Happy Historical 2015!

Here’s some anniversaries to look forward to in the New Year.

It’s 50 years since the first US combat troops arrived in Vietnam.

Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity is 100 years old.

Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity was first presented in November 1915.

The US Civil War ended 150 years ago.

It’s 200 years since the Battle of Waterloo, and the ‘War of 1812’ also ended in 1815.

250 years ago the English East India Company became the Diwan of Bengal, making Britain a major territorial power in India for the first time.

It’s 300 years since the death of the ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV.

And 350 years since the Great Plague of London in 1665.

Amazingly, the Dutch beer Grolsch celebrates its 400th birthday this year…

… while the city of Rio de Janeiro is 450 years old…

… and Havana is 500!

Eighteenth-century Rio. The city was founded by the Portuguese in 1565.

The English composer William Cornysh, born in 1465, celebrates his 550th birthday.

And, yes, it’s 600 years since the Battle of Agincourt.

The Great European Famine (1315-17) started 700 years ago.

And, of course, Magna Carta will hit the venerable age of 800, but so will the Dominican Order and the Emperor Kublai Khan.

Portrait of Kublai Khan, born 1215 and whose dominions were vividly portrayed by Marco Polo.

Here’s to a Happy Historical 2015!