A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 26 October
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 26 October?
- 1640 Treaty of Ripon brings peace between Charles I and the Scots
King Charles I of England signed the Treaty of Ripon with the Covenanters, a political movement in Scotland. - 1813 British and Mohawk forces stop an American invasion of Canada
The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Britain and its allies, mostly in North America. - 1863 The Football Association is founded in London
The Football Association, usually called the FA, was set up in London. - 1874 Born: Martin Lowry
Martin Lowry was an English chemist, born in 1874. - 1977 Ali Maow Maalin is the last person to catch smallpox naturally
Ali Maow Maalin, a hospital cook in Somalia, began to show signs of smallpox. - 1982 Born: Nicola Adams
Nicola Adams is a British boxer, born in 1982. - 1985 Uluru is handed back to its Aboriginal owners
The Australian government gave ownership of Uluru back to the local Pitjantjatjara Aboriginal people. - 1999 House of Lords votes to remove most hereditary peers
The House of Lords is one of the two parts of the UK Parliament, which meets in the Palace of Westminster.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1640 | Treaty of Ripon brings peace between Charles I and the Scots | 2026 − 1640 = | |
| 1863 | The Football Association is founded in London | 2026 − 1863 = | |
| 1977 | Ali Maow Maalin is the last person to catch smallpox naturally | 2026 − 1977 = | |
| 1985 | Uluru is handed back to its Aboriginal owners | 2026 − 1985 = |
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!
- The Football Association is founded in London
- British and Mohawk forces stop an American invasion of Canada
- Treaty of Ripon brings peace between Charles I and the Scots
- Ali Maow Maalin is the last person to catch smallpox naturally
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “British and Mohawk forces stop an American invasion of Canada”?
- A. 1999
- B. 1985
- C. 1813
In which year did this happen: “The Football Association is founded in London”?
- A. 1958
- B. 1874
- C. 1863
Which of these happened first?
- A. British and Mohawk forces stop an American invasion of Canada
- B. House of Lords votes to remove most hereditary peers
- C. The Football Association is founded in London
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 26 October. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1640 → 386 years; 1863 → 163 years; 1977 → 49 years; 1985 → 41 years.
Order: 1 = Treaty of Ripon brings peace between Charles I and the Scots (1640), 2 = British and Mohawk forces stop an American invasion of Canada (1813), 3 = The Football Association is founded in London (1863), 4 = Ali Maow Maalin is the last person to catch smallpox naturally (1977).
Quiz: 1. C (1813); 2. C (1863); 3. A (British and Mohawk forces stop an American invasion of Canada).