{"id":13463,"date":"2022-04-20T12:41:05","date_gmt":"2022-04-20T10:41:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/?p=206573"},"modified":"2022-04-20T12:55:08","modified_gmt":"2022-04-20T10:55:08","slug":"20-april-on-this-day-in-history","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/rss_feed\/20-april-on-this-day-in-history\/","title":{"rendered":"20 April: On this day in history"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Elinor Evans\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 20 April 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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20 April 1611<\/h3>\n

Edward Winslow, the future Mayflower pilgrim leader and governor of Plymouth Colony, left the King\u2019s School, Worcester, where he had studied for five years.<\/p>\n

20 April 1653: Cromwell forcibly dissolves the Rump Parliament<\/h3>\n

The angry leader takes an armed force into the House of Commons and drives out all the MPs<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

On the morning of 20 April 1653, Oliver Cromwell<\/a> took his seat, as usual, in the House of Commons. The Rump Parliament, as it was known, was supposed to have been only a caretaker legislature, paving the way for godly reform and a permanent political settlement after the execution of King Charles I<\/a>. But instead of meekly complying with the New Model Army\u2019s demands, MPs showed themselves rather more interested in defending their own privileges. And by 20 April, Cromwell\u2019s patience had run out.<\/p>\n

For a little while he listened grimly to his colleagues\u2019 speeches. But then he cracked. \u201cYou have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately,\u201d he shouted bitterly. \u201cDepart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!\u201d At that, he went outside and returned with a troop of musketeers, whom he ordered to clear the chamber. According to one account: \u201cHe told Sir Henry Vane he was a jugler; Henry Martin and Sir Peter Wentworth, that they were whoremasters; Thomas Chaloner, he was a drunkard; and Allen the Goldsmith that he cheated the publick.\u201d Then he gestured angrily at the mace, the symbol of parliamentary power, and said dismissively: \u201cTake away that Fool\u2019s Bauble\u201d.<\/p>\n

When Cromwell\u2019s troops had cleared the room, the doors were shut. The Rump was dissolved. Cromwell, shortly to become lord protector, was now the undisputed master of Britain. Later, a wag posted a notice on the door: \u201cThis house is to be let; now unfurnished\u201d.<\/p>\n

20 April 1657<\/h3>\n

Admiral Robert Blake destroys a Spanish fleet at Santa Cruz, Tenerife.<\/p>\n

20 April 1808<\/h3>\n

Birth of Prince Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte. Son of Napoleon I\u2019s brother, Louis, and Hortense de Beauharnais daughter of Napoleon\u2019s first wife, Josephine, from her first marriage), he becomes Emperor in 1852, styling himself Napoleon III. | Read more about Napoleon Bonaparte<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

20 April 1820<\/h3>\n

Patrick Br\u00f6nte, his wife Maria and their six children moved to Haworth Parsonage in West Yorkshire. Jane Eyre<\/em>, Wuthering Heights<\/em>, and Agnes Grey<\/em> were all written there. | Read more about the Br\u00f6nte sisters<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

20 April 1862<\/h3>\n

Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard completed their first test of what became known as the pasteurisation process to preserve food.<\/p>\n

20 April 1889<\/h3>\n

Adolf Hitler<\/a> is born in the Austrian town of Branau-am-Inn, near the German border where his 51-year-old father works as a customs official.<\/p>\n

Browse more On this day in history<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n