January 4, 1948★★★★★
Independence of Burma
The Union of Burma becomes independent from Britain, choosing not to join the Commonwealth.
Politics· Myanmar, United Kingdom
Countries / Europe
History of United Kingdom
124 notable historical events in United Kingdom, in chronological order.
20th century
- February 4, 1948★★★★★
Independence of Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
Ceylon becomes an independent dominion within the Commonwealth, ending British colonial rule.
Politics· Sri Lanka, United Kingdom - April 3, 1948★★★★★
Marshall Plan
The United States enacts a large-scale economic aid programme to rebuild Western European economies after the Second World War.
EconomyPolitics· United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands - June 24, 1948 – May 12, 1949★★★★★
Berlin Blockade and Airlift
The Soviet Union blocks road and rail access to West Berlin; the Western Allies respond by supplying the city through an airlift for almost a year.
Politics· Germany, Russia, United States, United Kingdom, France - April 4, 1949★★★★★
NATO founded
Twelve North American and Western European countries sign the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, creating the NATO collective defence alliance.
TreatyPolitics· United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Iceland - April 25, 1953★★★★★
Structure of DNA published
James Watson and Francis Crick publish the double-helix model of DNA in Nature, drawing in part on Rosalind Franklin's X-ray diffraction data.
Science· United Kingdom - October 29, 1956 – November 7, 1956★★★★★
Suez Crisis
After Nasser nationalises the Suez Canal, Israel, Britain and France attack Egypt but withdraw under US and Soviet pressure.
WarPolitics· Egypt, Israel, United Kingdom, France - March 6, 1957★★★★★
Ghana gains independence
The British Gold Coast became independent Ghana under Kwame Nkrumah, the first sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence after World War II.
Politics· Ghana, United Kingdom - August 31, 1957★★★★★
Independence of the Federation of Malaya
Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaims the Federation of Malaya's independence from Britain at Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
Politics· Malaysia, United Kingdom - December 12, 1963★★★★★
Kenya gains independence
Kenya became independent from Britain following the Mau Mau uprising, with Jomo Kenyatta as its first prime minister and later president.
Politics· Kenya, United Kingdom - January 24, 1965★★★★★
Death of Winston Churchill
Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill dies in London and is given a state funeral.
Death· United Kingdom - January 21, 1976★★★★★
Concorde enters commercial service
The Anglo-French supersonic airliner Concorde begins commercial passenger flights.
Technology· United Kingdom, France - April 18, 1980★★★★★
Zimbabwe gains independence
After a guerrilla war and the Lancaster House Agreement, Rhodesia became the internationally recognised independent state of Zimbabwe, with Robert Mugabe as prime minister.
Politics· Zimbabwe, United Kingdom - April 2, 1982 – June 14, 1982★★★★★
Falklands War
Argentina seizes the Falkland Islands; Britain dispatches a task force and retakes the islands after a 74-day conflict.
War· Argentina, United Kingdom - November 1, 1993★★★★★
European Union established by the Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty enters into force, formally establishing the European Union and laying the groundwork for a single currency.
TreatyPolitics· Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Portugal - July 5, 1996★★★★★
Birth of Dolly the sheep
Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell, is born at the Roslin Institute in Scotland.
Science· United Kingdom - July 1, 1997★★★★★
Handover of Hong Kong
Britain transfers sovereignty over Hong Kong to China under the 'one country, two systems' principle.
PoliticsTreaty· Hong Kong, China, United Kingdom - April 10, 1998★★★★★
Good Friday Agreement
The British and Irish governments and Northern Ireland's parties sign a peace agreement, ending most of the violence of the Troubles.
Treaty· United Kingdom, Ireland
21st century
- March 20, 2003 – December 2011★★★★★
Iraq War
A US-led coalition invades Iraq and topples Saddam Hussein, beginning a long period of occupation and conflict.
War· Iraq, United States, United Kingdom - April 14, 2003★★★★★
Human Genome Project completed
The Human Genome Project announces it has sequenced the vast majority of the human genome.
Science· United States, United Kingdom - June 23, 2016★★★★★
Brexit referendum
Voters in the United Kingdom choose, by about 52 per cent, to leave the European Union.
Politics· United Kingdom - January 31, 2020★★★★★
United Kingdom leaves the European Union
The United Kingdom becomes the first country to leave the European Union, after 47 years of membership.
Politics· United Kingdom - December 8, 2020★★★★★
First approved COVID-19 vaccination
The United Kingdom gives the first doses of the fully authorised Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, beginning a global vaccination campaign.
ScienceDisease· United Kingdom - September 8, 2022★★★★★
Death of Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history at over 70 years, dies at Balmoral Castle and is succeeded by Charles III.
DeathDynasty· United Kingdom