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United Kingdom
The American colonies declare their independence from Britain. -
United Kingdom
The British fleet defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar. -
United Kingdom
Queen Victoria is crowned queen. The Victorian Era begins. -
United Kingdom
The outbreak of the First World War. UK enters hostilities against Germany. Grueling trench warfare in Belgium and France. -
United Kingdom
War ends in November with armistice. The number of UK war dead runs to several hundred thousand. -
United Kingdom
the UK agrees to the foundation of the Irish Free State after three-years Irish war of independence. Northern Ireland remains part of the UK. -
United Kingdom
First government led by the Labour Party under Ramsay MacDonald. -
United Kingdom
Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain meets the leader of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler, in Munich. Chamberlain says he has averted war with Germany. -
United Kingdom
Germany invades Poland. UK declares war on Germany. -
United Kingdom
The UK becomes a permanent member of the UN Security Council. -
United Kingdom
The UK joins the European Economic Community. -
Margaret Thatcher
The Conservative politician Margaret Thatcher becomes prime minister. She begins to introduce free-market policies. -
John Major
John Major re-elected as prime minister. -
United Kingdom
UK forces take part in the air war against Yugoslavia and the consequent multinational force in Kosovo. -
Prime Minister
Gordon Brown succeeds Tony Blair as prime minister and Labour leader.