Did you know some significant historical events happened before Christmas and the day after the holiday?
On December 24, 1716: 24 December (4 January 1717 New Style) – Britain, France, and the Dutch Republic signed the Triple Alliance[3] in an attempt to maintain the Treaty of Utrecht (1713), Britain having signed a preliminary alliance with France on 17 November (28 November New Style).
On 24 December 1724, Benjamin Franklin was persuaded to travel to London by Sir William Keith.
From 1727-1730, an epidemic swept through England. The exact cause is unknown, though the Bubonic plague was ruled out.
While there is no exact day, it is a significant event in December 1737: Bristol Infirmary admits its first patients. This year, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary was founded.
Thankfully, the Jacobite uprising was over by 1750, and a composer was born on Christmas day: “John Christmas Beckwith, British organist and composer (The First Verse of Every Psalm of David with an Ancient or Modern Chant), born in Norwich, England (d. 1809)” –What Happened in December 1750
The Gregorian calendar was adopted by 1757 and: “24 December – the Pratt-Yorke opinion distinguishes overseas territories acquired by conquest from those acquired by private treaty: while the Crown of Great Britain enjoys sovereignty over both, only the property of the former is vested in the Crown.
December 25, 1758, saw the return of Halley’s Comet!
While outside the parameters of this research by eight days, it warrants noting that, during the years of the American Revolution, in 1773: “16 December—a group of American colonists, dressed as Mohawk Indians, steal aboard ships of the East India Company and dump their cargo of tea into Boston Harbor in a protest against British tax policies that became known as the Boston Tea Party.” –1773 in Great Britain. December 26 saw the “Expulsion of tea ships from Philadelphia” –Historical Events in December 1773
In 1777, on December 24, Kiritimati was discovered by James Cook. “The name is derived from the English word “Christmas” written in Gilbertese according to its phonology, in which the combination ti is pronounced /s/.” –Kiritimati
In 1791, Charles Babbage was born, the man credited with “having conceived the first automatic digital computer.” –Charles Babbage.
Given the improbabilities, it is worth mentioning on December 13, 1795, that “a meteorite falls at the hamlet of Wold Newton, East Riding of Yorkshire.” –1795 in Great Britain
December 25, 1800 was the first Christmas Tree in Regency England due to Queen Charlotte, not Prince Albert, as was initially claimed.
December 24, 1801: “Richard Trevithick demonstrates the first steam-powered vehicle to carry passengers at Camborne” –1801 in the United Kingdom
Allowing for three extra days, December 29, 1806: “Thomas Dibdin’s pantomime “Harlequin and Mother Goose” starring Joseph Grimaldi, in his most famous clown performance, opens at the Covent Garden Theatre, London” –Historical Events in December 1806
On December 25, 1813, “William Debenham joins Thomas Clark in a partnership to manage a draper’s store in London, the origin of the Debenhams business which will run department stores until 2020” –1813 in the United Kingdom.
December 24, 1814: “Treaty of Ghent signed, ending the War of 1812 between the United States, the United Kingdom, and their allies” –Historical Events in December 1814. It took some weeks for the news to reach America, but it is still a rather significant event.
December of 1817: “publication together of Jane Austen’s first and last completed novels, respectively Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, by John Murray in London (dated 1818), six months after the author’s death at Winchester. Her brother Henry Austen contributes a biographical note which for the first time publicly identifies her as the author of all her (previously anonymous) novels.” –1817 in the United Kingdom
December of 1822: “Whatever you called him: Sinterklaos, Saint-Nikloi or Zinniklos, St. Nick went away entirely in England and Scotland during the time of Henry VIII, giving way to the spirit of Christmas cheer in the person of one Father Christmas. England would no longer keep the feast of the Saint on December 6. The celebration moved to December 25 to coincide with Christmas.”
December 19, 1825: “First of the annual Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in London, which will continue for two centuries.”
Given my love of dinosaurs for the last, eh hem, forever, I cannot not include this, though there is no exact day in December: “Mary Anning discovers Britain’s first pterosaur fossil at Lyme Regis on the south coast.” –1828 in the United Kingdom. Yes, a female fossil collector, dealer, and paleontologist in England during the Regency!
December 23, 1834: “Architect and inventor Joseph Hansom patents the Hansom cab” –1834 in the United Kingdom
I hope you have enjoyed these tidbits as much as I enjoyed collecting them. In 1700-1837, there were indeed some significant events that occurred, further broadening my understanding of the Regency.
Sources for On this day…1700-the Regency, England
Wikipedia “1716 in Great Britain” 1716 in Great Britain – Wikipedia
Jodyevans “Benjamin Franklin Arrives in London” Information Britain, December 17, 2009, The 24th of December 1724 AD, Benjamin Franklin Arrives in London (information-britain.co.uk)
Locke, Tom “An Epidemic in England 1727-1730 – Wickhamford’s story” The Badsey Society, November 2021An Epidemic in England 1727-1730 – Wickhamford’s story | The Badsey Society
Wikipedia “1737 in Great Britain” 1737 in Great Britain – Wikipedia
On this Day “What Happened in December 1750” What Happened in December 1750 – On This Day
Wikipedia “1757 in Great Britain” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1757_in_Great_Britain
On this Day “What Happened in December 1758” Historical Events in 1758 – On This Day
Wikipedia “1773 in Great Britain” 1773 in Great Britain – Wikipedia
On this Day “Historical Events in December 1773” Historical Events in December 1773 – On This Day
Wikipedia “1777 in Great Britain” 1777 in Great Britain – Wikipedia with a link to Kiritimati Kiritimati – Wikipedia
Editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica “Charles Babbage” Britannica, Last Updated July 23, 2024, Charles Babbage | Biography, Computers, Inventions, & Facts | Britannica
Wikipedia “1795 in Great Britain” 1795 in Great Britain – Wikipedia
Jodyevans “First Christmas Tree in Britain” Information Britain, December 10, 2012, The 25th of December 1800 AD, First Christmas Tree in Britain (information-britain.co.uk)
Wikipedia “1801 in the United Kingdom” 1801 in the United Kingdom – Wikipedia
On this Day “Historical Events in December 1806” Historical Events in December 1806 – On This Day
Wikipedia “1813 in the United Kingdom” 1813 in the United Kingdom – Wikipedia
On this Day “Historical Events in December 1814” Historical Events in December 1814 – On This Day
Wikipedia “1817 in the United Kingdom” 1817 in the United Kingdom – Wikipedia
Cape Cod Curmudgeon “December 24, 1822, A Right Jolly old Elf” Today in History December 24, 2018, December 24, 1822, A Right Jolly old Elf – Historical Easter Eggs – Today in History
Wikipedia “1825 in the United Kingdom” 1825 in the United Kingdom – Wikipedia
Wikipedia “1834 in the United Kingdom” 1834 in the United Kingdom – Wikipedia
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