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A Day in the Past · history worksheet

On this day: 14 April

Name: Class: Date:

1. What happened on 14 April?

  1. 1738 Born: William Cavendish-Bentinck
  2. 1828 Lexicographer Noah Webster copyrighted the first edition of his dictionary of…
  3. 1889 Born: Arnold J. Toynbee
  4. 1904 Born: John Gielgud
  5. 1940 World War II: Royal Marines land in Namsos, Norway, preceding a larger force…
  6. 1940 Born: Julie Christie
  7. 1945 Born: Ritchie Blackmore
  8. 1983 Let's Dance, English musician David Bowie's best-selling album, was released

2. How long ago?

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

YearWhat happenedSumYears ago
1738Born: William Cavendish-Bentinck2026 − 1738 =
1889Born: Arnold J. Toynbee2026 − 1889 =
1940World War II: Royal Marines land in Namsos, Norway, preceding a larger force…2026 − 1940 =
1945Born: Ritchie Blackmore2026 − 1945 =

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: “Lexicographer Noah Webster copyrighted the first edition of his dictionary of”?

    • A. 1857
    • B. 1983
    • C. 1828

  2. In which year did this happen: “Let's Dance, English musician David Bowie's best-selling album, was released”?

    • A. 1983
    • B. 1738
    • C. 1904

  3. Which of these happened first?

    • A. Lexicographer Noah Webster copyrighted the first edition of his dictionary of
    • B. Let's Dance, English musician David Bowie's best-selling album, was released
    • C. World War II: Royal Marines land in Namsos, Norway, preceding a larger force

5. Draw it!

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

Answers for teachers

How long ago: 1738 → 288 years; 1889 → 137 years; 1940 → 86 years; 1945 → 81 years.

Order: 1 = Lexicographer Noah Webster copyrighted the first edition of his dictionary of… (1828), 2 = World War II: Royal Marines land in Namsos, Norway, preceding a larger force… (1940), 3 = Let's Dance, English musician David Bowie's best-selling album, was released (1983).

Quiz: 1. C (1828); 2. A (1983); 3. A (Lexicographer Noah Webster copyrighted the first edition of his dictionary of).