A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 16 June
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 16 June?
- 1632 The Plymouth Company granted a land patent to Thomas Purchase, who became the…
- 1723 Born: Adam Smith
- 1755 After a two-week siege, the French commander of Fort Beauséjour in present-day…
- 1779 American Revolutionary War: Spain declares war on the Kingdom of Great…
- 1795 French Revolutionary Wars: In what became known as Cornwallis's Retreat, a…
- 1904 Irish author James Joyce began a relationship with Nora Barnacle, and…
- 1972 English musician David Bowie released his breakthrough album, The Rise and…
- 1997 The English rock band Radiohead released their landmark third album OK…
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1632 | The Plymouth Company granted a land patent to Thomas Purchase, who became the… | 2026 − 1632 = | |
| 1755 | After a two-week siege, the French commander of Fort Beauséjour in present-day… | 2026 − 1755 = | |
| 1795 | French Revolutionary Wars: In what became known as Cornwallis's Retreat, a… | 2026 − 1795 = | |
| 1972 | English musician David Bowie released his breakthrough album, The Rise and… | 2026 − 1972 = |
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!
- French Revolutionary Wars: In what became known as Cornwallis's Retreat, a…
- The Plymouth Company granted a land patent to Thomas Purchase, who became the…
- After a two-week siege, the French commander of Fort Beauséjour in present-day…
- American Revolutionary War: Spain declares war on the Kingdom of Great…
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Irish author James Joyce began a relationship with Nora Barnacle, and”?
- A. 1972
- B. 1815
- C. 1904
In which year did this happen: “English musician David Bowie released his breakthrough album, The Rise and”?
- A. 1779
- B. 1972
- C. 1815
Which of these happened first?
- A. English musician David Bowie released his breakthrough album, The Rise and
- B. Irish author James Joyce began a relationship with Nora Barnacle, and
- C. The English rock band Radiohead released their landmark third album OK
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 16 June. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1632 → 394 years; 1755 → 271 years; 1795 → 231 years; 1972 → 54 years.
Order: 1 = The Plymouth Company granted a land patent to Thomas Purchase, who became the… (1632), 2 = After a two-week siege, the French commander of Fort Beauséjour in present-day… (1755), 3 = American Revolutionary War: Spain declares war on the Kingdom of Great… (1779), 4 = French Revolutionary Wars: In what became known as Cornwallis's Retreat, a… (1795).
Quiz: 1. C (1904); 2. B (1972); 3. B (Irish author James Joyce began a relationship with Nora Barnacle, and).