England.

John became king upon the death of Richard I in 1199, and reigned until his own death in 1216. An inept and very unpopular king, he fought a losing battle against English lords and was forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215. That document severely limited the king's authority, and became the foundation of the system that governs England today.

Edmund Burke reluctantly entered politics as a member of Parliament in 1765, but soon became one of the leading figures in the House of Commons. Always ready to speak his mind concerning the major issues of the day, he is today most remembered for his volumes of writings, including Reflections on the Revolution in France.

Nancy Langhorne Shaw Astor was elected to the House of Commons in 1919, despite being an American. Although she was the second woman to be elected to that body, she was the first to actually take her seat. She ultimately served until retiring from politics in 1945.

THE ROBINSON LIBRARY --> General and Old World History. --> Great Britain.

This page was last updated on 11/18/2009.