On August 23, 1839, the Union Jack was raised over Hong Kong, securing for Britain not only a natural harbor but also a vital position from which to defend free commerce in Asia. What might have seemed a barren outpost to the casual observer…
Read MoreOn August 4, 1914, the contours of what would become the First World War changed dramatically as three pivotal nations made their positions unmistakably clear. In response to Germany’s invasion of neutral Belgium, both Belgium and the British Empire formally declared war on the…
Read MoreOn October 23, 1707, democracy in Great Britain took a huge step forward with the opening of the first united Parliament. The new governing body served as the culmination of years of negotiations and debates that united the kingdoms of England and Scotland, marking…
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