19 APRIL
BRISTOL CELEBRATES THE DEFEAT OF BRITAIN’S FIRST ANTI-SLAVERY BILL
[ 19 April 1791 ]
On this day in 1791, the House of Commons, many of its members having close business ties to the trade and the West Indies plantations, overwhelmingly rejected a bill proposed by William Wilberforce to outlaw the slave trade. The margin of the defeat was substantial at 163 to 88, almost two to one.1
BRITISH SECURITY FORCES IN PALESTINE GRANTED DRACONIAN POWERS
[ 19 April 1936 ]
At 9 pm on 19 April 1936, Sir Arthur Wauchope, the British High Commissioner in Palestine, proclaimed a series of what he termed ‘precautionary measures,’ which gave Britain’s security forces enormous powers.
CABINET – NOT SENDING BIRTHDAY GREETINGS MIGHT OFFEND HITLER
[ 19 April 1939 ]
On 19 April 1939, the Cabinet discussed what should be the correct diplomatic etiquette with regards to celebrating Adolf Hitler’s birthday, who would turn fifty the next day.
POST OFFICE ARGUES AGAINST COMMEMORATING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
[ 19 April 1975 ]
On this day in 1975, Tony Benn, secretary of state for industry, was astonished to discover that the Post Office did not wish to comply with his request to issue stamps commemorating the American Revolution and in particular the bicentenary of the declaration of independence.
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