365 Days Of Motoring

Driving on the right was introduced in Russia by the decree of Empress Elisaveta Petrovna
Saturday 5th February 1752 Driving on the right was introduced in Russia by the decree of Empress Elisaveta Petrovna.
February 5, 1752
On this day
Internal combustion engine pioneer Christiaan Huygens died in the Hague, the Netherlands, at the age of 66
Friday 8th July 1695 Internal combustion engine pioneer Christiaan Huygens died in the Hague, the Netherlands, at the age of 66. Working as an astronomer, physicist, mathematician and inventor, Huygens made a number of important contributions to science. Huygens not only proposed the earliest theory about the nature of light, he also put optics to […]
July 8, 1695
On this day
René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, North American explorer and namesake of the 1927-40 General Motors automobile, was murdered in present-day Texas, US
Wednesday 19th March 1687 René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, North American explorer and namesake of the 1927-40 General Motors automobile, was murdered in present-day Texas, US.
March 19, 1687
On this day
Denis Papin
Thursday 22nd August 1647 Born on this day, Denis Papin, inventor of the piston steam engine, was born in Blois, France. This British physicist, who also invented the pressure cooker, got the first seedlings of an idea when he noticed the enclosed steam in the cooker raising the lid. Why couldn’t one use steam to […]
August 22, 1647
Born on this day
The first one-way streets were established in London
Wednesday 23rd August 1617 The first one-way streets were established in London. An Act of Common Council was passed to regulate the “disorder and rude behaviour of Carmen, Draymen and others using Cartes.” Seventeen narrow and congested lanes were specified. They ran into Thames Street, including Pudding Lane (where the Great Fire of London began […]
August 23, 1617
On this day