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{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:PortsmouthHarbourfromPortsdownHill.jpg|thumb|View of Portsmouth harbour and Portchester Castle, from Portsdown Hill.]] -->

[[Portsmouth]] is an island port city situated on [[Portsea Island]] in the county of [[Hampshire]], [[England]].  Its history has been influenced by its association with the sea, and its proximity to [[London]], and mainland [[Europe]].

== Roman ==
[[Portus Adurni]] which later became known as [[Portchester Castle]], was one of the [[Saxon Shore forts]] and was a major base of the [[Classis Britannica]] and possibly its Headquarters.

== Pre-Norman ==
Although there have been settlements in the area since before [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times, mostly being offshoots of [[Portchester]], Portsmouth is commonly regarded as having been founded in 1180 by John of Gisors ([[Jean de Gisors]]). Most early records of Portsmouth are thought to have been destroyed by Norman invaders following the [[Norman Conquest]]. The earliest detailed references to Portsmouth can be found in the [[Southwick Cartularies]].<ref name=Quail1>{{harvnb|Quail|1994|pp=1–2}}</ref>

However, the [[Oxford Dictionary of English|Oxford Dictionary]] of British Place Names gives the [[Old English|Anglo-Saxon]] name "Portesmūða" as late as the 9th century, meaning "mouth [of the harbour called] Portus" (from Latin). In Anglo-Saxon times a [[folk etymology]] "[harbour] mouth belonging to a man called Port" arose, which caused a statement in the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' that in 501 AD "''Port and his 2 sons, Bieda and Mægla, came with 2 ships to Britain at the place which is called [[Portsmouth]]''". It has been suggested that this is more likely to refer to the area around Portchester.<ref name=Quail1 />

==Medieval==

===Norman===
In the [[Domesday Book]] there is no mention of Portsmouth. However, settlements that later went on to form part of Portsmouth are listed. These are [[Buckland, Portsmouth|Buckland]], [[Copnor]], [[Fratton, Portsmouth|Fratton]] on [[Portsea Island]] and [[Cosham]], [[Wymering]] and [[Drayton, Portsmouth|Drayton]] on the mainland. At this time it is estimated the Portsmouth area had a population not greater than two or three hundred.

While in the primary diocese of Portsea there was a small church prior to 1166 (now St Mary's in Fratton) Portsmouth's first real church came into being in 1181 when John of Gisors granted an acre (4,000 m<sup>2</sup>) of land to Augustinian monks at the [[Southwick Priory]] to build a chapel dedicated to [[Thomas Becket]]. This chapel continued to be run by the monks of [[Southwick Priory]] until the [[English Reformation|Reformation]] after which its possession was transferred to [[Winchester College]]. The modern [[Portsmouth Cathedral|Portsmouth Anglican Cathedral]] is built on the original location of the chapel.<ref name=Quail1 /> The original grant referred to the area as Sudewde however a later grant a few years later used the name Portsmouth.<ref name=Quail1 />

=== Growth of the city ===
In 1194, after he returned from being held captive by Duke [[Leopold V of Austria (Babenberg)|Leopold V of Austria]], King [[Richard I of England|Richard I]] (The Lionheart) set about summoning a fleet and an army to Portsmouth, which he had taken over from John of Gisors.<ref name=Quail14 /> On 2 May 1194 the king gave Portsmouth its first [[royal charter]] granting permission for the city to hold a fifteen-day annual fair (which became known as the Free Market Fair), weekly markets (on Thursdays), to set up a local court to deal with minor matters,<ref name=Quail14 /> and exemption from paying the annual tax ("farm") of £18 a year—instead the money would be used for local matters.  The actual physical charter was handed over by the Bishop of [[Ely, Cambridgeshire|Ely]] [[William de Longchamps]].<ref name=Quail14>{{harvnb|Quail|1994|pp=14–18}}</ref> The present location of the charter is currently unknown but its text survives, as when later royal charters were granted to the city reaffirming and extending its privileges large parts of the original charter were quoted verbatim.

As a crescent and an eight-point star (as appear on the city's [[coat of arms]]) were to be found on both the seals of King Richard and William de Longchamps it is commonly thought that this may have been the source of them, although there is no known documentary evidence for this.

King Richard later went on to build a number of houses and a hall in Portsmouth.<ref name=Quail19 /> The hall is thought to have been at the current location of the [[Clarence Barracks]] (the area was previously known as Kingshall Green).

In 1200 King [[John I of England|John]] issued another charter to Portsmouth reaffirming the rights and privileges awarded by King Richard.<ref name=Quail19>{{harvnb|Quail|1994|p=19}}</ref> Acquiring this second charter cost Portsmouth ten [[Mark (currency)#England and Scotland|marks]] and a type of riding horse known as a [[Palfrey]].<ref name=Quail19 /> King John's desire to invade [[Normandy]] resulted in the establishment of Portsmouth as a permanent naval base.<ref name=Quail27>{{harvnb|Quail|1994|p=27}}</ref>

In 1212 [[William of Wrotham]] (Archdeacon of [[Taunton]], Keeper of the King's Ships) started constructing the first docks of Portsmouth. At about the same time [[Pierre des Roches]], [[Bishop of Winchester]], founded ''[[Domus Dei]]'' (Hospital of [[St Nicholas]]) which performed its duties as an almshouse and hospice until 1540 when like other religious buildings it was seized by King [[Henry VIII]].

During the 13th century, Portsmouth was commonly used by King [[Henry III of England|Henry III]] and [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] as a base for attacks against [[France]].

In 1265, the city was on the receiving end of a serious raid by the [[Barons of the Cinque Ports]].<ref name=Patterson1 /> After scattering the defenders, they seized various ships and cargo and burned the town.<ref name=Patterson1>{{cite book |title=A Military Heritage A history of Portsmouth and Portsea Town Fortifications |last=Patterson |first=B.H. |year=1985 |publisher=Fort Cumberland & Portsmouth Militaria Society |page=1 }}</ref>

By the 14th century, commercial interests had grown considerably, despite rivalry with the dockyard of nearby [[Southampton]]. Common imports included [[wool]], [[cereal|grain]], [[wheat]], [[woad]], [[wax]] and [[iron]], however the port's largest trade was in [[wine]] from [[Bayonne]] and [[Bordeaux]].

===14th century===
In 1313, the town received a charter from [[Edward II of England|Edward II]].<ref name=Webb121 /> This is the oldest of the city's charters that is known to have survived.<ref name=Webb121>{{harvnb|Webb|Quail|Haskell|Riley|1997|p=121}}</ref>

In 1338, a French fleet led by [[Nicholas Béhuchet]] [[Raid on Portsmouth (1338)|arrived at Portsmouth]] docks flying English flags before anyone realised that they were a hostile force. The French burned down most of the buildings in the town; only the local church and [[Domus Dei]] survived. The population was subjected to rape and slaughter. As a result of this, King [[Edward III of England|Edward III]] gave the remaining townsfolk exemption from national taxes so that they could afford to rebuild the town.

Only ten years after this devastation, the town for the first time was struck by the plague known as the [[Black Death]].  In order to prevent the regrowth of Portsmouth as a threat, the French again sacked the city in 1369, 1377 and 1380.

===15th century===
In 1418, King [[Henry V of England|Henry V]] ordered a wooden Round Tower be built at the mouth of the harbour, which was completed in 1426.

In 1450, [[Adam Moleyns]] Bishop of [[Chichester]] was murdered while in Portsmouth.<ref name=Webb101>{{harvnb|Webb|Quail|Haskell|Riley|1997|pp=101–102}}</ref>

==Tudor period==
[[File:Map of portsmouth a bit before 1540.PNG|thumb|right|Portsmouth in the early Tudor period]]

Through the [[Tudor period|Tudor]] period, [[Fortifications of Portsmouth|Portsmouth's fortification]]'s were subject to almost continuous reworking. Under King Henry VIII the Round Tower was rebuilt out of stone and a Square Tower was raised. It was at this time that [[Robert Brygandine]] and Sir [[Reginald Bray]], with the support of the king, commenced the building in Portsmouth of the country's first dry dock. In 1527 with some of the money obtained from the dissolution of the monasteries [[Henry VIII]] built the fort which became known as [[Southsea Castle]]. In 1545, he saw his vice-[[flagship]] ''[[Mary Rose]]'' founder off [[Southsea Castle]], with a loss of about 500 lives, while going into action against the [[French Navy|French fleet]]. It was during the Tudor period that the town gained its first military governor.<ref name=Webb73 /> The role of managing military operations in Portsmouth had previously been the duty of the constable of [[Portchester Castle]].<ref name=Webb73>{{harvnb|Webb|Quail|Haskell|Riley|1997|p=73}}</ref>

In 1563, the city was struck by a plague that killed around 300 people.<ref name=gates24>{{cite book |title=The Portsmouth that has Passed: With a Glimpse of Gosport |last=Gates |first=William G |editor1-first=Nigel |editor1-last=Peak  |year=1987 |publisher=Milestone Publications |isbn=1-85265-111-3 |page=18}}</ref>

It was also in the Tudor period that two mills were built at the end of the creek just above the town.<ref name=Webb12 /> The creek later developed into the body of water known as the mill pond.<ref name=Webb12>{{harvnb|Webb|Quail|Haskell|Riley|1997|p=12}}</ref>

==Stuart period==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:1773 map of portsmouth showing the town and dock defences.JPG|thumb|right|{{deletable image-caption|Tuesday, 24 July 2012}} The walls of Portsmouth and the dockyard in 1773. The dockyard is to the north of the town and separated from it by the mill pound.]] -->
During the [[English Civil War]], the city was initially held by the [[Royalist|royalist faction]] before falling to [[Roundhead|parliament]] after the [[Siege of Portsmouth]] in September 1642.<ref name=webb>{{cite book |title=The Siege of Portsmouth in the Civil War |last=Webb |first=John |year=1977 |publisher=Portsmouth City Council |isbn=0-901559-33-4}}</ref>

In 1665, [[Charles II of England]] ordered [[Bernard de Gomme]] to begin the reconstruction of Portsmouth's fortifications a process which was to take many years.<ref name=Corney15>{{cite book |title=Southsea Castle |last=Corney |first=Arthur |year=1968 |publisher=Portsmouth City Council |isbn= <!--some sources claim X006399533 --> |pages=15–17}}</ref>

Portsmouth's overland links to London started to be improved with an early [[turnpike trust]] being set up to improve the road where it passed [[Butser Hill]].<ref name=Webb95 />

In 1714, the crown purchased the two mills at the entrance to the millpond.<ref name=Webb12 />

==18th century==

[[Image:First Fleet Portsmouth Memorial.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[First Fleet]] memorial in Portsmouth.]]
The first local newspaper in the city was the ''[[Portsmouth and Gosport Gazette]]''. First published in 1745 it continued to publish until around 1790.<ref name=Webb97 /> There was then a 3-year gap before foundation of ''[[The Portsmouth Gazette and Weekly Advertiser]]''.<ref name=Webb97 /> The final newspaper to begin publication in the 18th century was the ''[[Portsmouth Telegraph; or, Mottley's Naval and Military Journal]]'' which was first published in 1799.<ref name=Webb97>{{harvnb|Webb|Quail|Haskell|Riley|1997|pp=97–99}}</ref>

In 1774, the two mills at the entrance to the millpond were rebuilt as one mill known as the Kings's mill.<ref name=Webb12 />

On 13 May 1787 the [[First Fleet]] of ships left [[Portsmouth Harbour]] bound for [[Australia]], taking the first British settlers there.  They would arrive in [[Botany Bay]] on 18 January 1788.  A memorial, officially unveiled by [[Elizabeth II|HM The Queen]] on 11 July 1980, commemorates the First Fleet, with a similar memorial in [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk/old-portsmouth/settlers.htm|title=Memorials and Monuments in Old Portsmouth (Australian Settlers)|publisher=Memorials in Portsmouth website|access-date=27 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210453/http://www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk/old-portsmouth/settlers.htm|archive-date=29 October 2013}}</ref>

==Modern==
[[File:Hms warrior.jpg|thumb|{{HMS|Warrior|1860|6}}]]

===19th century===

====Naval====
[[Admiral Nelson]] left Portsmouth for the final time in 1805 to command the fleet that would defeat the larger Franco-Spanish fleet at [[Battle of Trafalgar|Trafalgar]].<ref name="visitPortsmouth Nelson">{{cite web | title = Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson 1758–1805 | publisher = Portsmouth City Council's Economy, Culture and Community Safety | url = http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/history/207.htm  | access-date =  2007-04-02 |archive-url = https://archive.today/20070503002811/http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/history/207.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-05-03}}</ref> The Royal Navy's reliance on Portsmouth led to the city becoming the most fortified in Europe, with a network of forts circling the city.{{Citation needed|date=April 2007}}

From 1808, the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[West Africa Squadron]], who were tasked to stop the [[Slave Trade|slave trade]], operated out of Portsmouth.

The King's mill burned down in 1868 and over the next decade land was reclaimed from the millpond until it ceased to exist.<ref name=Webb12 />

====Transport====
New transport links were constructed during this century. In 1823, the [[Portsmouth and Arundel Canal]], along with the [[Wey and Arun Canal]], provided an inland waterway route to London.<ref name=Cuthbert /> This did not last long, with parts of the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal being closed after just 4 years.<ref name=Cuthbert>{{cite book |title=Portsmouth's Lost Canal |last=Cuthbert |first=Ted |year=1988 <!---some sources list 89 but book says 88--> |publisher=Environmental Education Project |isbn=<!--X101669453 listed by Portsmouth library service but may not be correct-->}}</ref> Portsmouth gained its first [[railway]] link in 1847, with a [[Portsmouth Direct Line|direct route to London]] arriving in 1859.<ref name=Webb95>{{harvnb|Webb|Quail|Haskell|Riley|1997|pp=95–96}}</ref>

====Media====
In 1802, ''The Portsmouth Gazette and Weekly Advertiser'' was purchased by the ''Portsmouth Telegraph'' and ceased publication.<ref name=Webb97 /> The ''Portsmouth Telegraph'' then went through 3 rapid name changes, before settling on the ''Hampshire Telegraph'' and ''Sussex Chronicle''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/HampshirePortsmouthTelegraph.htm|title=British Newspapers|work=bl.uk|access-date=23 November 2011|archive-date=25 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125021252/http://newspapers.bl.uk/blcs/HampshirePortsmouthTelegraph.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1850, the ''[[Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette]]'' (often known simply as the ''Portsmouth Times'') began publication.<ref name=Webb97 /><ref name=smg>{{cite web|url=http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/RO/MG8.2.pdf |title=No.8 Newspapers in West Sussex |year=2003 |work=Local History Mini-Guide to Sources |publisher=West Sussex County Council |access-date=25 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119055857/http://www.westsussex.gov.uk/RO/MG8.2.pdf |archive-date=19 January 2012 }}</ref> The ''[[Evening News (Portsmouth)|Evening News]]'' began publication in 1877 and came under common ownership with the ''Hampshire Telegraph'' in 1883.<ref name=Webb97 /> In 1884, the ''Portsmouth Times'' gained a sister paper called the ''Evening Mail'', which was later renamed the ''[[Southern Daily Mail]]''.<ref name=Webb97 />

====Education and science====
On 21 December 1872, a major scientific expedition, the [[Challenger Expedition]], was launched from Portsmouth.

While an extensive number of [[Subscription library|subscription libraries]] were formed in Portsmouth in the early part of the 19th century, Portsmouth trailed many other cities in the provision of public libraries, with the first not being opened until 1884.<ref name=Webb163>{{harvnb|Webb|Quail|Haskell|Riley|1997|pp=163–164}}</ref>

===20th century===
[[File:Portsmouth roadmap 1948.jpg|thumb|A partial roadmap of part of Portsmouth in 1948]]
[[File:Gosport 1960s.jpg|thumb|[[Gosport]] in 1960]]

The city in the form of [[Portsmouth Corporation Transport]] purchased the private horse-drawn tram lines in 1901. The [[Stanhope Road drill hall, Portsmouth|Stanhope Road drill hall]] was opened by [[Thomas Baring, 1st Earl of Northbrook|Lord Northbrook]] in March 1901.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drillhalls.org/Counties/Hampshire/TownPortsmouth%20-%20Connaught%20Halls.html|title=Portsmouth|access-date=20 February 2024 |website=The Drill Hall Project}}</ref>

In 1904, the boundaries of Portsmouth were extended to finally include the whole of [[Portsea Island]]. The boundaries were further extended in 1920 and 1932, taking in areas of the mainland.

In 1916, the city experienced its first aerial bombardment when a [[Zeppelin]] airship bombed it during the [[First World War]].<ref name="Historic Dockyard – War">{{cite web | title = The Dockyard at War | publisher = Portsmouth Historic Dockyard | url = http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/dockyard_war.htm | access-date =  2007-04-02 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070218193813/http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/dockyard_war.htm |archive-date = 2007-02-18}}</ref>

[[Council housing]] was built on a large scale from the 1920s onwards, with families from inner city slums being rehoused on new estates including [[Paulsgrove]], mostly in the north of Portsmouth.

Portsmouth was elevated from Town to City status on 21 April 1926.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://portsmouthdockyard.org.uk/timeline/details/1926-portsmouth-created-a-city |title=1926 - Portsmouth Created a City (Dockyard Timeline) |website=Portsmouth Royal Dockyard Historical Trust |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806144037/https://portsmouthdockyard.org.uk/timeline/details/1926-portsmouth-created-a-city |archive-date=6 August 2020 |access-date=24 May 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== The Portsmouth Blitz ====
As a major [[Royal Navy Dockyard]], the [[Portsmouth]] [[Royal Naval Dockyard, Portsmouth|Royal Naval Dockyard]] and surrounding city were [[The Blitz|bombed extensively]] during the [[Second World War]]. [[Nazi Germany|Nazi German]] [[Luftwaffe]] night-time air raids began on 24 August 1940 when 1,320 [[high explosive]] bombs and 38,000 [[incendiary device]]s were dropped on the city, damaging the [[Guildhall]], 30 churches, eight schools, one hospital and over 80,000 homes. 930 people were killed and 1,216 people were injured. The extensive bombing of housing in Portsmouth resulted in even greater need for new private and council housing in the city. While most of the city has since been rebuilt, to this day developers still occasionally find [[unexploded ordnance|unexploded bombs]].

==== D-Day ====
Southsea beach and Portsmouth Harbour were military embarkation points for the [[Normandy landings|D-Day landings]] on 6 June 1944. [[Southwick House]], in [[Southwick, Hampshire|Southwick]] five miles to the north of Portsmouth, had been chosen as the headquarters for the Supreme Allied Commander, US General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]], during D-Day.

==== Return of ''Lively Lady'' ====
On 4 July 1968, an estimated 250,000 people witnessed the return of [[Alec Rose]], a greengrocer in Osborne Road, after he completed his [[Single-handed sailing|single-handed]] circumnavigation in ''Lively Lady''; he was knighted immediately and made  ''Freeman of the City of Portsmouth''. 400 motor-boats, yachts, catamarans and canoes welcomed him into harbour.

==== The University of Portsmouth ====
The [[University of Portsmouth]] gained university status in 1992, having held polytechnic status since 1969.

===21st century===
In 2003 erection was started of a 552 feet high [[Spinnaker Tower]] sited at Portsmouth Harbour, and celebrating the city's maritime tradition. Completed in 2005, the tower has twin concrete legs meeting at half height to form a single column from which steel sails are mounted; an observation deck at the top provides a view of the city and harbour for tourists.

In late 2004, the [[Tricorn Centre]], dubbed "The ugliest building in the UK" was finally demolished after years of delay and wrangling over the cost of doing so, and controversy as to whether it was worth preserving as an example of 1960s [[Brutalist]] [[architecture]].<ref name=Clark72>{{cite book |title=The Tricorn: The Life and Death of a Sixties Icon |last=Clark |first=Celia |author2=Cook, Robert |year=2009 |publisher=Tricorn Books Ltd |isbn=978-0-9562498-0-7}}</ref>

In 2005, Portsmouth was a focus for ''[[Sea Britain]]'', a series of events to mark the [[Battle of Trafalgar#200th anniversary|200th anniversary]] ([[Anniversary|bicentenary]]) of [[Lord Nelson]]'s victory at the [[Battle of Trafalgar]]. In particular, in June, there was the massive ''Fleet Review'', by HM Queen [[Elizabeth II]] and a mock battle ([[Son et lumière (show)|son et lumière]]) that evening, after dark.
[[File:Portsmouth Harbour.jpg|centre|thumb|800px|Portsmouth Harbour, taken from [[Gosport]] showing [[Portsdown Hill]] in the centre and the city of [[Portsmouth]] on the right including the home of the [[Royal Navy]], [[HMNB Portsmouth]].]]

==Chronology==
The full timeline to [[Portsmouth]]'s rich [[maritime history]].
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 5px; float: right;"
|+ Population change
! Year
! Dwellings
! Population
! Source
|-
| 1560
|
| 1000 (est)
|<ref>Patterson, A., 1976. ''Portsmouth. A History'', Bradford-on-Avon.</ref>
|-
| 1801
| 5310
| 32,160
| 1801 census
|-
| 1811
| 6852
| 40,567
| 1811 census
|-
| 1821
| 8627
| 45,048
| 1821 census
|-
| 1831
| 9410
| 50,389
| 1831 census
|-
| 1841
| 9886
| 53,032
| 1841 census
|-
| 1851
| 12,825
| 72,096
| 1851 census
|-
| 1861
| 15,819
| 94,799
| 1861 census
|-
| 1871
| 19,013
| 112,954
| 1871 census
|-
| 1881
| 22,701
| 127,989
| 1881 census
|-
| 1891
| 29,353
| 159,251
| 1891 census
|-
| 1901
| 36,368
| 188,133
| 1901 census
|-
| 1911
|
| 231,165
| 1911 census
|-
| 1921
|
| 247,343
| 1921 census
|-
| 1931
|
| 249,300
| 1931 census
|-
| 1951
|
| 233,545
| 1951 census
|-
| 1961
| 68,618
| 215,077
| 1961 census
|-
| 1971
|
| 197,431
| 1971 census
|-
| 1981
|
| 175,382
| 1981 census
|-
| 1991
|
| 177,142
| 1991 census
|-
| 2001
|
| 186,700
| 2001 census
|-
| 2011
|
| 238,137
| 2011 census
|-
| 2021
|
|251,169
| 2021 census
|}

== Pre-18th century ==
=== Medieval Portsmouth ===
*1181 – The chapel of [[Southwick Priory]] is established on the site of the current [[Portsmouth Cathedral]].
*1194 – 2 May: Portsmouth is awarded its [[royal charter]] (town status) by [[Richard I of England|Richard I]].
*1212
**The [[Portsmouth Dockyard|docks]] are established.
**[[Domus Dei]], which is the first hospital of the city, is built on the site of the Royal Garrison Church.
*1256 – Portsmouth is given permission to form a local guild of merchants.
*1265 – The town is sacked and burnt during the [[Second Barons' War]].
*1338 – [[France|French]] invaders burn down most of the town.
*1348 – The [[Black Death]] strikes Portsmouth for the first time.
*1426 – The [[Round Tower (Portsmouth)|Round Tower]], which is Portsmouth's first permanent defensive works, is completed.
*1449 – Portsmouth is placed under Greater [[Excommunication (Catholic Church)|Excommunication]] as a result of the murder of [[Adam Moleyns]], [[Bishop of Chichester]].

=== Tudors and 17 century ===
*1495 – Britain's first [[dry dock]] is built in Portsmouth.
*1510 – The ''[[Mary Rose]]'' is built in Portsmouth dockyard by King [[Henry VIII]], who then sees her sink in [[The Solent]] from Southsea Castle in 1545.
*1543 – [[Southsea Castle]] is built.
*1544 – The Keep is built alongside the Hot Walls as part of Portsmouth's [[Coastal defence and fortification|coastal defence]].
*1561 – Britain's first [[state lottery]] funds further fortifications.
*1563 – 300 locals die of the plague.
*1590 – The first buildings in the area known as [[Portsmouth Point]], or Spice Island as some people call it, are built.
*1625 – The [[bubonic plague|Plague]] strikes Portsmouth.
*1653 – [[Portsmouth, New Hampshire|Portsmouth]] in [[New Hampshire]] is incorporated.
*1687 – The modern [https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/king-jamess-and-landport-gates-portsmouth/history/ King James's Gate] is built.
*Late 17th century – The Hot Walls are built as a line of defense in [[Old Portsmouth]]. They're then reconstructed between 1847 and 1850 using [[Flemish bond]] brickwork.

== 18th and 19th centuries ==
=== 1700 to 1849 ===
*1729 – The [[Royal Naval Academy]] is established.
*1732 – [[Portsmouth Grammar School]] is established.
*1747 – [[Fort Cumberland (England)|Fort Cumberland]] is built in Eastney.
*1753 – [[Portsmouth, Virginia|Portsmouth]] in [[Virginia]] is founded.
*1760 – The modern [https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/king-jamess-and-landport-gates-portsmouth/history/ Landport Gate] is built.
*1787 – The [[First Fleet]] of ships depart from Portsmouth bound for Australia.
*1805 – [[Vice admiral|Vice-Admiral]] [[Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson]] sails from Portsmouth for the [[Battle of Trafalgar]] on HMS Victory, where he dies in battle.
*1806 – The engineer [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] is born in Portsmouth.
*1809 – The development of [[Southsea]] begins.
*1811 – Piped water is introduced in Portsmouth.
*1812 – The author [[Charles Dickens]] is born in [[Landport]].
*1820 to 1823 - The Little Morass marsh near Old Portsmouth is drained.
*1823 – The [[Portsmouth and Arundel Canal]] is completed, but then it closes in 1827 after being used for only 4 years due to a lack of use.
*1831? – [[Southsea Common]] is laid out.
*1834 – Portsmouth is hit by an earthquake.
*1835 – The [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]] abolishes [[Southampton]]'s jurisdiction of the port.
*1847 – The [[London and South Western Railway]] (L&SWR) opens to [[Portsmouth & Southsea railway station|Portsmouth station]], which then changes its name to Portsmouth & Southsea in 1925.

=== 1850 to 1899 ===
*1854 – The 2nd {{HMS|Illustrious}} ship to bear the name docks in Portsmouth to be used as a Navy training ship, where she remains until she's scrapped in 1868.
*1861 – [[Clarence Pier]] built.
*1862 – Dirt dredged out from Portsmouth Harbour is used to expand the size of [[Whale Island, Hampshire|Whale Isle]] by 125%, which is the start of the construction of [[HMNB Portsmouth]]. A viaduct is then built across to it in 1867, and various buildings and artillery are added throughout the years until it is fully completed in 1898.
*1870 – [[University of Portsmouth|Portsmouth Polytechnic]] is founded.
*1872 – The [[Challenger Expedition]] is launched from Portsmouth.
*1876
**26 April: The shore establishment [[HMS Vernon (shore establishment)|HMS Vernon]] opens for the [[Royal Navy]] as a Torpedo Branch and lasts until 1996.
**[[Portsmouth Harbour railway station]] opens for [[L&SWR]] services from [[London Waterloo station]] and the [[Portsmouth and Ryde Joint Railway]].
*1878
** [[Spitbank Fort]] and [[St Helens Fort]] are open as forts for the Royal Navy, and they remain operational until 1956. Spitbank became a museum in 1982 and then a hotel in 2012, and St Helens remains in use as a navigational lighthouse for ships entering and departing [[The Solent]].
** [[Victoria Park, Portsmouth]] opens.{{sfn|Britannica|1910}}
*1879
**26 July: [[Southsea Pier]] opens, with its most recent renovations being completed in November 2019.
**Brough Asylum ([[St James' Hospital, Portsmouth|St James' Hospital]]) opens.
*1880 – [[Horse Sand Fort]] and [[No Man's Land Fort|No Man's Fort]] open as forts for the Royal Navy, and they remain operational until 1956. No Man's was converted into a hotel in 2015, and although Horse Sand was featured in several TV shows in the years following, it remains empty as of 2022.
*1882 – The [[Roman Catholic]] [[Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Portsmouth|Cathedral of St John the Evangelist]] is dedicated.
*1883 – The [[Gosport Ferry]] starts operating passenger services between Portsmouth Harbour railway station and [[Gosport]].
*1886 – [[Southsea]] [[Lifeboat station|Lifeboat Station]] opens.
*1887 – [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] writes ''[[A Study in Scarlet]]'', in which [[Sherlock Holmes]] makes his first appearance, at 1 Bush Villas, Elm Grove, Southsea, where he is practicing as a doctor.
*1888 – County borough created.{{sfn|Britannica|1910}} 
*1890 – [[Portsmouth Guildhall|Portsmouth Town Hall]] is built.
*1891 – Portsmouth's population is 159,278. {{sfn|Britannica|1910}}
*1894 – [[Portsmouth power station]] opens.
*1898 – [[Portsmouth F.C.]], which is the city's principal [[Association football|football]] club, is founded.
*1899 – 15 August: [[Fratton Park]] stadium opens.
*Late 19th century - The Great Morass in Southsea is drained.

== 20th century ==
=== 1900 to 1949 ===
*1901:
** The [[Portsmouth Corporation Transport]] takes over the horse tram system, which they then electrify shortly after.
** Portsmouth's population is 188,133. {{sfn|Britannica|1910}}
*1911 – The National Museum of the Royal Navy and the Royal Naval Museum opens, which later merge and is renamed [[Portsmouth Historic Dockyard]].
*1912:
**12 March: The former [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Prime minister|Prime Minister]] [[James Callaghan]] is born at 38 Funtington Road in Copnor.
**The [[Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']] passes Portsmouth on her maiden and final voyage to [[New York City]].
*1916 - Portsmouth experiences its first aerial bombardment when a [[Zeppelin]] airship bombed it during [[World War I]].
*1918 – Southsea Lifeboat Station closes.
*1922:
** {{HMS|Victory}} is permanently [[dry docked]] in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard after it was at risk of collapsing into the harbour after it was left to rot for many decades.
** [[Southsea]] Common is purchased by [[Portsmouth City Council]], who then lay it out with gardens, bowling greens, and tennis courts.
*1924 – 15 October: The [[Portsmouth Naval Memorial]] is unveiled by [[George VI|Albert, Duke of York (Later George VI)]] to commemorate the 24,591 seamen who died during the [[1st World war|1st World War]]. This was then extended to commemorate the seamen who died during the [[2nd World war|2nd World War]], which was unveiled by the [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother]], on 29 April 1953.
*1925:
**[[Peter Sellers]] is born in Castle Road in Southsea, Portsmouth.
**The orchestral [[overture]] [[Portsmouth Point (Walton)|Portsmouth Point]] by [[William Walton]] is composed, with its first performance taking place in June 1926 as a piano duet. The full [[orchestral score]] is then published in 1928.
*1926 – 21 April: Portsmouth is elevated to city status.
*1927 – The [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] parish church of St Thomas of Canterbury is elevated to the status of [[Portsmouth Cathedral]].
*1929 – Portsmouth F.C. play in their first [[1929 FA Cup Final|FA Cup Final]], but they lose 2–0 to the [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]].
*1932 – [[Portsmouth Airport (Hampshire)|Portsmouth Airport]] opens, which then closes in 1971 after a series of accidents.
*1934 – The first [[Trolleybuses in Portsmouth|trolleybuses]] operate in Portsmouth.
*1936 – [[Portsmouth Corporation Transport]] runs the trams for the last time.
*1939 – Portsmouth F.C. win the [[FA Cup]] for the first time.
*1941 – Large areas of the city are destroyed in air raids, which results in the deaths of 930 people. Then in 1944, Southsea Beach and Portsmouth Harbour used as embarkation points for the [[D-day landings|D-Day landings]] invasion force.
*1949 – Portsmouth F.C. are crowned as the Champions of England for the first time, and then for the second time in 1950.

=== 1950 to 1999 ===
*1950 – Portsmouth is twinned with [[Duisburg]] in [[Germany]].
*1960 – [[Portsmouth City Council]] buy Southsea Castle, and they then renovate it to its pre-1850 appearance to open it as a tourist attraction. As of 2011–12, it has received over 90,000 visitors.
*1963 – Portsmouth's [[Trolleybuses in Portsmouth|trolleybuses]] run for the last time.
*1965:
**May: [[Portsmouth Lifeboat Station]] opens on Eastney Head, with a new lifeboat station being built in 1975 and renovations taking place in 1991.
**[[Hovertravel]] starts operating a hovercraft service between Southsea and [[Ryde]], making it the longest-running passenger hovercraft service in the world after [[Hoverspeed]] replaced their hovercraft with catamarans in 2000 and ceased operations in 2005.
*1966
**The [[Tricorn Centre]] opens.
** {{HMS|Andromeda|F57|6}} is the last warship to be launched from [[Portsmouth Royal Dockyard]].
*1967 - [[Southsea Castle]] reopens as a museum.
*1968 – [[Alec Rose]] completes his single-handed circumnavigation of the globe in Portsmouth Harbour after starting in 1964, and is knighted by [[Elizabeth II|HM Queen Elizabeth II]] the day after he completes this.
*1972:
**4 March: Hovertravel's [[SR.N6]] overturns and capsizes due to gale-force winds and massive swells, causing the deaths of 5 people.
**[[Wightlink]] starts operating a ferry service between Portsmouth and Fishbourne under British Rail's [[Sealink]] brand, with the current name being introduced in 1990, and passenger services to Ryde pier head started as early as 1825.
*1974 – Portsmouth becomes a local government district within the county of [[Hampshire]].
*1976
**The [[M275 motorway]], which links southern Portsmouth with the [[M27 motorway|M27]] and [[A27 road|A27]], opens.
**[[Portsmouth International Port]] opens for ferry services to [[France]], [[Spain]] and the [[Channel Islands|Channel Isles]] as well as for Cruise and Freight/Cargo services.
** [[IBM North Harbour]] opens
*1982
**20 June: The [[Invincible-class aircraft carrier|''Invincible''-class]] ship {{HMS|Illustrious|R06}}, which was the 5th warship and 2nd aircraft carrier to bear the name, was commissioned in Portsmouth by [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon]].
**11 October: The hull of the ''[[Mary Rose]]'' is raised from [[The Solent]] and moved to a permanent dry dock in the Historic Dockyard.
*1984 - [[The D-Day Story]] museum opens in Southsea.
*1986 - The Sea Life Centre opens.
*1987:
**5 June: Portsmouth is twinned with [[Caen]] in [[France]].
**12 June: {{HMS|Warrior|1860|6}} arrives in Portsmouth after an 8-year restoration project in [[Hartlepool]], and she opens as a museum ship on 27 July.
*1988:
**[[Portsmouth Corporation Transport]] is privatised.
**July: The Pyramids Centre opens in Southsea.
*1991 – The nave of the [[Church of England|Anglican]] [[Portsmouth Cathedral]] is completed.
*1992 – Portsmouth Polytechnic gains university status to become [[University of Portsmouth|Portsmouth University]].
*1994
**2 May: Portsmouth celebrates its 800th anniversary by holding a pageant on Castle Field.
**Portsmouth is used as the start and end point for a stage of the [[Tour de France]].
** The brownfield site around [[Camber Dock]]s in [[Old Portsmouth]] is built up as a new housing estate, which is completed in 1996, and the surrounding parts of Old Portsmouth are developed in the following years.
*1996 – 1 April: [[HMS Vernon (shore establishment)|HMS Vernon]] closes when the various areas forming the establishment are split up and moved to different commands within the Royal Navy.
*1997 – 1 April: The City of Portsmouth becomes a [[unitary authority]].
*1998 – Portsmouth hosts the second [[International Festivals of the Sea]].
*1999:
** Serbian–American businessman [[Milan Mandarić]] buys Portsmouth F.C., taking it out of financial administration.
** Southsea Town Council is formed.

== 21st century ==
=== 2000 to 2019 ===
*2000
**January: The Millennium Walk opens from [[Portsmouth Historic Dockyard]] to [[Clarence Pier]] via [[Gunwharf Quays]] and the Hot Walls to celebrate the new millennium.
**3 December: The [[SR.N4]] hovercraft 'Princess Anne' passes Portsmouth on its way to the Hovercraft Museum in nearby Lee-on-the-Solent. Her sister craft, the 'Princess Margaret', passes a few days later.
**Portsmouth suffers flooding due to the failure of the emergency water drainage system during heavy rainfall.
*2001
**MyTV, which is later renamed PortsmouthTV, is launched.
**Gunwharf Quays opens on the site of the former [[HMS Vernon (shore establishment)|HMS Vernon]].
**Portsmouth hosts the third [[International Festival of the Sea, 2001|International Festival of the Sea]].
*2003
**The construction of the [[Spinnaker Tower]] begins.
**[[Portsmouth F.C.]] enters the [[Premier League]] for the first time.
*2004 – The [[Tricorn Centre]] is demolished after the last shops were closed in 2002.
*2005
**Portsmouth hosts the [[International Fleet Review 2005|International Fleet Review]] and fifth [[International Festival of the Sea, 2005|International Festival of the Sea]].
** 18 October: [[The Spinnaker Tower]] opens.
*2006 – The launch of {{HMS|Clyde|P257|6}} marks the return of shipbuilding to the city.
*2008 – Portsmouth F.C. win the [[FA Cup]] for the second time, but they then enter administration in 2010 due to mounting debts.
*2011 – The census taken this year shows that Portsmouth's population density is 11 times greater than that of [[London|London's]], making it the most densely populated city in the UK.
*2014 – 28 August: {{HMS|Illustrious|R06}}, which is the 5th ship and 2nd aircraft carrier to bear the name, is decommissioned in Portsmouth, where she spends the rest of her retirement. Then in 2016, she gets towed away to Turkey, where she's scrapped.
*2015
**June: The Land Rover BAR building is completed in Old Portsmouth after Olympic sailor [[Ben Ainslie]] established his team [[Ineos Team UK]] in 2014 and base themselves in Portsmouth. 
**July: The Spinnaker Tower is first sponsored by [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] and is renamed the Emirates Spinnaker Tower, but they cause an outrage after they announce that the tower was going to be painted red. It was instead painted blue on the base and gold on the main structure.
*2016 – Portsmouth's Hot Walls are converted into artist's studios and a cafe after having been abandoned and left empty for a few decades.
*2017
**22 February: A [[World War II|World War 2]] bomb containing 131&nbsp;kg of 'high explosives' is found in Portsmouth harbour during its dredging work, and it is then towed out to sea to be detonated in the Solent.
**7 December: {{HMS|Queen Elizabeth|R08|6}}, which is the first of the ''Queen Elizabeth''-class aircraft carriers, is commissioned in Portsmouth after being sponsored by [[Elizabeth II|HM Queen Elizabeth II]]. Being 280&nbsp;m long, she is the largest-ever ship to enter [[Portsmouth Harbour]].
*2018 – Portsmouth's Wightlink terminal undergoes a major upgrade in preparation for the arrival of its newest ship, '[[Victoria of Wight]]', which started service between Portsmouth and Fishbourne on 26 August of that year.
*2019
**5–9 June: Portsmouth celebrates the 75th anniversary of the [[D-day landings|D-Day landings]] with celebrations in Southsea Common and a flyover featuring heritage aircraft, Royal Navy helicopters, [[RAF]] aircraft and the [[Red Arrows]].
**10 December: {{HMS|Prince of Wales|R09|6}}, which is the sister ship of HMS ''Queen Elizabeth'' and the second of the ''Queen Elizabeth''-class aircraft carriers, is commissioned in Portsmouth after being sponsored by [[Queen Camilla]]. Being 280&nbsp;m long, she is the largest-ever ship to enter Portsmouth Harbour alongside her sister ship.
**Plans are announced to expand [[Portsmouth International Port]] so it can accommodate larger ferries and a larger number of cruise ships.

=== 2020 to 2039 ===
*2020
**23 March: Portsmouth goes into lockdown with the rest of the UK due to the [[COVID-19]] pandemic, which allows the sea to become crystal clear for the first time in many decades.
**24 August: The D-Day landing craft [[LCT 7074]], which is the last of its kind in existence, arrives in Southsea after being brought by the [[D-Day museum]] to add to its collection.
**7 September: The construction of the Southsea [[Coast defense|Coast Defense]] Scheme, which is to redevelop a 2.8 mile (4.5&nbsp;km) stretch of coastline, begins. Upon its completion in 2026, it will be the largest-ever coastal defence project to be led by a local authority in the UK.
**5 November: Portsmouth joins the rest of the UK in a nationwide lockdown that lasts until 2 December in an attempt to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases.
**23 November: Portsmouth City Council announces that the Spinnaker Tower will return to its original white colour in the spring and summer of 2021 after the original sponsorship by Emirates ended on 30 June of this year.
** 20 December: Portsmouth moves to Tier 4 restrictions after being in Tier 3 since 2 December.
*2021
**4 January: The Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] announces that Portsmouth, along with the rest of the UK, will go into another nationwide lockdown to control the new variants of COVID-19 from 6 January, which will last at least until the Spring. Then on 22 February, he announces plans to bring the UK, including Portsmouth, out of lockdown, with restrictions being fully lifted by 21 June.
**6 February: Portsmouth council plans to reclaim land from sea for 2,000 new homes in Tipner West, which are then halted on 18 October.
**30 March: The repainting of the Spinnaker Tower into its original white begins, which is then completed on 20 July.
**14 June:
***Plans to end COVID-19 restrictions are delayed by 4 weeks to 19 July due to a sharp rise of the [[SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant|Delta variant]].
***Plans are announced for Fratton Park stadium to undergo a £10m revamp, making it the first major change to it since 1997.
**22 June: [[Scarlet Lady]] of [[Virgin Voyages]] makes her maiden sailing into Portsmouth, making her the largest cruise ship to enter Portsmouth Harbour and the first of 4 sister ships. She then makes her maiden voyage on 6 August for round-the-UK cruises over a 6-week period. She then leaves Portsmouth for the last time on 3 September on her way to [[New York City]].
**19 July: COVID-19 restrictions in England, including Portsmouth, come to an end after Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirms this on 12 July.
**19 October: Plans are announced to redevelop the side of the former Tricorn Centre into shops and thousands of new homes after Portsmouth council agreed to purchase the land.
**28 October: Horse Sand Fort is brought for £715,000 by business Mike Clare, who has previously transformed two of the other Palmerston forts into luxury hotels.
** 8 December: Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces plan B of COVID-19 restrictions due to a sharp increase of the [[SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant|Omicron variant]].
* 2022
** 12 January: HMS Victory undergoes major structural renovations to celebrate its 100th anniversary of being in dry dock as part of its ongoing renovations, which is due to be completed by the end of the decade. 
** 26 January: Plan B measures for COVID-19 restrictions across the UK, including Portsmouth, come to an end after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces this on 19 January following a decline in the Omicron variant.
** 18 February: Wightlink's 'St Faith' struggles to come into Portsmouth Harbour as a result of [[Storm Eunice]], and so she resorts to anchoring in [[The Solent]] in order to make the entry easier.
** 24 February: Prime Minister Boris Johnson removes the last of the COVID-19 restrictions (compulsory isolation with a positive test) in Portsmouth and the rest of the UK.
**1 March: [[Valiant Lady (ship)|Valiant Lady]] of Virgin Voyages makes her maiden sailing into Portsmouth, making her the largest cruise ship to enter Portsmouth Harbour alongside her sister ship Scarlet Lady.
**5 March: The former [[Gosport]] ferry 'Portsmouth Queen' makes a brief visit to Portsmouth on her way to [[Saint Peter Port|St Peter's Port]] in [[Guernsey]] to become a floating cafe.
**31 March: A search and rescue mission was carried out by Virgin Voyages after a person fell overboard from Valiant Lady before her departure to [[Zeebrugge]] in [[Belgium]].
**24 May: The redevelopment of Portsmouth International Port begins, which was due to be completed by the spring of 2023.
**5 July: [[Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust]] is the first in the world to transport chemotherapy drugs by drone over to [[St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight|St Mary's Hospital]] in [[Newport, Isle of Wight|Newport]], [[Isle of Wight]].
**10 July: [[Penny Mordaunt]], who is the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] for [[Portsmouth North (UK Parliament constituency)|Portsmouth North]], announces her bid for the leadership of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] and [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] after the resignation of [[Boris Johnson]]. She then loses out to [[Rishi Sunak]] and [[Liz Truss]] on 20 July, and then on 6 September, she becomes the leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council.
**20 July: [[Wightlink]]'s '[[Victoria of Wight]]' helps rescue a boy who was swept out to sea near the entrance to [[Portsmouth Harbour]] and its ferry terminal.
**12 August: A drought is officially declared in the south of England, including Portsmouth, during the second heatwave of this year.
**12 October: Plans for the Tipner development move a step forward after [[Portsmouth City Council]] approved a 'set of principles' for developing the site in Tipner West. If fully approved, this would allow at least 1,250 new homes to be built.
**29 October: The Portsmouth-based [[Royal Navy]] warship {{HMS|Medway|P223|6}} seizes £24,000,000 of [[cocaine]] before blowing up the smugglers' boat in the [[Caribbean]] alongside a [[US Coast guard|US Coast Guard]] [[Law Enforcement Detachments|Law Enforcement Detachment]] and an accompanying aircraft.
** 15 November: The {{USS|Gerald R. Ford}}, which is the world's largest warship, at 337 metres (1,106 feet), arrives and anchors in The Solent, making her the largest ship to do so. She then leaves by the end of the week.
** December: Royal Mail strikes affect Portsmouth's Christmas post.
**Portsmouth's railway services are affected during the [[National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers]] (RMT) and [[ASLEF]] rail strikes throughout this year and into early 2023.
*2023
**3 February: Portsmouth International Port is ahead of the UK schedule to provide shore power facilities.
**10 February: The first part of the Southsea Coastal Schemes opens to the public.
**2 April: The [[Mary Rose]] museum announce plans for a 4D cinema experience of the wreck's lifting of 1982.
**26 April: It is announced that HMS Prince of Wales is to be 'cannabilised' in  [[Glasgow]] for the refurbishment of HMS Queen Elizabeth after a major mechanical failure. Her operational programme is due to restart in the Autumn of this year.
**28 April: Sailors and marines' rigorous coronation rehearsals take place in Portsmouth ahead of the coronation of [[Charles III|King Charles III]] on 6 May.
**4 May: Plans for Portsmouth's tallest building, a 38-story skyscraper with flats, shops and commcercial units, are withdrawn.
**5 May: It is announced that [[Macmillan Cancer Support]] is to become the new presenting partner for the Spinnaker Tower from June. Unlike the Emirates sponsorship, only a logo will be painted on the bottom section of one of the legs.
**18 May: The first steps are taken towards the renovation of [[Hilsea Lido]], which will be closed until 2025 in time for its 90th anniversary.
**19 May: The [[Type 23 frigate]] [[HMS Iron Duke (F234)|HMS Iron Duke]] is set to return home to Portsmouth after spending 4 years in [[Devonport, Plymouth|Devonport]] following a major overhaul.
**20 May:
***Royal Navy jobs are created in [[Gosport]] as the [[Ministry of defence|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD) confirms £320m contracts to service offshore patrol ships.
***It is announced that [[TUI Cruises]]' [[Mein Schiff 3]] will come into Portsmouth Harbour throughout the summer starting on 26 May. At 293.8 metres long, she will be the largest ship ever to enter the harbour. 
**4 August: HMS Prince of Wales returns to Portsmouth Harbour after 9 months of essential repair work.
**14 August: Portsmouth-born Lawrence Churcher, who is the last surviving [[Royal Navy]] [[Dunkirk evacuation|Dunkirk veteran]], dies a few days short of his 103rd birthday. 
**22 August: Work to put in 8,900 solar panels at The Lakeside North Harbour business park starts.
**Portsmouth's mainline railway services continue to be affected as the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) rail strikes continue into this year.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=The Origins of Portsmouth and the First Charter |last=Quail |first=Sarah |year=1994 |publisher=City of Portsmouth |isbn=0-901559-92-X }}
* {{cite book |title=The Spirit of Portsmouth: A history |last1=Webb |first1=J |last2=Quail |first2=S |last3=Haskell |first3=P |last4=Riley |first4=R |year= 1997|publisher=Phillimore & Co |isbn=0-85033-617-1}}
* {{Citation |publisher = Vernor & Hood |location = London |title = Beauties of England and Wales |author1 = John Britton |author-link = John Britton (antiquary) |author2 = Edward Wedlake Brayley |author2-link = Edward Wedlake Brayley |title-link = Beauties of England and Wales |date = 1805 |volume=6 |chapter=Portsmouth and Portsea |hdl = 2027/yale.39002040781875?urlappend=%3Bseq=344 |chapter-url= http://hdl.handle.net/2027/yale.39002040781875?urlappend=%3Bseq=344 }}
* {{Citation |title=Black's Picturesque Tourist and Road-book of England and Wales |title-link=Black's Guides |edition=3rd |year=1853 |publisher = Adam and Charles Black |location = Edinburgh |chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/blackspicturesq00ltdgoog#page/n114/mode/2up |chapter= Portsmouth }}
* {{Citation |publisher = H.G. Collins |location=London |author = George S. Measom |author-link= George Samuel Measom |chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=yWzXAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA67 |title = Official Illustrated Guide to the Brighton and South Coast Railways |date = 1853 |chapter=Portsmouth }}
* {{Citation |publisher = Karl Baedeker |location = Leipsic |title = Great Britain |date = 1897 |edition=4th |oclc = 6430424 |chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/greatbritainhand00karl#page/56/mode/2up |chapter= Portsmouth }}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Portsmouth (England) |volume= 22 | page = 132 |date=1910 |ref= {{harvid|Britannica|1910}} |short= 1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|History of Portsmouth}}
*{{cite web |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20051002084428/http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/media/TimelineAW.pdf |title=Timeline |url=http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/media/TimelineAW.pdf |website=Visit Portsmouth |archive-date=2 October 2005}}
*{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514223729/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stephen.pomeroy/local/local.htm |title=Portsmouth Local History |url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stephen.pomeroy/local/local.htm |archive-date=14 May 2007}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.littlewoodham.org.uk/research/index.htm |website=Little Woodham |title=Research}}
*{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819160244/http://www.portsmouth.history.cwc.net/ |archive-date=19 August 2007 |title=Portsmouth History |url=http://www.portsmouth.history.cwc.net/}}
*{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027231413/http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/geo/research/portsmouth/ |url=http://www.envf.port.ac.uk/geo/research/portsmouth/ |archive-date=27 October 2006 |title=The Portsmouth Harbour Project  }}
*{{cite web |url=https://www.palmerstonfortssociety.org.uk/ |title=Palmerston Forts Society}}

===Museums===
*{{cite web |url=http://www.maryrose.org/ |title=The Mary Rose}}
*{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404013716/http://www.flagship.org.uk/ |url=http://www.flagship.org.uk/ |url-status=live |title=Flagship |archive-date=4 April 2007}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.portsmouthnaturalhistory.co.uk/ |title=Cumberland House Natural History Museum}}
*{{cite web |url=https://portsmouthmuseums.co.uk/ |title=Portsmouth Museums}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.southseacastle.co.uk/ |title=Southsea Castle}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.charlesdickensbirthplace.co.uk/ |title=Home |website=[[Charles Dickens' Birthplace Museum]]}}
*{{cite web |url=https://theddaystory.com/ |title=The D-Day Story, Portsmouth}}

{{Timelines of cities in the United Kingdom}}

[[Category:History of Portsmouth| ]]
[[Category:Histories of populated places in England|Portsmouth]]
[[Category:History of Hampshire|Portsmouth]]
[[Category:Timelines of cities in the United Kingdom|Portsmouth]]

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