Category Archives: British history

Life in Early Britain: The Anglo-Saxons

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

The early inhabitants of Britain lived under harsh conditions. Dark forested areas. Savage neighbors. Wild animals. Life consisted of hunting, fishing, sailing, and feasting. Life demanded a strong people. From those people came a certain ideal of courage. Of honor. … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, British history, Great Britain | Tagged , | 9 Comments

James Lind and the Prevention of Scurvy

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

James Lind was a Scottish doctor, who studied scurvy first hand. Born in Edinburgh in 1716, Lind became an apprentice at Edinburgh’s College of Surgeons at the age of 15. At 23, he accepted the post of surgeon’s mate and … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian Era, Great Britain, medicine, real life tales | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Do You Know These Words and Phrases?

Posted on April 27, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

I have some words/phrases that are familiar and others perhaps not so. Enjoy the origins of these choice tidbits.  Butterfingers: (Phrases.org) A name playfully applied to someone who fails to catch a ball or lets something slip from their fingers. Several authorities Charles Dickens invented … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, British history, Great Britain, Uncategorized, word play | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Sir Walter Scott, the Historical Romance, and the Creation of a National Identity – Part II

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

Last Tuesday, we had our first look at how Sir Walter Scott perfected the “formula” for historical romance while creating a national identity. [April 14 post – Part I]  Sir Walter Scott’s fiction quite often uses the plot devices of … Continue reading →

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The Rise of Preventive Medicine in England in the 18th Century

Posted on April 20, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

Early on, the civilize world saw the study of nature as essential to the welfare of all mankind. The 16th Century saw great strides. Nicolaus Copernicus was a Renaissance mathematician and astronomer who formulated a model of the universe that … Continue reading →

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Early Political History of England: The West Saxons

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

Under King Offa, the Mercians defeated the Northumbrians, but the Mercian rule lasted only as long Offa remained in control. The Mercians were replaced by a line of West Saxon kings, including Ine (688-725); Egbert (802 -839), and Alfred the Great … Continue reading →

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Sir Walter Scott, the Historical Romance, and the Creation of a National Identity – Part I

Posted on April 14, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

Walter Scott was the first great writer to recognize the potential of historical romance as a “dramatic narration of national history, a modern commercial equivalent of the old national epic. Scott’s Waverley novels started out as the romance of Scotland, … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, British history, Great Britain | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

What is a Perpetual Curacy?

Posted on April 10, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

According to The Law Dictionary, a perpetual curacy is  “the office of a curate in a parish where there is no spiritual rector or vicar, but where a clerk (curate) is appointed to officiate there by the impropriator. 2 Burn. … Continue reading →

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Early Political History of England: The Roman Occupation

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

The Romans brought Christianity and other Oriental religions to the England. They also insisted upon the building of roads and the establishment of city sites, which was the first glimmers of “civilization.” However, we cannot think that the native people … Continue reading →

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One Calamity Solves Another: The Great Plague of 1665 and the Great Fire in London in 1666

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

The Great Plague of 1665 stands out as an important event in medical history. The Great Plague was not the first time England knew the disease. In 1580, the Lord Mayor of London complained publicly of the number of burials … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain | Tagged , , | 6 Comments