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A Day in the Past · history worksheet

On this day: 14 March

Name: Class: Date:

1. What happened on 14 March?

  1. 1780 American Revolutionary War: Spanish forces capture Fort Charlotte in Mobile…
  2. 1836 Born: Isabella Beeton
  3. 1869 Born: Algernon Blackwood
  4. 1885 The Mikado, Gilbert and Sullivan's most frequently performed Savoy opera…
  5. 1885 The Mikado, Gilbert and Sullivan's most frequently performed Savoy opera…
  6. 1933 Born: Michael Caine
  7. 1990 Born: Joe Allen
  8. 1999 Born: Olivia Dean

2. How long ago?

This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.

YearWhat happenedSumYears ago
1780American Revolutionary War: Spanish forces capture Fort Charlotte in Mobile…2026 − 1780 =
1869Born: Algernon Blackwood2026 − 1869 =
1885The Mikado, Gilbert and Sullivan's most frequently performed Savoy opera…2026 − 1885 =
1990Born: Joe Allen2026 − 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!

4. Quick quiz

  1. In which year did this happen: “The Mikado, Gilbert and Sullivan's most frequently performed Savoy opera”?

    • A. 1780
    • B. 1885
    • C. 1869

  2. In which year did this happen: “The Mikado, Gilbert and Sullivan's most frequently performed Savoy opera”?

    • A. 1869
    • B. 1885
    • C. 1780

  3. “American Revolutionary War: Spanish forces capture Fort Charlotte in Mobile” happened in 1780. How many years ago was that?

    • A. 236 years
    • B. 246 years
    • C. 256 years

5. Draw it!

Draw your favourite event from 14 March. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.

Answers for teachers

How long ago: 1780 → 246 years; 1869 → 157 years; 1885 → 141 years; 1990 → 36 years.

Order: 1 = American Revolutionary War: Spanish forces capture Fort Charlotte in Mobile… (1780), 2 = The Mikado, Gilbert and Sullivan's most frequently performed Savoy opera… (1885), 3 = The Mikado, Gilbert and Sullivan's most frequently performed Savoy opera… (1885).

Quiz: 1. B (1885); 2. B (1885); 3. B (246 years).