On This Day in UK History: 7th June

The Coronation of George VI

On June 7th, 1937, George VI was crowned King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth. The coronation took place at Westminster Abbey in London and was attended by representatives from all over the world. George VI became king after the abdication of his brother, Edward VIII, in December 1936.

The Abdication Crisis

Edward VIII abdicated the throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. This caused a constitutional crisis in the United Kingdom, as the Church of England, of which the monarch is the Supreme Governor, does not allow remarriage after divorce. Edward's abdication was a major event in British history and led to the accession of his younger brother, George VI.

Other Notable Events on June 7th

In addition to the coronation of George VI, several other notable events have occurred on June 7th throughout history:

In 1520, Thomas More was appointed Lord Chancellor of England.
In 1628, the Petition of Right was presented to King Charles I.
In 1776, Richard Henry Lee introduced the Lee Resolution to the Continental Congress, calling for the American colonies to declare independence from Great Britain.
In 1863, the Battle of Chancellorsville began during the American Civil War.
In 1940, the Battle of Dunkirk ended with the evacuation of British and Allied troops from France.
In 1942, the Battle of Midway began during the Pacific War.
In 1967, the Six-Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbors began.
In 1981, Israel bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor.
In 1991, Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines erupted, emitting the largest volcanic ash cloud in recorded history.
In 2003, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Lawrence v. Texas that laws criminalizing same-sex intimacy are unconstitutional.

June 7th is a day that has seen many important events throughout history. From the coronation of kings to the outbreak of wars, this day has played a significant role in shaping the world we live in today.