Big Ben—the famous clock and bell at the Palace of Westminster in London—first rang on May 31, 1859. The clock was designed by English clockmaker Edward John Dent, though it was completed after his death by his son Frederick Dent. The 13-ton bell inside the tower gives Big Ben its name, while the tower itself—now called Elizabeth Tower—stands 315 feet tall with four massive clock faces. Known for remarkable accuracy regulated by a pendulum and coins, the clock has become one of London’s most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of precise timekeeping.

Read the full article here: https://familyschool.org/spotlight/edwarddent-bigben-6

This episode was created using Notebook LM voice-overs and original research by Rosemary Pollock, historian and published author, who holds an MA in U.S. History and an MA in U.S. History with a focus on the History of Science and Medicine.

Produced by Isaac Okawa with American Heritage Worldwide.