A Day in the Past · history worksheet
On this day: 26 December
Name: Class: Date:
1. What happened on 26 December?
- 1606 Shakespeare's King Lear is performed before King James I
The first known performance of William Shakespeare's play King Lear took place in front of King James I. The play is based on the legend of Leir, a king of ancient Britain. - 1780 Born: Mary Somerville
Mary Somerville was a Scottish scientist and writer, born in Jedburgh, who studied mathematics and astronomy. - 1791 Born: Charles Babbage
Charles Babbage was an English mathematician, inventor and engineer. - 1860 Sheffield and Hallam play the world's oldest football fixture
Sheffield FC played Hallam FC for the first time, in a match now known as the Rules derby. - 1871 Gilbert and Sullivan's first show together, Thespis, opens
Thespis, the first show created by the writer W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan, opened at the Gaiety Theatre in London. - 1941 Winston Churchill speaks to the US Congress in wartime
During the Second World War, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave a 30-minute speech to the United States Congress in Washington, D.C. He spoke about how Britain and the USA could work together to win the war. - 1963 The Beatles release I Want to Hold Your Hand in the USA
The Beatles released their song 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' in the United States. - 1980 Mysterious lights are reported in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk
Witnesses reported the first of several sightings of unexplained lights near RAF Woodbridge, in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk.
2. How long ago?
This year is 2026. Work out how many years ago each thing happened.
| Year | What happened | Sum | Years ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1606 | Shakespeare's King Lear is performed before King James I | 2026 − 1606 = | |
| 1791 | Born: Charles Babbage | 2026 − 1791 = | |
| 1871 | Gilbert and Sullivan's first show together, Thespis, opens | 2026 − 1871 = | |
| 1963 | The Beatles release I Want to Hold Your Hand in the USA | 2026 − 1963 = |
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!
- Winston Churchill speaks to the US Congress in wartime
- Shakespeare's King Lear is performed before King James I
- Sheffield and Hallam play the world's oldest football fixture
- Gilbert and Sullivan's first show together, Thespis, opens
4. Quick quiz
In which year did this happen: “Shakespeare's King Lear is performed before King James I”?
- A. 1791
- B. 1861
- C. 1606
In which year did this happen: “The Beatles release I Want to Hold Your Hand in the USA”?
- A. 1791
- B. 1963
- C. 1606
Which of these happened first?
- A. The Beatles release I Want to Hold Your Hand in the USA
- B. Gilbert and Sullivan's first show together, Thespis, opens
- C. Shakespeare's King Lear is performed before King James I
5. Draw it!
Draw your favourite event from 26 December. Then write a sentence about why you chose it.
Answers for teachers
How long ago: 1606 → 420 years; 1791 → 235 years; 1871 → 155 years; 1963 → 63 years.
Order: 1 = Shakespeare's King Lear is performed before King James I (1606), 2 = Sheffield and Hallam play the world's oldest football fixture (1860), 3 = Gilbert and Sullivan's first show together, Thespis, opens (1871), 4 = Winston Churchill speaks to the US Congress in wartime (1941).
Quiz: 1. C (1606); 2. B (1963); 3. C (Shakespeare's King Lear is performed before King James I).