A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 23 November
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 23 November?
- 1644 John Milton publishes Areopagitica, a defence of free speech
During the English Civil War, the poet John Milton published Areopagitica. - 1887 Born: Boris Karloff
Boris Karloff, whose real name was William Henry Pratt, was an English actor. - 1887 Born: Henry Moseley
Henry Moseley was an English physicist, born in Weymouth in Dorset. - 1924 Edwin Hubble's evidence shows Andromeda is another galaxy
The New York Times reported evidence from the American astronomer Edwin Hubble about the Andromeda Nebula. - 1963 The first episode of Doctor Who is shown on BBC television
The very first episode of Doctor Who was broadcast on BBC television, with William Hartnell playing the Doctor. - 1976 Jacques Mayol becomes the first freediver to reach 100 metres
French diver Jacques Mayol became the first person to freedive to a depth of 100 metres. - 2005 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is elected President of Liberia
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected President of Liberia, following a run-off vote held earlier in November. - 2015 New Shepard rocket flies to space and lands upright again
Blue Origin's New Shepard became the first rocket to fly to space and then return to Earth for a controlled, upright landing.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1644 | John Milton publishes Areopagitica, a defence of free speech | 2026 − 1644 = | |
| 1887 | Born: Henry Moseley | 2026 − 1887 = | |
| 1963 | The first episode of Doctor Who is shown on BBC television | 2026 − 1963 = | |
| 2005 | Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is elected President of Liberia | 2026 − 2005 = |
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!
- John Milton publishes Areopagitica, a defence of free speech
- Jacques Mayol becomes the first freediver to reach 100 metres
- The first episode of Doctor Who is shown on BBC television
- Edwin Hubble's evidence shows Andromeda is another galaxy
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “John Milton publishes Areopagitica, a defence of free speech”?
- A. 1976
- B. 1924
- C. 1644
In which year did this happen: “The first episode of Doctor Who is shown on BBC television”?
- A. 1963
- B. 1924
- C. 1887
Which of these happened first?
- A. Edwin Hubble's evidence shows Andromeda is another galaxy
- B. The first episode of Doctor Who is shown on BBC television
- C. John Milton publishes Areopagitica, a defence of free speech
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 23 November. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1644 → 382 years; 1887 → 139 years; 1963 → 63 years; 2005 → 21 years.
Order: 1 = John Milton publishes Areopagitica, a defence of free speech (1644), 2 = Edwin Hubble's evidence shows Andromeda is another galaxy (1924), 3 = The first episode of Doctor Who is shown on BBC television (1963), 4 = Jacques Mayol becomes the first freediver to reach 100 metres (1976).
Quiz: 1. C (1644); 2. A (1963); 3. C (John Milton publishes Areopagitica, a defence of free speech).