French citizens storm the Bastille - On this day in history

On this day in history, 1789: French citizens stormed the Bastille. In the Revolution that followed thousands of French aristocracy met their ends under the guillotine, and social unrest and calls for democracy spread far and wide. Leading Irish statesman Edmund Burke would famously declare the French Revolution was in conflict with British values, and certainly the landowning classes agreed. Despite revolution spreading through early 19^th century Europe, Britain remained relatively peaceful – and our ancestors concentrated on the emerging Industrial Revolution and growing British Empire.

Pictured: The Storming of the Bastille, 12 July 1789