On this day: Thomas J Watson, father of IBM, was born February 17, 2026 On 17 February 1874, the man who would go on to found the largest industrial research organisation on the planet was born in the tiny town of Campbell, writes Eliot Wilson The town of Campbell, New York, in the Appalachian Mountains had a population of less than 2,000 in 1874. Thomas John Watson, born this [...]
On this day in 1996: the IRA bombs the Docklands February 9, 2026 30 years ago today, two men were killed in a massive explosion at Canary Wharf – and the IRA proved that you can bomb your way to the negotiating table, writes Eliot Wilson At around 5.00 pm, 30 years ago today, a blue Ford Iveco Cargo truck was parked 80 yards from South Quay DLR [...]
On this day in 1637: The tulip bubble bursts February 3, 2026 Tulip fever is still remembered as a parable about the evils of capitalism and mass hysteria, but what really happened? Asks Eliot Wilson It is one of those half-remembered, quarter-understood facts to illustrate the ineffable foolishness of human nature. In the first half of the 17th century, the zenith of the Dutch Golden Age, the [...]
On This Day : Space Shuttle Challenger is lost January 28, 2026 On this day in 1986, millions watched on live TV as the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded moments after launch, Eliot Wilson remembers On this day 40 years ago, NASA was preparing to launch the 25th mission of its Space Shuttle programme, STS-51-L, using the Space Shuttle Challenger on its 10th flight. During a six-day mission, [...]
On this day 1571: The Royal Exchange is opened January 23, 2026 The Royal Exchange was opened by Elizabeth I 455 years ago on this day. Eliot Wilson traces the origins of its success.
On this day 1799: Britain’s first income tax January 9, 2026 On this day, 9 January 1799, Britain introduced its first 'temporary' income tax. Workers have been vexed ever since, writes Eliot Wilson.
It’ll be stonely this Christmas December 25, 2025 On Christmas day in 1950, Scottish nationalists stole the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey, recalls Eliot Wilson The winter of 1950-51 was cold and savage for Britain, still tending its wounds from the Second World War. At the general election in February 1950, Clement Attlee’s reforming Labour government had remained in office – but [...]
On this day in 1783: A 24-year-old is made British Prime Minister December 19, 2025 In 1783, the King needed a fifth Prime Minister in two years. Despite the doubts of some, he turned to William Pitt, then 24, to turn the country around.
On this day: the arrest of Bernie Madoff December 11, 2025 On 11th December 2008, financier Bernie Madoff was arrested for the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, writes Eliot Wilson The 1990s had been an economic boom time for much of the West, with America growing at more than three per cent a year. It seemed as if the post-Cold War world might be one of [...]
On this day: Enron files for bankruptcy December 2, 2025 On This Day in 2001, Enron, once considered America’s most innovative company collapsed, writes Eliot Wilson It’s hard to remember an economic boom now, but the last decade of the 20th century was exactly that for the United States. Annual growth was 3.5 per cent, the jobless total fell until there was nigh on full [...]