A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 26 July
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 26 July?
- 1579 Francis Drake, the English explorer, discovers a "fair and good" bay on the…
- 1759 French and Indian War: Troops led by French brigadier general François-Charles…
- 1847 Liberia declares its independence from the United States. France and the…
- 1856 Born: George Bernard Shaw
- 1882 Boer mercenaries established the Republic of Stellaland in land claimed by the…
- 1894 Born: Aldous Huxley
- 1945 The Labour Party wins the United Kingdom general election of July 5 by a…
- 1951 Walt Disney's 13th animated film, Alice in Wonderland, premieres in London…
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1579 | Francis Drake, the English explorer, discovers a "fair and good" bay on the… | 2026 − 1579 = | |
| 1847 | Liberia declares its independence from the United States. France and the… | 2026 − 1847 = | |
| 1882 | Boer mercenaries established the Republic of Stellaland in land claimed by the… | 2026 − 1882 = | |
| 1945 | The Labour Party wins the United Kingdom general election of July 5 by a… | 2026 − 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!
- French and Indian War: Troops led by French brigadier general François-Charles…
- Liberia declares its independence from the United States. France and the…
- Boer mercenaries established the Republic of Stellaland in land claimed by the…
- Francis Drake, the English explorer, discovers a "fair and good" bay on the…
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Boer mercenaries established the Republic of Stellaland in land claimed by the”?
- A. 1856
- B. 1945
- C. 1882
In which year did this happen: “Walt Disney's 13th animated film, Alice in Wonderland, premieres in London”?
- A. 1309
- B. 1951
- C. 1856
Which of these happened first?
- A. Walt Disney's 13th animated film, Alice in Wonderland, premieres in London
- B. Boer mercenaries established the Republic of Stellaland in land claimed by the
- C. French and Indian War: Troops led by French brigadier general François-Charles
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 26 July. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1579 → 447 years; 1847 → 179 years; 1882 → 144 years; 1945 → 81 years.
Order: 1 = Francis Drake, the English explorer, discovers a "fair and good" bay on the… (1579), 2 = French and Indian War: Troops led by French brigadier general François-Charles… (1759), 3 = Liberia declares its independence from the United States. France and the… (1847), 4 = Boer mercenaries established the Republic of Stellaland in land claimed by the… (1882).
Quiz: 1. C (1882); 2. B (1951); 3. C (French and Indian War: Troops led by French brigadier general François-Charles).