World events

The Titanic sank on her maiden voyage

On 15 April 1912, RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic. More than 1,500 people were lost.

Scott reached the South Pole

Captain Robert Falcon Scott's expedition arrived at the Pole in January 1912, only to find Roald Amundsen had beaten them by weeks.

The General Strike

In May 1926, around 1.7 million British workers struck in support of coal miners. It lasted nine days.

Pluto was discovered

In February 1930, Clyde Tombaugh spotted a new planet from Lowell Observatory. It kept its status until 2006.

The first football World Cup

Thirteen teams travelled to Uruguay in July 1930 for the very first World Cup. The hosts won it.

Amy Johnson flew to Australia

In May 1930, the Hull-born pilot became the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia.

The Dambusters Raid

On the night of 16–17 May 1943, RAF Lancasters used bouncing bombs to attack German dams in the Ruhr valley.

The invasion of Sicily

In July 1943, Allied forces landed in Sicily, beginning the liberation of Italy and the push north.

Disneyland opened

Walt Disney’s first theme park opened in Anaheim, California on 17 July 1955.

The Six-Day War redrew the Middle East

In June 1967, six days of fighting between Israel and its neighbours changed the map of the region.

The first human heart transplant

On 3 December 1967, Dr Christiaan Barnard carried out the world’s first human heart transplant in Cape Town.

The first Super Bowl

On 15 January 1967, Green Bay Packers beat Kansas City Chiefs in the first ever AFL–NFL World Championship Game.

The Abortion Act was passed

In October 1967, Parliament legalised abortion in Great Britain under set conditions — one of several landmark social laws that year.

The Vietnam War ended

On 30 April 1975, Saigon fell and the long war in Vietnam came to an end.

The first Cricket World Cup

Eight teams contested the first one-day World Cup in England in June 1975; the West Indies won.

Margaret Thatcher resigned

After eleven years in power, the Prime Minister stood down on 22 November 1990.

Italia ’90 and Gazza’s tears

England reached the World Cup semi-final and lost on penalties; a nation discovered it loved football again.

Nelson Mandela became President

On 10 May 1994, South Africa’s first fully democratic elections made Mandela president.

The Channel Tunnel opened

On 6 May 1994, the Queen and President Mitterrand opened the link between Britain and France.

The National Lottery launched

The first draw on 19 November 1994 made instant millionaires — "It could be you".

The Good Friday Agreement

On 10 April 1998, Northern Ireland’s parties signed the agreement that largely ended the Troubles.

Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans

In August 2005, the storm and the floods that followed killed well over a thousand people.

An Icelandic volcano grounded Europe

In April 2010, ash from Eyjafjallajökull closed airspace across northern Europe for days.

Britain’s first coalition since the war

The 2010 election produced a Conservative–Liberal Democrat government in May.

The COVID-19 pandemic

In March 2020, the WHO declared a pandemic and life changed across the globe within weeks.

The first UK lockdown

On 23 March 2020, the nation was told to stay at home. Thursday nights became about clapping for carers.

The UK left the European Union

On 31 January 2020, Britain left the EU after 47 years of membership.

The Tokyo Olympics were postponed

For the first time outside the world wars, the summer Games were moved, to 2021.