After the death of Queen Mary I of England on 18 November 1558, her half-sister Elizabeth I succeeded to the throne, bringing in the Elizabethan age.

Elizabeth I - the last Tudor monarch - was born at Greenwich Palace on 7 September 1533, the younger daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn.

The Tudor period ended with the death of Queen Elizabeth I on 24th March 1603 after 45 years on the throne. She had no husband or children to succeed her.

Golden Age of English History

Elizabeth I's rule is remembered as the Golden Age of English history. Under her rule, England advanced in such areas as foreign trade, exploration, literature, and the arts.

During Elizabeth's reign the age of exploration began with explorers such as Francis Drake claiming new lands for England and introducing new materials and foods. The American State, Virginia, is named after her.

Also on this day ...

18 November 1869 - The Suez Canal opened

The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. It allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigating around Africa. When first built, the canal was 164 km (102 mi) long and 8 m (26 ft) deep. After multiple enlargements, the canal is now 193.30 km (120.11 mi) long, 24 m (79 ft) deep, and 205 metres (673 ft) wide. It is the longest canal in the world with no locks.