A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 7 November
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 7 November?
- 1665 The London Gazette is published for the first time
The first issue of the London Gazette was published. - 1687 Born: William Stukeley
The English antiquarian William Stukeley was born. - 1728 Born: James Cook
The English explorer Captain James Cook was born. - 1775 Lord Dunmore offers freedom to enslaved people who join the British
John Murray, Lord Dunmore, the British governor of the Colony of Virginia, issued a proclamation. - 1949 Caspian Sea oil find leads to the world's first offshore oil platform
Oil was discovered beneath the Caspian Sea off the coast of Azerbaijan. - 1956 The United Nations calls for troops to leave Egypt in the Suez Crisis
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling on the United Kingdom, France and Israel to withdraw their troops from Egypt immediately. - 1987 Singapore's first Mass Rapid Transit trains start running
Singapore opened its first Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line, with trains running between Yio Chu Kang and Toa Payoh. - 1996 NASA launches the Mars Global Surveyor
NASA launched the Mars Global Surveyor from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1665 | The London Gazette is published for the first time | 2026 − 1665 = | |
| 1728 | Born: James Cook | 2026 − 1728 = | |
| 1949 | Caspian Sea oil find leads to the world's first offshore oil platform | 2026 − 1949 = | |
| 1987 | Singapore's first Mass Rapid Transit trains start running | 2026 − 1987 = |
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!
- Lord Dunmore offers freedom to enslaved people who join the British
- The United Nations calls for troops to leave Egypt in the Suez Crisis
- Caspian Sea oil find leads to the world's first offshore oil platform
- The London Gazette is published for the first time
4. Quick quiz
In which year was James Cook born?
- A. 1934
- B. 1728
- C. 1917
In which year did this happen: “The United Nations calls for troops to leave Egypt in the Suez Crisis”?
- A. 1775
- B. 1956
- C. 1917
Which of these happened first?
- A. The London Gazette is published for the first time
- B. Lord Dunmore offers freedom to enslaved people who join the British
- C. The United Nations calls for troops to leave Egypt in the Suez Crisis
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 7 November. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1665 → 361 years; 1728 → 298 years; 1949 → 77 years; 1987 → 39 years.
Order: 1 = The London Gazette is published for the first time (1665), 2 = Lord Dunmore offers freedom to enslaved people who join the British (1775), 3 = Caspian Sea oil find leads to the world's first offshore oil platform (1949), 4 = The United Nations calls for troops to leave Egypt in the Suez Crisis (1956).
Quiz: 1. B (1728); 2. B (1956); 3. A (The London Gazette is published for the first time).