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Richard Cavendish

Court lecher: Rasputin, 1908

The Murder of Grigori Rasputin

The 'healer' and friend to Tsar Nicholas II was killed on 17 December 1916.

'A Peet at Christie's, or Tally-hop, and his Nimeney-pimmeney Taking the Morning Lounge' by James Gillray, 1796

The first Christie’s auction

James Christie first held his eponymous auction on December 5th, 1766.

Crystal Palace, November 30th, 1936

Fire destroys the Crystal Palace

The Victorian masterpiece was burned to the ground on November 29th, 1936. 

Bad reputation: King John’s tomb, Worcester Cathedral.

Death of King John

Aged 48 or 49, the king died at Newark Castle on 19 October 1216.

Woman Rebel: Sanger and her eldest son, Stuart, in Japan, 1922.

America's First Birth Control Clinic

A family planning clinic opened in New York on 16 October 1916. It lasted only a few days.

Cottage industry: Beatrix Potter at home in the Lake District, 1913.

Birth of Beatrix Potter

The author was born on 28 July 1866.

Paul Julius Reuter born in Germany

The news pioneer was born on July 21st, 1816.

Funny at first: the cover of the opening issue of Punch

The first issue of Punch

The satirical magazine appeared on July 17th, 1841.

Flight of fancy: Louis XVI and his family attempt to flee Paris. French caricature, 1792

Louis XVI's flight from Paris

The royal flight to Varennes took place on June 20th, 1791.

'You're the Top': Cole Porter arriving in Paris, September 27th, 1951

Birth of Cole Porter

The songwriter was born on June 9th, 1891.