It is all the more remarkable, then, that within six years Britain’s agricultural output had transformed, more profoundly and at a faster pace than any time since the start of the Industrial Revolution. The most urgent need was to provide a substitute for all that previously imported foreign wheat. In 1939, Britain only had 11.8…
Sectoral shifts in supply, wartime agriculture edition
Sectoral shifts in supply, wartime agriculture edition
26 Jan 2026 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economic history, industrial organisation, war and peace Tags: British history, World War II
House of Lords reform: a Victorian perspective
18 Aug 2025 Leave a comment
in constitutional political economy, economic history, Public Choice Tags: British constitutional law, British history, British politics
Unlike the House of Commons, which underwent major ‘democratic’ reform in the 19th century, the Lords remained virtually unchanged during the entire Victorian period. With a new hereditary peers bill now entering its final stages, Dr Philip Salmon explores how and why the House of Lords was able to survive the ‘age of reform’, highlighting […]
House of Lords reform: a Victorian perspective
The Execution of Anne Boleyn: A Turning Point in Tudor History
04 Jun 2025 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of love and marriage Tags: British history
Anne Boleyn, the second of Henry VIII’s six wives, is arguably the most famous. In 1523, she was betrothed to Henry Percy, the son of the Earl of Northumberland, but the engagement was abruptly called off. At the time, Anne was serving as a maid of honor to Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first wife. […]
The Execution of Anne Boleyn: A Turning Point in Tudor History
Tackling the problem of electoral corruption: the 1883 Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act
02 Sep 2024 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of crime, law and economics, Public Choice Tags: bribery and corruption, British history, British politics
Marking the anniversary of the passage of the 1883 Corrupt Practices Act, Dr Kathryn Rix, assistant editor of the House of Commons, 1832-1945, begins a series of blog posts on this landmark reform by looking at the key changes made by the act and the motivations behind it. On 25 August 1883, the final day […]
Tackling the problem of electoral corruption: the 1883 Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act
February 13, 1542: Execution of Catherine Howard, Queen of England and Ireland. Part III
16 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, economics of love and marriage, law and economics Tags: British history
Catherine remained in limbo until Parliament introduced on January 29, 1542 a Bill of Attainder, which was passed on February 7, 1542. The Royal Assent by Commission Act 1541 made it treason, and punishable by death, for a Queen Consort to fail to disclose her sexual history to the king within 20 days of their […]
February 13, 1542: Execution of Catherine Howard, Queen of England and Ireland. Part III
February 13, 1542: Execution of Catherine Howard, Queen of England and Ireland. Part II
15 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of crime, law and economics Tags: British history
Letter from Catherine Howard to Thomas Culpeper During the investigation a love letter written in the Queen’s distinctive handwriting was found in Culpeper’s chambers. This is the only letter of hers that has survived (other than her later “confession”). On All Saints’ Day, November 1, 1541, the King arranged to be found praying in the […]
February 13, 1542: Execution of Catherine Howard, Queen of England and Ireland. Part II
February 13, 1542: Execution of Catherine Howard, Queen of England and Ireland. Part I.
14 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of crime, law and economics Tags: British history
Catherine Howard (c. 1523 – February 13, 1542), also spelt Katheryn Howard, was Queen of England and Ireland from 1540 until 1541 as the fifth wife of King Henry VIII of England and Ireland. She was the daughter of Lord Edmund Howard and Joyce Culpeper, a cousin to Anne Boleyn (the second wife of King Henry […]
February 13, 1542: Execution of Catherine Howard, Queen of England and Ireland. Part I.
February 13, 1689: The Proclamation of King William III and Queen Mary II as Joint Monarchs of England
14 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in constitutional political economy, economic history, law and economics Tags: British constitutional law, British history, British politics
King James II-VII’s departure during the Glorious Revolution significantly shifted the balance of power in favour of Prince Willem III of Orange, who took control of the provisional government on December 28th. Elections were held in early January for a Convention Parliament, which assembled on January 29th. The Whigs had a slight majority in the […]
February 13, 1689: The Proclamation of King William III and Queen Mary II as Joint Monarchs of England
February 6, Death of King George VI of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Part II.
08 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in comparative institutional analysis, constitutional political economy, economic history Tags: British constitutional law, British history
Prince Albert spent his early life in the shadow of his elder brother, Prince Edward, the heir apparent. Albert attended naval college as a teenager and served in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force during the First World War. In 1920, he was made Duke of York. He married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923. […]
February 6, Death of King George VI of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Part II.
February 6, 1952: Death of King George VI of the United Kingdom, Emperor of India.
08 Feb 2024 Leave a comment
in economic history Tags: British history
George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George; December 14, 1895 – February 6, 1952) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from December 11, 1936 until his death in 1952. He was also the last Emperor of India from 1936 until the British Raj […]
February 6, 1952: Death of King George VI of the United Kingdom, Emperor of India.
January 30, 1649: King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland is executed in Whitehall, London.
31 Jan 2024 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of crime, law and economics Tags: British history
King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland was the second son of King James VI of Scotland and Princess Anne of Denmark, the second daughter of King Frederik II of Denmark and Princess Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. Prince Charles was born in Dunfermline Palace, Fife, on November 19, 1600. At a Protestant ceremony in the […]
January 30, 1649: King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland is executed in Whitehall, London.
January 24, 1679: King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland dissolves the English Cavalier Parliament
25 Jan 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economic history, Public Choice Tags: British history, constitutional law
The Cavalier Parliament of England lasted from May 8, 1661 until January 24, 1679. It was the longest English Parliament, and longer than any Great British or UK Parliament to date, enduring for nearly 18 years of the quarter-century reign of King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland. Like its predecessor, the Convention Parliament, […]
January 24, 1679: King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland dissolves the English Cavalier Parliament
January 22, 1901: Death of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Empress of India
23 Jan 2024 Leave a comment
in economic history Tags: British history
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; May 24, 1819 – January 22, 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 20, 1837 until her death. On May 1, 1876, she adopted the additional title of Empress of India. Known as the Victorian era, her reign of 63 years and seven months was […]
January 22, 1901: Death of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Empress of India
Christmas Day 1066. William the Conqueror is crowned King of the English
26 Dec 2023 1 Comment
in economic history Tags: British history
Exactly when did Duke William II “The Conqueror” of Normandy become King of the English? Although he certainly became the De Facto King of the English when he defeated King Harold II Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in October of 1066, it was not until his coronation on Christmas Day of that year did […]
Christmas Day 1066. William the Conqueror is crowned King of the English
November 17, 1516: Birth of Queen Mary I of England and Ireland. Part II.
21 Nov 2023 Leave a comment
in economic history Tags: British history
From 1531, the Princess Mary was often sick with irregular menstruation and depression, although it is not clear whether this was caused by stress, puberty or a more deep-seated disease. She was not permitted to see her mother, whom King Henry VIII had sent to live away from court. In early 1533, King Henry VIII […]
November 17, 1516: Birth of Queen Mary I of England and Ireland. Part II.
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