's steam locomotive makes the first railway journey
- C. Jacobites win the siege of Inverness
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 21 February. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1746 → 280 years; 1828 → 198 years; 1946 → 80 years; 1958 → 68 years.
Order: 1 = Jacobites win the siege of Inverness (1746), 2 = Trevithick's steam locomotive makes the first railway journey (1804), 3 = The first Native American newspaper is published (1828), 4 = John Greenough gets the first US patent for a sewing machine (1842).
Quiz: 1. A (1952); 2. C (1746); 3. C (Jacobites win the siege of Inverness).