A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 26 February
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 26 February?
- 1564 Born: Christopher Marlowe
Christopher Marlowe was an English playwright and poet in the time of Queen Elizabeth I. William Shakespeare was baptised in the same year, and some scholars believe Marlowe greatly influenced him. - 1606 Willem Janszoon makes the first recorded European landing in Australia
Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon and his crew became the first Europeans known to land in Australia. - 1815 Napoleon escapes from the island of Elba
Napoleon Bonaparte, the former Emperor of the French, escaped from Elba, the Italian island where he had been sent into exile. - 1909 Kinemacolor colour films are first shown to the public in London
Kinemacolor, the first successful way of making colour films, was shown to the public at the Palace Theatre in London. - 1914 The Titanic's sister ship Britannic is launched in Belfast
The ocean liner Britannic was launched at the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast. - 1917 The first jazz record is made in New York
The Original Dixieland Jass Band recorded 'Livery Stable Blues' at a studio in New York City. - 1919 Grand Canyon National Park is created
US President Woodrow Wilson signed a law creating Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. - 1935 Robert Watson-Watt shows that radio waves can detect aircraft
Scottish engineer Robert Watson-Watt and his colleague Arnold Wilkins set up two receiving aerials near a BBC radio transmitter at Daventry, England.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1564 | Born: Christopher Marlowe | 2026 − 1564 = | |
| 1815 | Napoleon escapes from the island of Elba | 2026 − 1815 = | |
| 1914 | The Titanic's sister ship Britannic is launched in Belfast | 2026 − 1914 = | |
| 1919 | Grand Canyon National Park is created | 2026 − 1919 = |
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!
- Napoleon escapes from the island of Elba
- Willem Janszoon makes the first recorded European landing in Australia
- The Titanic's sister ship Britannic is launched in Belfast
- Kinemacolor colour films are first shown to the public in London
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Robert Watson-Watt shows that radio waves can detect aircraft”?
- A. 1802
- B. 1935
- C. 1564
In which year did this happen: “The Titanic's sister ship Britannic is launched in Belfast”?
- A. 1616
- B. 1914
- C. 1606
Which of these happened first?
- A. The Titanic's sister ship Britannic is launched in Belfast
- B. Robert Watson-Watt shows that radio waves can detect aircraft
- C. Kinemacolor colour films are first shown to the public in London
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 26 February. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1564 → 462 years; 1815 → 211 years; 1914 → 112 years; 1919 → 107 years.
Order: 1 = Willem Janszoon makes the first recorded European landing in Australia (1606), 2 = Napoleon escapes from the island of Elba (1815), 3 = Kinemacolor colour films are first shown to the public in London (1909), 4 = The Titanic's sister ship Britannic is launched in Belfast (1914).
Quiz: 1. B (1935); 2. B (1914); 3. C (Kinemacolor colour films are first shown to the public in London).