Tyndale, William. 1494-1536. English Protestant martyr. First English language bible.

Udall, Nicholas. c1505-56. English dramatist.Ralph Roister Doister 1553. First English secular play, comedy.

Uncle Sam. Personification of US government first appeared in Troy Post based on “Uncle” Sam Wilson who supplied army beef stamped US 1813.

Vallee, Rudy. 1901-86. US. First pop music star.

Vergara, Convention. 1839. Ends first Carlist War vs Isabella II.

Victor-Emmanuel II. 1820-78. First king of united Italy, 1861-. Peace of Milan, 1848. Cavour.

Victoria, Guadalupe. 1786-1843. First Mexican president 1824-9.

Villiers, G. 1592-1628. First Duke of Buckingham. Incompetent favourite of Charles I who dissolved parliament to prevent his impeachment, 1626 causing Civil War.

Virginia. Algonkian, Sioux, Iroquoia. 1587 British settle Roanoke Colony. 1607 First successful colony. 1619 Slaves brought. 1776 Independent. USA.

Vladimir I, St. 956-1015. First Christian Russian ruler. Ordered people to convert.

Vulgate. 405. Official Latin translation of Bible by St Jerome. First printed 1455.

Walpole, Horace. 1717-97. English writer, connoisseur. First Gothic Romance. Castle of Otranto 1765.

Walpole, Robert. 1676-1745. English Whig. First Prime Minister 1721-42. Free trade and peace.

Walter, Hubert. -1205. English Archbishop of Canterbury. Ransomed Richard I, 1193. First Income Tax. Governed during king’s absences.

Washington, George. 1732-99. American Revolution commander, First US President.

Weather Forecasts. 1860. First regularly issued by British Admiralty Office.

Webb, Matthew. 1848-83. English. First to swim across English Channel, 1875.

Weizmann, Chaim. 1874-1952. Russian/Polish Zionist. First President of Israel 1949-52.

Westminster, Statute of. 1275,85,90. First reference to Great Council of England as Parliament. Reformed civil and criminal law. Legal protection for poor. 1931. British affirmation of autonomous dominion of British Empire countries. Established British Commonwealth.

White Mountain, Battle. 1620. First battle of Thirty Years War. Catholic League defeats Bohemian nobles.

Whittle, Frank. 1903-96. British. Invented jet aircraft 1930 First flown 1941.

Whymper, Edward. 1840-1911. English climber. First to climb Matterhorn, 1865.

Winchester. 972 First royal standard units of measure.

Windows. 12C Glass first used. 14C Mullioned (divided into panes). Tudor introduced bay and oriel. 18C curved bow windows.

Witte, Sergei. 1849-1915. Russian finance minister 1892-1903. Trans-Siberian Railway. Capitalistic policies. First Prime Minister 1905-6.

177 more results ...