A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 30 October
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 30 October?
- 1632 Born: Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren was an English architect, astronomer, mathematician and physicist, born in 1632. - 1657 Spain fails to win back Jamaica at the Battle of Ocho Rios
During a war between England and Spain, Spanish forces tried to win back the island of Jamaica from the English. - 1817 Simón Bolívar becomes president of Venezuela's Third Republic
Simón Bolívar became president of the Third Republic of Venezuela, which he had declared during Venezuela's war of independence. - 1839 Born: Alfred Sisley
Alfred Sisley was an Impressionist painter, born in Paris to British parents in 1839. - 1918 The Armistice of Mudros ends the fighting with the Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire signed the Armistice of Mudros, ending its fighting with the Allies in the Middle East during the First World War. - 1941 Roosevelt approves 1 billion dollars of Lend-Lease aid
US President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved 1 billion dollars of Lend-Lease aid for the Allies in the Second World War. - 1960 The UK's first successful kidney transplant takes place in Edinburgh
Surgeon Michael Woodruff carried out the first successful kidney transplant in the UK, at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. - 1965 Jean Shrimpton's short white dress causes a stir
English model Jean Shrimpton wore a short white dress to Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1632 | Born: Christopher Wren | 2026 − 1632 = | |
| 1817 | Simón Bolívar becomes president of Venezuela's Third Republic | 2026 − 1817 = | |
| 1918 | The Armistice of Mudros ends the fighting with the Ottoman Empire | 2026 − 1918 = | |
| 1960 | The UK's first successful kidney transplant takes place in Edinburgh | 2026 − 1960 = |
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 Armistice of Mudros ends the fighting with the Ottoman Empire
- Simón Bolívar becomes president of Venezuela's Third Republic
- Spain fails to win back Jamaica at the Battle of Ocho Rios
- Roosevelt approves 1 billion dollars of Lend-Lease aid
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Jean Shrimpton's short white dress causes a stir”?
- A. 1863
- B. 1657
- C. 1965
In which year did this happen: “The UK's first successful kidney transplant takes place in Edinburgh”?
- A. 1960
- B. 1985
- C. 1941
Which of these happened first?
- A. The Armistice of Mudros ends the fighting with the Ottoman Empire
- B. The UK's first successful kidney transplant takes place in Edinburgh
- C. Jean Shrimpton's short white dress causes a stir
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 30 October. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1632 → 394 years; 1817 → 209 years; 1918 → 108 years; 1960 → 66 years.
Order: 1 = Spain fails to win back Jamaica at the Battle of Ocho Rios (1657), 2 = Simón Bolívar becomes president of Venezuela's Third Republic (1817), 3 = The Armistice of Mudros ends the fighting with the Ottoman Empire (1918), 4 = Roosevelt approves 1 billion dollars of Lend-Lease aid (1941).
Quiz: 1. C (1965); 2. A (1960); 3. A (The Armistice of Mudros ends the fighting with the Ottoman Empire).