London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years. Its ancient core and financial centre, the City of London, was founded by the Romans as Londinium and has retained its medieval boundaries. The City of Westminster, to the west of the City of London, for centuries has been as the site of the national government and parliament. London grew rapidly in the 19th century, becoming the world's largest city at the time.
1st Inter-Empire Championships open in London
London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024.
Historical Significance
London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.
Events Before
Author James Weldon Johnson (38) weds civil rights activist Grace Nail Johnson (24) at her family's home
Author James Weldon Johnson (38) weds civil rights activist Grace Nail Johnson (24) at her family's home
13th Dalai Lama (Thupten Gyatso) flees Tibet for British India to escape Chinese troops
The Dalai Lama (UK: , US: ; Tibetan: ཏཱ་ལའི་བླ་མ་, Wylie: Tā la'i bla ma [táːlɛː láma]) is the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.
First seaplane takes off from water under its own power, piloted by Henri Fabre from the Étang de Berre lagoon in Martig
First seaplane takes off from water under its own power, piloted by Henri Fabre from the Étang de Berre lagoon in Martigues, France
First night air flight by Claude Grahame-White takes place in England
The 1910 London to Manchester air race took place between two aviators, each of whom attempted to win a heavier-than-air powered flight challenge between London and Manchester.
Film producer Samuel Goldwyn (27) weds first wife Blanche Lasky
Film producer Samuel Goldwyn (27) weds first wife Blanche Lasky
Events After
First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10
First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10
Kim Philby is born
Kim Philby, British intelligence officer and soviet double agent, known for british intelligence officer and soviet double agent, was born on 1912-01-01.
Geophysicist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener presents his controversial theory of continental drift in a lecture to the
Geophysicist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener presents his controversial theory of continental drift in a lecture to the Geological Association at the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt
Chiefs, representatives of people's and church organizations, and other prominent individuals form the African National
Chiefs, representatives of people's and church organizations, and other prominent individuals form the African National Congress and declare its aim to bring all Africans together as one people to defend their rights and freedoms
Captain Robert Scott's expedition arrives at the South Pole, one month after Roald Amundsen
The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station is a United States scientific research station at the South Pole of the Earth.
More from the 1910s
Hank Greenberg is born
Hank Greenberg, American athlete, known for american baseball player, was born on 1911-01-01.
Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday
Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday
First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10
First running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" footrace (7.63 miles/12.3 km); Robert Vlught wins in 44:10
The US Post Office begins parcel post delivery
The Bronx General Post Office (also known as the Bronx Central Post Office or Bronx Central Annex) is a historic post office building at 558 Grand Concourse in the South Bronx in New York City, New…
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened on May 12, 1911?
- London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years.
- Why is 1st Inter-Empire Championships open in London significant?
- London is the capital and largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.