London in the Cold War
The atlas holds 25 people and 75 moments here, from 1947 to 1991. The most recorded lives are Freddie Mercury, Diana, Princess of Wales and Margaret Thatcher.
Notable people
Freddie Mercury
from 1964 to 1991
14 moments here
Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) was a British singer, songwriter, pianist, and lead vocalist of Queen.…
Diana, Princess of Wales
from 1967 to 1989
8 moments here
Diana Frances Spencer (1961–1997) was Princess of Wales from 1981 until her divorce in 1996.…
Margaret Thatcher
from 1959 to 1991
6 moments here
British stateswoman Margaret Hilda Thatcher (née Roberts) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, the first woman to hold the…
Elizabeth II
from 1947 to 1982
5 moments here
Elizabeth II was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death.…
Judy Garland
from 1951 to 1969
5 moments here
American actress, singer, and vaudevillian, born Frances Ethel Gumm. Garland rose from childhood vaudeville and MGM musical films to become a major…
George Michael
from 1963 to 1988
5 moments here
English singer-songwriter and record producer, born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in East Finchley, England.…
Ronald Reagan
from 1982 to 1989
4 moments here
American broadcaster, actor, labor leader, governor of California, and 40th president of the United States.…
Douglas Adams
from 1952 to 1991
4 moments here
English author, screenwriter and humourist best known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.…
Nelson Mandela
from 1962 to 1990
2 moments here
South African anti-apartheid revolutionary, lawyer and statesman. Mandela helped lead the African National Congress, co-founded its armed wing,…
Charlie Chaplin
from 1973 to 1975
2 moments here
English actor, comedian, director, writer, producer and composer whose screen persona, the Tramp, became an international icon.…
George Orwell
from 1949 to 1950
2 moments here
George Orwell was the pen name of Eric Arthur Blair, an English novelist, essayist, journalist, critic, and democratic socialist.…
Mikhail Gorbachev
from 1984 to 1991
2 moments here
Soviet and Russian politician who led the Soviet Union from 1985 until its dissolution in 1991.…
Marlene Dietrich
from 1964 to 1972
2 moments here
German-American actress and singer Marlene Dietrich (Marie Magdalene Dietrich) was born in Berlin and achieved international fame through stage,…
Indira Gandhi
from 1966 to 1969
2 moments here
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi was an Indian stateswoman who served as prime minister from 1966 to 1977 and from 1980 until her assassination in 1984.…
Doris Lessing
from 1949 to 1952
2 moments here
British novelist Doris May Lessing was born in Kermanshah, Iran, grew up in Southern Rhodesia, and moved to London in 1949.…
Winston Churchill
in 1965
1 moment here
Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874–1965) was a British soldier, journalist, author and statesman whose career ranged from imperial campaigns in…
John F. Kennedy
in 1961
1 moment here
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was an American naval officer, journalist, congressman, senator, and the 35th president of the United States.…
Gabriel García Márquez
in 1957
1 moment here
Colombian novelist, journalist, screenwriter, and Nobel laureate whose life moved between Colombia, Europe, Cuba, the United States, Mexico, and…
J. R. R. Tolkien
in 1972
1 moment here
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was an English philologist, university professor, and author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.…
Jimmy Carter
in 1977
1 moment here
James Earl Carter Jr. was an American naval officer, Georgia state senator and governor, the 39th president of the United States, and a…
Jawaharlal Nehru
in 1948
1 moment here
Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist and statesman who became independent India’s first prime minister, serving from 15 August 1947 until his…
Benazir Bhutto
in 1984
1 moment here
Pakistani political leader who served twice as prime minister, from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996.…
Whitney Houston
in 1988
1 moment here
American singer, actress, producer, and cultural icon known for recordings including “I Will Always Love You,” major world tours, film roles, and…
Carrie Fisher
in 1973
1 moment here
Carrie Frances Fisher was an American actress, writer, and public advocate, internationally known for playing Princess Leia in the Star Wars films.…
Moments
- 1947 Married at Westminster Abbey Elizabeth II
- 1948 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference Jawaharlal Nehru
- 1949 Move to London with Peter Lessing Doris Lessing
- 1949 Final hospitalization at University College Hospital George Orwell
- 1950 Death at University College Hospital George Orwell
- 1951 London Palladium comeback Judy Garland
- 1952 Family move to the East End Douglas Adams
- 1952 Moved into Buckingham Palace as Queen Elizabeth II
- 1952 Return to London from the Soviet Union Doris Lessing
- 1953 Crowned at Westminster Abbey Elizabeth II
- 1957 Visit to London Gabriel García Márquez
- 1959 Finchley campaign speech Margaret Thatcher
- 1959 Adopted as Finchley candidate Margaret Thatcher
- 1961 Visited London after Vienna John F. Kennedy
- 1962 Conducts ANC business in London Nelson Mandela
- 1963 Birth in East Finchley George Michael
- 1964 Studied at Isleworth Polytechnic Freddie Mercury
- 1964 Queen's Theatre engagement Marlene Dietrich
- 1964 London Palladium concerts with Liza Minnelli Judy Garland
- 1965 Dies at Hyde Park Gate Winston Churchill
- 1966 London stopover Indira Gandhi
- 1967 Lived with her mother during parental separation Diana, Princess of Wales
- 1969 Graduated from Ealing Art College Freddie Mercury
- 1969 Sold clothes at Kensington Market Freddie Mercury
- 1969 Commonwealth Prime Ministers Conference Indira Gandhi
- 1969 Talk of the Town engagement Judy Garland
- 1969 Marriage to Mickey Deans Judy Garland
- 1969 Death at Cadogan Lane Judy Garland
- 1971 Recorded demos at De Lane Lea Studios Freddie Mercury
- 1972 Played Bedford College Freddie Mercury
- 1972 Receives CBE insignia J. R. R. Tolkien
- 1972 Showcase at the Pheasantry Freddie Mercury
- 1972 Filming of I Wish You Love Marlene Dietrich
- 1972 Marquee Club performance Freddie Mercury
- 1973 Studies at Central School of Speech and Drama Carrie Fisher
- 1973 Visits London with Oona Charlie Chaplin
- 1974 Moved back to London Douglas Adams
- 1974 Met Graham Chapman at Chox opening party Douglas Adams
- 1975 Receives knighthood Charlie Chaplin
- 1977 London and Newcastle visit Jimmy Carter
- 1977 Earls Court Jubilee concerts Freddie Mercury
- 1979 Arrival at Downing Street Margaret Thatcher
- 1979 Moved into Coleherne Court Diana, Princess of Wales
- 1979 Concert for the People of Kampuchea Freddie Mercury
- 1981 Resided at Buckingham Palace before wedding Diana, Princess of Wales
- 1981 Attacked during Trooping the Colour Elizabeth II
- 1981 Stayed at Clarence House after engagement Diana, Princess of Wales
- 1981 First public appearance with Charles Diana, Princess of Wales
- 1981 Wedding at St Paul's Cathedral Diana, Princess of Wales
- 1981 First solo engagement on Regent Street Diana, Princess of Wales