Men of fortune, go search for a wife
To escape from your vain, snobbish life
If she seems to hate you
Don’t give up, for it’s true:
Wedded bliss may be prefaced by strife

Event: Pride and Prejudice is first published
Year: 1813
Learn more: Pride and Prejudice

Not long-lived or successful, all told
In design, though, quite famously bold
With those vertical doors
How could you not want yours?
(Flux capacitors separately sold)

Event: The first DeLorean DMC-12 (the only model ever produced by the DeLorean Motor Company) rolls off the production line
Year: 1981
Learn more: DeLorean DMC-12
Back to the Future Trilogy

Poor Toronto’d been brought to a halt
By a vigorous winter assault
Though some called it an “Oops”
Lastman summoned the troops
Armed with shovels and blankets and salt

Event: Toronto mayor Mel Lastman calls in the army to help dig out the city following a horrific blizzard
Year: 1999
Learn more: North American blizzard of 1999

Held by England two cent’ries and more
Henry II sought to Calais restore
Wentworth, forced to back down,
Gave up keys to the town
That they’d owned since the Hundred Years’ War

Event: France captures Calais, the last territorial possession of England on the European continent
Year: 1558
Learn more: Siege of Calais (1558) (not to be confused with Siege of Calais (1346, 1348, 1436, 1596, 1940, or 1944))