News

03/01/2019

10 anniversaries for 2019

The birth of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the first moon landing, D-Day, and the last public performance of the Beatles are amongst 10 important historical anniversaries in 2019.

First moon landing on 20 July 1969
First moon landing on 20 July 1969 © NASA Pictures / Alamy Stock Photo

English Heritage has revealed a list of some of the key significant historical milestones coming up in 2019.

The list includes the 50th anniversary of the first landing on the moon and 100 years since the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. Other milestones stretch as far back as the 15th century. In 1419 royal widow Joan of Navarre was imprisoned for sorcery, witchcraft and conspiracy to murder her stepson, Henry V, at Pevensey Castle.

This year is also one for famous birthdays. The Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte, rival leaders at the Battle of Waterloo, were both born 250 years ago in 1769.

One of England's most well-known monarchs will also be commemorated with 2019 marking 200 years since the birth of Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert, on 24 May and 26 August respectively. Their birthdays have prompted a new exhibition at their holiday home on the Isle of Wight, Osborne, which will showcase some of the gifts they exchanged. The exhibition will open in May 2019.

Though the list is by no means exhaustive, it sets to outline some of the important anniversaries in the calendar this year.

The fall of the Berlin Wall 9 November 1989
The fall of the Berlin Wall 9 November 1989 © Sueddeutsche Zeitung Photo / Alamy Stock Photo

Anna Eavis, English Heritage's Curatorial Director, said:

'From the fall of the Berlin Wall 30 years ago, back to 1419 when a witchcraft charge meant imprisonment in Pevensey Castle for a former queen, marking anniversaries is a great way of appreciating the richness and influence of history.'

The Beatles give their last public permorfance on the roof of Apple Records 30 January 1969
The Beatles give their last public permorfance on the roof of Apple Records 30 January 1969 © Trinity Mirror / Mirrorpix / Alamy Stock Photo

English Heritage's 10 anniversaries for 2019

  • The fall of the Berlin Wall (30th anniversary) – 9 November 1989
  • The first moon landing (50th) – 20 July 1969
  • The Beatles gave their last public performance on the roof of Apple Records in London (50th) – 30 January 1969
  • D-Day Landings (75th) – 6 June 1944
  • The Treaty of Versailles was signed (100th) – 28 June 1919
  • Lady Nancy Astor was elected MP, becoming the first women to sit in the House of Commons (100th) – 15 November 1919
  • Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were born (200th) – 24 May and 26 August 1819
  • The Duke of Wellington and Napoleon Bonaparte were born (250th) – 1 May and 15 August 1769
  • Start of the slave trade in North America (400th) – around 20 August 1619
  • The imprisonment of Joan of Navarre, widow of Henry IV who was accused of sorcery and witchcraft and conspiring to murder her stepson Henry V, at Pevensey Castle in East Sussex (600th) – 15 December 1419

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