A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 23 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 23 December?
- 1688 King James II flees to France in the Glorious Revolution
King James II escaped from England to France after losing his throne in the Glorious Revolution. - 1732 Born: Richard Arkwright
Richard Arkwright was an English inventor and businessman of the early Industrial Revolution. - 1815 Jane Austen's novel Emma is published
Jane Austen's novel Emma was first published, even though its title page gives the year as 1816. - 1919 A new law lets women join the professions and sit on juries
The Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act became law in the United Kingdom. - 1947 The transistor is demonstrated for the first time
The first transistor, invented by William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain, was demonstrated at Bell Laboratories in New Jersey, USA. A transistor is a small device that can switch or boost electrical signals. - 1954 Surgeons carry out the first successful kidney transplant
A team of American surgeons carried out the world's first successful kidney transplant. - 1955 Born: Carol Ann Duffy
Carol Ann Duffy is a Scottish poet and playwright. - 1997 The rare Anglo-Saxon Pioneer Helmet goes on display
The Pioneer Helmet went on public display for the first time, at the New Walk Museum in Leicester.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1688 | King James II flees to France in the Glorious Revolution | 2026 − 1688 = | |
| 1815 | Jane Austen's novel Emma is published | 2026 − 1815 = | |
| 1947 | The transistor is demonstrated for the first time | 2026 − 1947 = | |
| 1955 | Born: Carol Ann Duffy | 2026 − 1955 = |
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!
- King James II flees to France in the Glorious Revolution
- Jane Austen's novel Emma is published
- A new law lets women join the professions and sit on juries
- The transistor is demonstrated for the first time
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Jane Austen's novel Emma is published”?
- A. 1815
- B. 1986
- C. 1893
In which year did this happen: “The rare Anglo-Saxon Pioneer Helmet goes on display”?
- A. 1997
- B. 1815
- C. 1954
Which of these happened first?
- A. Jane Austen's novel Emma is published
- B. A new law lets women join the professions and sit on juries
- C. The rare Anglo-Saxon Pioneer Helmet goes on display
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 23 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1688 → 338 years; 1815 → 211 years; 1947 → 79 years; 1955 → 71 years.
Order: 1 = King James II flees to France in the Glorious Revolution (1688), 2 = Jane Austen's novel Emma is published (1815), 3 = A new law lets women join the professions and sit on juries (1919), 4 = The transistor is demonstrated for the first time (1947).
Quiz: 1. A (1815); 2. A (1997); 3. A (Jane Austen's novel Emma is published).