Conservative History Journal

Let's face it, from a conservative point of view, anything that concerns Jane Austen is important and she died on July 18, 1817.

Some other important things happened on this day, as well.

For example, in 1872 the Ballot Act received its Royal Assent, thus introducing the concept of secret ballot into British politics. Sadly, one must admit, that concept is being eroded at the moment through the indiscriminate and badly supervised use of the postal ballot.

In 1920, the Cenotaph, Sir Edward Lutyens's great memorial to the dead of World War I that has since become a memorial to all those who died in battle, was unveiled.

And in 2009 and last World War I veteran, Henry Allingham died.