Toby's experience comes from website design as well as experience running large forums and communities. After he married Debbie he developed a keen interest in history and found himself discussing history quite a lot!
Fact of the Day
Paris society was rocked by scandal in 1787, when Madame Vigée Le Brun painted herself with a wide smile on her face.
Quote of the Day
"I think a curse should rest on me, because I love this war. I know it's smashing and shattering the lives of thousands every moment, and yet I can't help it, I enjoy every second of it.
"
~ Winston Churchill in 1916
On This Day
1265England's first Parliament met at Westminster Hall in London, convened by the Earl of Leicester, Simon de Montfort.
1356Edward Balliol, King of Scotland, surrendered his claim to the throne to Edward III in exchange for an English pension.
1649Charles I went on trial for treason against England. He refused to enter a plea, not recognising the authority of the court.
1783Britain signed preliminary peace treaties with France and Spain, ending hostilities in the American Revolutionary War.
1841British forces occupied Hong Kong, after the Qing authorities refused to support British opium imports.
1936George V, the last British monarch to have been murdered (technically), died of a lethal injection of cocaine and morphine.
1936Edward VIII succeeded his father, George V, to the British throne. Something of a PR disaster, he abdicated the same year.
1942Nazi officials met to discuss the 'final solution' of the 'Jewish question' at the Wannsee Conference.
1981The Iranian Hostage Crisis ended. More than 60 people had been held hostage in the American Embassy in Tehran for 444 days.
1987Terry Waite was kidnapped in Beirut whilst attempting to win freedom for hostages. He was held for 1,763 days.