Category Archives: British history

Calomel: A Poison Once the Standard for Medical Treatment

Posted on April 6, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

Many of you who follow this blog are parents and grandparents. Are we not glad that this medicine is no longer a part of our children’s teething issues? Read on… From Evidence Based Science we learn that Calomel was once considered standard medicine. It … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, British history, Great Britain, medicine, Regency era, Uncategorized, Victorian era | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Early History of the English Language

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

I thought I might put all those years of education to use by adding a series of posts on English Language and Literature. I am going back to the beginning and working my way forward. I hope you enjoy the … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, history, literature | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville, 18th Century Diplomat

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

Tomorrow, we will have a look at a portion of North Carolina, which knew the hand of Great Britain in forming its boundaries. Today, we look at one of those who claimed part of the North Carolina as his own. … Continue reading →

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Are You Familiar with These Words and Phrases?

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

We have a variety of words that mean “stupid or foolish person” Ninnyhammer – First Known Use: 1592 Berk – The usage is dated to the 1930s. A shortened version of Berkeley Hunt, the hunt based at Berkeley Castle in … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Uncategorized, word play | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Have You Heard of the Oxford Electric Bell?

Posted on March 17, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

The Oxford Electric Bell or Clarendon Dry Pile is an experimental electric bell that was set up in 1840 and which has run almost continuously ever since, apart from occasional short interruptions caused by high humidity. It was “one of … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, Bells, British history, Great Britain, real life tales, Uncategorized, Victorian era | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Are You Familiar with “Franklin Bells”?

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

Franklin bells (also known as Gordon’s Bells or Lightning bells) are an early demonstration of electric charge designed to work with a Leyden jar. Franklin bells are only a qualitative indicator of electric charge and were used for simple demonstrations … Continue reading →

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Lozenge, Heraldry for Women

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

One of yesterday’s words was “lozenge.” It brought my interest and sent me looking for a tidbit or two on the topic.The lozenge in heraldry is a diamond-shaped charge (an object that can be placed on the field of the … Continue reading →

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Rame Head

Posted on March 10, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

Rame Head is a coastal headland, southwest of the village of Rame in southeast Cornwall, United Kingdom. The area plays a prominent role in the climax of my Regency romance, The First Wives’ Club, which earned an honorable mention in historical … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off on Rame Head

Have You Heard of “Forlorn Hope”?

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

From 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, we find “forlorn hope” as defined as, “FORLORN HOPE (through Dutch verloren hoop, from Ger. verlorene Haufe=”lost troop”; Haufe, “heap,” being equivalent in the 17th century to “body of troops”; the French equivalent is enfants perdu), … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, British history | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Do You Know the Origins of These Words and Phrases?

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

Iron Curtain – This phrase was coined after World War II by Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain to describe the rise of Russian influence over Eastern Europe. Churchill found the rigid censorship of the citizenry and the closing … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Uncategorized, word play | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment