In 1990 Czechoslovakia becomes the Czech Republic and Slovakia

In 1960 the Penny Farthing was abolished in the UK

In 1941 Sir Alex Ferguson was born

In 1879 Thomas Edison demonstrates the incandescent light-bulb to the public

 

In 1695 The Window Tax is implemented in England causing many to brick up their windows

 

In 1691 Irish Chemist Robert Boyle died aged 64 in London, England

Robert Boyle is considered the father of modern Chemistry and created Boyles Law which details the relationship between the volume of a gas and its absolute pressure. His health began to deteriorate in 1689 and he became increasingly ill finally dying on the 31^st of December 1689

 

In 1600 The East India Company was formed

The East India Company was formed in 1600 just as England began to make its mark as a world trading nation. The company was set up to trade with the East Indies and the company grew quickly and soon became involved in at least half of the worlds trade. With its growing success it became extremely powerful, and even had its own private army.

During the “Seven Years War” (1754-1763) on the 23^rd of June 1757 the British East India Company fought against the forces of newly appointed Nawab (Asian prince) Siraj-ud-daulah and his allies of the French East India Company. The British were hugely outnumbered but won the battle. This gave the British East India Company control of Bengal and over the next hundred years their control of India grew. On the 10^th of May 1857 a rebellion began against the British East India Company in what became known as India’s First War of Independence. The East India Company won the war which ended on the 20^th of June 1858 but the company itself was taken over by the British Crown. India became under British Raj (or Rule in Hindi) and remained so for almost a hundred years.