This Week in History - February 23rd to March 1st

Fascinating, surprising and eye-opening stories from the past, brought to life.

This week: 23rd February to 1st March

24th February 1999 - The Metropolitan police force was branded "institutionally racist" by the Macpherson Report which examined the murder of the black teenager, Stephen Lawrence.
1st March 1565 - The city of Rio de Janeiro was founded by the Portuguese.
26th February 1839 - The first Grand National was run at Aintree. Then called the Grand Liverpool Steeplechase, it was won by a horse called Lottery

Published on Monday, 23rd February 2026.

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