Where land, titles and wealth were inherited by the oldest son.
Primogeniture
Fact of the Day
Had you stolen an item over 14d in Halifax in 1600, you would be sentenced to die by gibbet
Quote of the Day
"I believe I forgot to tell you I was made a Duke.
"
~ Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington
On This Day
43 BCE The assassination of Cicero, requested by Marc Antony. When his head was delivered to Anthony, his wife, Fulvia, spat on it and jabbed hairpins into his tongue.
1732 The Theatre Royal, now known as the Covent Garden Opera House, opened with a performance of the Beggar's Opera.
1787 Delaware became the first state of the modern United States.
1817 Rear-Admiral William Bligh died. He had been captain of HMS Bounty during the mutiny.
1941 The Japanese launched a surprise attack on the American naval base a Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, killing 2,403.
1982 Charles Brooks Jr became the first person to be executed by lethal injection, with a huge dose of 'truth serum'