Escudo 03

Important dates in the development of the English language.

By FAOGUABC
  • 1476

    William Caxton establishes the first English printing press

    William Caxton establishes the first English printing press
  • 1500

    Start of English Renaissance

    Start of English Renaissance
  • 1526

    William Tyndale prints his English translation of the New Testament of “The Bible”

  • 1539

    “The Great Bible” published

  • 1549

    First version of “The Book of Common Prayer” published

    First version of “The Book of Common Prayer” published

  • Publication of the first English-language newspaper, the “Courante” or “Weekly News”

    Publication of the first English-language newspaper, the “Courante” or “Weekly News”

  • Samuel Johnson publishes his “Dictionary of the English Language”

  • First English settlement at the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa

  • Abolition of slavery in the British Empire

  • United States ends slavery after Civil War

    United States ends slavery after Civil War

  • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) founded

  • First edition of the “Oxford English Dictionary” is published

  • India and Pakistan gain independence from Britain

    India and Pakistan gain independence from Britain

  • Sir Ernest Gowers’ “The Complete Plain Words” published

  • Second edition of the “Oxford English Dictionary” is published

    Second edition of the “Oxford English Dictionary” is published