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Isabella Lucy Bird, explorer, natural historian, writer and the first woman to be elected a Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society in London, died in Edinburgh on 7 October 1904 – she was 71.Included below are two, contemporary newspaper tributes that report on her remarkable life and achievements.…

While on a flight to Karachi on 5 October 1930, the R-101 British airship crashed at the edge of a wood near Beauvais in France, and immediately caught fire.Of the 54 passengers and crew, 46 were killed in the crash itself, while two more died later in hospital.To commemorate this sad day, here is a contemporary newspaper report of the disaster.Gloucester Citizen – Monday 06 October 1930Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/19301006/051/0001Western Morning News – Monday 06…

Elias Howe, an inventor and patentor & pioneer of the sewing machine, died in Brooklyn, New York, on 3 October 1867.To commemorate the day, here is a fascinating newspaper article that reports on Howe’s death, and also considers the history and influence of sewing machines in the 19th Century.Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser – Saturday 26 October 1867Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000206/18671026/050/0007…

‘Errand boy who became a millionaire’Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, the Glasgow-born self-made man who worked himself up from errand boy to become a millionaire, died in London on 2 October 1931 – he was 81.Below is a newspaper report (published the day after his death) that offers an overview of Lipton’s amazing life and achievements.This image of Sir Lipton, shows him in the uniform of the City Lieutenancy.Discover more about Sir Lipton…

Annie Besant, a leading political activist and social justice campaigner in the 19th and 20th centuries, was born in Clapham, London, on 1 October 1847.To celebrate the day of her birth, here are four newspaper stories from that offer an insight into her character, political and social beliefs.Yorkshire Gazette | 15 October 1892Dundee Evening Telegraph | 7 December 1897…

On 30 September 1860, the first tram service in the UK started operating at Birkenhead on Merseyside.The tram service was the idea of the (aptly named) George Francis Train, an American entrepreneur who was a pioneer of innovative transport systems.To mark that historic day, here is a newspaper story from October 1860 that reports on the opening of the Birkenhead tram service.…

Louis Pasteur, the French chemist and microbiologist who gave his name to the pasteurisation process, died at Marnes-la-Coquette on 28 September 1895 – he was 72.Here is a newspaper obituary – published two days after his death – that pays tribute to his brilliant achievements.Edinburgh Evening News – Monday 30 September 1895Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000452/18950930/071/0004Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser – Monday 30 September 1895Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000206/18950930/033/0005…

On 27 September 1825, George Stephenson opened the Stockton and Darlington Railway by driving the engine, ‘Locomotion’, between the two towns, and delivering a cargo of coal and flour.The train also carried 1,000 passengers, who, according to this newspaper report from 7 October 1825, ‘were highly delighted’ by the novel exhibition.Start your newspaper journey by registering today…

‘Lady Parsons, in declaring the hostel open, wished it every success, and said it was an honour to open a home for the women engaged in munition works.’We’re fascinated by all the newspaper reports about women munition workers during the First World War.In addition to all the news and personal stories, there are some terrific adverts for hiring workers (we always like to know how much money our ancestors were earning) and the clothes that they needed for…

On 26 September 1934, RMS Queen Mary (aka ‘Hull Number 534’) was launched on the River Clyde by HM the Queen Mary..The newspapers report that 250,000 people turned up to watch the launch, which took place at a rainy John Brown Shipyard in Clydebank.To mark the historic day, here are some photos of the ship’s launch and also a newspaper report about the launch.Dundee Courier – Thursday 27 September 1934Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19340927/111/0008Western…