Britain Adopts the Gregorian Calendar, Losing 11 Days
On September 3, 1752, Britain and its empire, including the American colonies, made a major change in how they kept track of time. They switched from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar, a move that required them to skip 11 days. As a result, the day after September 2, 1752, became September 14, 1752. This sudden shift caused confusion and even sparked a myth that people rioted, believing the government had stolen 11 days of their lives.
The need for this change arose because the Julian Calendar, which had been in use since 45 BCE, was slightly inaccurate. It miscalculated the length of a year by just 11 minutes, but over the centuries, this small error added up, causing the calendar dates to drift away from the actual solar year. To fix this, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian Calendar in 1582. While many Catholic countries adopted it right away, Britain and its empire held out until 1752.
To make the switch, Britain passed a law known as the Calendar (New Style) Act of 1750. The law required that 11 days be removed from the calendar to bring it in line with the rest of Europe. This meant that September 2, 1752, was immediately followed by September 14, 1752. The abrupt loss of days led to widespread confusion among the public. Some people feared they had lost nearly two weeks of their lives, which caused anxiety and unrest.
Despite popular belief, the idea that people rioted in the streets over the “lost” days is mostly a myth. While there were certainly some unhappy individuals and perhaps minor protests, there is little historical evidence to support the notion of widespread riots. The myth likely grew over time, becoming part of the colorful history surrounding the calendar change.
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In the long run, the switch to the Gregorian Calendar was beneficial, aligning Britain with most of Europe and ensuring that dates were more accurate. Today, the Gregorian Calendar is the global standard, a reminder of the importance of precise timekeeping in our daily lives. The story of Britain’s calendar change on September 3, 1752, remains a fascinating chapter in history, showing how even something as routine as the calendar can stir public emotions.