The ISO (International Standards Organisation) assigns a two character code to each country name. These codes are used by Internet 'whois' databases (these two character abbreviations are the whois country codes) and also other applications.
A John Roberts was an enormous tankard holding enough drink for any ordinary drinker to last through Saturday and Sunday. The measure was introduced in Wales in 1886 to compensate for the Sunday closure. It was named after the author of the Sunday Closing Act, John Roberts MP. Research John Roberts
Respect, the Unity Coalition, is a British left-wing political party formed directly out of the anti-war movement in the UK which followed the invasion of Iraq in 2002. Some of those involved in the anti-war movement felt that a political movement was needed to further the aims of those millions who marched against the war. A public meeting was called in January 2004 in London at Friend's House and from that meeting, which was attended by more than 1500 people, an executive was formed. Among those instrumental in founding Respect were George Galloway MP (who had been expelled from the ruling Labour party for revealing truths about the illegality of the invasion of Iraq), Lindsey German, Convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, Ken Loach the film maker and Salma Yaqoob, of the Birmingham Stop the War group. Many British political observers see Respect as an attempt to recreate the true Socialist Labour party which had become a party - renamed 'New Labour' - with almost identical aims to the Tory party, and in so doing had misled and cheated its supporters who traditionally believed in values such as the national ownership of railways and public services and which they had thought would be re-nationalised by the Tony Blair led Labour government.
A stagecoach or stage-coach was a public horse-drawn conveyance, plying regularly by stages between two towns. British stagecoaches were large, four-wheeled covered carriages, with seats inside and out, a guard's dicky, and a boot or receptacle for luggage, letters and parcels, and were drawn by between two and eight horses. Until the 19th century British stagecoaches travelled slowly, owing to the bad state of the roads. In 1784 a stagecoach operating between London and Bristol, operated by John Palmer MP was the first stagecoach to carry letters.
After 1784 there was a steady improvement in stagecoach design with lighter vehicles, called 'flying coaches', being introduced which could often attain a speed of 12 mph (19 kmh). Between 1820 and 1840 keen competition between rival stagecoach companies produced the best levels of passenger comfort. Stagecoaches were often named, the 'Taglioni' being a four-horse stagecoach that operated between Windsor and London around 1837. Research Stagecoach
Airey Middleton Sheffield Neave was a British intelligence officer and Conservative member of Parliament. He was born in 1916 and died in 1979. During the Second World War he escaped from Colditz, a German high-security prison camp. He became a Conservative MP in 1953 and as shadow undersecretary of state for Northern Ireland from 1975 and a close advisor of Margaret Thatcher, he became a target for extremist groups and was assassinated by an Irish terrorist bomb. Research Airey Neave
Anthony Wedgwood Benn is a British labour MP. He was born in 1925. He is son of the first viscount of Stansgate. He was the first person to disclaim his title under the Peerage Act. Research Anthony Wedgwood Benn
Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke was and English writer and politician. He was born in 1843 and died in 1911. The son and grandson of men well known in their day, he graduated at Cambridge, and was called to the bar. His first work, Greater Britain, the result of a tour round the world in 1866-67, became very popular. In 1868 he was elected MP for Chelsea, and he represented this constituency up to 1885. After a few years' retirement (owing to a divorce case) he became MP for Forest of Dean. He was under-secretary for foreign affairs, president of the local government board, etc. The Present Position of European Politics, and Problems of Greater Britain, are among his works. He organised the Labour members of parliament into an influential party. Research Charles Dilke
Charles Butt Stanton was a Welsh politician. He was born in 1873 at Aberaman. A miner and docker, he was appointed a miners' agent and came to prominence as a labour leader in the Rhondda strikes and riots. On the outbreak of the Great War he prominently advocated Britain's cause and in 1915 was elected MP for Merthyr Tydfil. Research Charles Stanton
Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd BaronTweedmouth, was a British politician. He was born in 1849 and died in 1909. Educated at Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford, he entered the House of Commons in 1880 as the Liberal MP for Berwick, and remained there until he succeeded to the peerage in 1894. In 1886 he was made controller of the household, and in 1892 parliamentary secretary to the treasury. In 1894 he became lord privy seal and chancellor of the duchy and when, in 1905, the Liberals returned to power, he was chosen first lord of the admiralty, only to be transferred in 1908 to the office of lord president following a controversial letter he wrote to the German emperor. Research Edward Marjoribanks
George Nathaniel Curzon (Baron Cuzon of of Kedleston) was an English statesman. He was born in 1859 and died in 1925. The son of BaronScarsdale, he was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford. He became assistant private secretary to the Marquis of Salisbury in 1885, from 1886 until 1898 he was MP for the Southport division of Lancashire; was under-secretary for India and for foreign affairs; and from 1898 to 1905 was viceroy of India, a post which he occupied with high distinction, and for which he was partly prepared through his extensive travels in Asia. On being appointed viceroy he was created a member of the Irish peerage, a rank which does not exclude the holder from the House of Commons. His resignation of the viceroyship was partly brought about by hia views conflicting with those of LordKitchener, the head of the Indian army. He was LordWarden of the Cinque Ports from 1904 to 1905, during his temporary absence from India. Later he was foreign secretary from 1919 until 1924. Hewrote Russia in Central Asia and the Anglo-Russian Question; Persia and the Persian Question; Problems of the Far East: Japan - Korea - China. Research George Curzon
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
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