A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 4 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 4 December?
- 1259 Henry III and Louis IX agree the Treaty of Paris
King Henry III of England and King Louis IX of France agreed the Treaty of Paris. - 1639 Jeremiah Horrocks sees Venus cross the face of the Sun
The English astronomers Jeremiah Horrocks and William Crabtree made the first successful observation of a transit of Venus. - 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie's army reaches Derby
The army of Charles Edward Stuart, known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, reached Derby. - 1791 The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, is published
The first edition of The Observer, a British newspaper published on Sundays, came out. - 1865 Born: Edith Cavell
Edith Cavell was a British nurse during the First World War. - 1909 The Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club is founded
The Montreal Canadiens were founded in Canada as one of the first members of the National Hockey Association. - 1918 Woodrow Wilson sets sail as the first US president to visit Europe
US President Woodrow Wilson set sail for the peace talks held after the First World War. - 2012 Italy officially adopts its national anthem
The song 'Il Canto degli Italiani' officially became Italy's national anthem.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1259 | Henry III and Louis IX agree the Treaty of Paris | 2026 − 1259 = | |
| 1745 | Bonnie Prince Charlie's army reaches Derby | 2026 − 1745 = | |
| 1865 | Born: Edith Cavell | 2026 − 1865 = | |
| 1918 | Woodrow Wilson sets sail as the first US president to visit Europe | 2026 − 1918 = |
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!
- Bonnie Prince Charlie's army reaches Derby
- The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, is published
- Jeremiah Horrocks sees Venus cross the face of the Sun
- Henry III and Louis IX agree the Treaty of Paris
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Jeremiah Horrocks sees Venus cross the face of the Sun”?
- A. 1865
- B. 1791
- C. 1639
In which year did this happen: “Henry III and Louis IX agree the Treaty of Paris”?
- A. 1872
- B. 1259
- C. 1865
Which of these happened first?
- A. Bonnie Prince Charlie's army reaches Derby
- B. Jeremiah Horrocks sees Venus cross the face of the Sun
- C. Henry III and Louis IX agree the Treaty of Paris
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 4 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1259 → 767 years; 1745 → 281 years; 1865 → 161 years; 1918 → 108 years.
Order: 1 = Henry III and Louis IX agree the Treaty of Paris (1259), 2 = Jeremiah Horrocks sees Venus cross the face of the Sun (1639), 3 = Bonnie Prince Charlie's army reaches Derby (1745), 4 = The Observer, the world's first Sunday newspaper, is published (1791).
Quiz: 1. C (1639); 2. B (1259); 3. C (Henry III and Louis IX agree the Treaty of Paris).