Calendar: March 2024
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Monday 26
Charlie Chaplin became highest paid entertainer
In 1916 The Mutual Film Company signed Chaplin for a film contract – making him the highest-paid entertainer in the world at this time.
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Tuesday 27
Tiger Woods became youngest PGA golfer in 35 years
In 1992 Tiger Woods, aged 16, became the youngest PGA golfer in 35 years.
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Wednesday 28
Discovery of the chemical structure of DNA
In 1953 Francis Crick and James Watson discovered the chemical structure of DNA – the instructions that control the cells that make up all living things.
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Thursday 29
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Friday 01
St David's Day
Today is St David’s Day. The Patron Saint of Wales’ symbols include daffodils and leeks.
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Saturday 02
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Sunday 03
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Monday 04
First sighting of the Orion Nebula in 1774
In 1774 Astronomer William Herschel made the first sighting of the Orion Nebula.
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Tuesday 05
"Stairway to Heaven" first played live in 1971
“Stairway to Heaven” by rock band Led Zeppelin first played live at Ulster Hall, Belfast, in 1971.
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Wednesday 06
Elise Harmon
Elise Harmon, an engineer who designed a way of producing circuit boards for computers, died on this day in 1985.
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Thursday 07
Alexander Graham Bell
On this day in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell was granted a patent for his invention — the telephone.
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Friday 08
International Women's Day
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on 8 March.
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Saturday 09
Holi
People celebrated the festival of Holi yesterday.
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Sunday 10
Mars, the Roman god of war
March means Mars’ month. Mars was the Roman god of war.
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Monday 11
Alexander Fleming
Alexander Fleming – the Scottish scientist best known for his Nobel Prize-winning discovery of the antibiotic penicillin in 1928 – died on this day, 1955.
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Tuesday 12
Gandhi protest walk
On this day in 1930, Mohandas Gandhi began a 240 mile walk from near Ahmedabad in northern India to the Arabian Sea coast to protest against the British salt tax.
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Wednesday 13
Chester Greenwood patented earmuffs
In 1877 Chester Greenwood patented earmuffs after inventing them at the age of 15. He went on to set up an ear protector factory in the American town of Farmington.
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Thursday 14
Albert Einstein's birthday
Einstein was a brilliant scientist whose most famous work includes the Theory of Relativity and the mathematical equation: E=mc²
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Friday 15
First test cricket match between England and Australia
On this day in 1877, the first Test cricket match between England and Australia began.
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Saturday 16
Las Fallas
The Spanish festival of Las Fallas started yesterday and runs until 19 March.
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Sunday 17
Saint Patrick's Day
Today is Saint Patrick’s Day.
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Monday 18
British Sign Language
On this day in 2003, British Sign Language was recognised as an official British language.
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Tuesday 19
Sydney Harbour Bridge
On this day in 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was formally opened.
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Wednesday 20
Alessandro Volta invented the battery
On this day in 1800, Alessandro Volta reported that he had invented the first electric battery.
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Thursday 21
World Poetry Day
On this day we celebrate the ability of poetry to capture the unique nature of people from many cultures.
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Friday 22
Andrew Lloyd Webber's birthday
Andrew Lloyd Webber, English composer (Phantom of the Opera, Cats), was born on this day in 1948.
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Saturday 23
World Meteorological Day
World Meteorological Day takes place every year on 23 March.
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Sunday 24
William Morris
The famous designer and social activist William Morris was born on the day in 1834.
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Monday 25
Aretha Franklin's birthday
Aretha Franklin, American singer-songwriter known as ‘The Queen of Soul’, was born in Memphis, Tennessee on this day in 1942.
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Tuesday 26
Richard III reburied
In 2015 Richard III of England (1452-1485) was reburied at Leicester Cathedral – after being discovered under a carpark in the city in 2012.
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Wednesday 27
World Theatre Day
World Theatre Day first launched on this day in 1961.
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Thursday 28
Civil rights rally led by Martin Luther King
On this day in 1965, 25,000 people attended a civil rights rally led by Martin Luther King in Montgomery, Alabama.
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Friday 29
First London marathon
On this day in 1981, around 6700 runners took part in London’s first marathon.
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Saturday 30
Vincent Van Gogh's birthday
Vincent Van Gogh was born on this date in 1853.
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Sunday 31
The Eiffel Tower opened
The Eiffel Tower was first opened on this date in 1889.