Top 5 events in Guardians history – in the opinion of Thian Pankhania.

1819

The Yeomanry and Hussars open fire on a peaceful reformist meeting at St Peter’s Fields, Manchester, killing an estimated 18 people and wounding hundreds. Local cotton merchant John Edward Taylor witnesses and reports on the incident, which comes to be known as the Peterloo massacre, and is left with a desire to give the liberal reformist voice a better outlet. – This was their first year in operation.

1936

Ownership of the Manchester Guardian is transferred to a trust to protect the newspaper from crippling death duties following Ted Scott’s untimely death. CP Scott’s elder son John creates the Scott Trust to ensure the independence of the newspaper and the continuance of the journalistic principles of his father. John Scott is chair of the Trust until 1948. – Ownership of guardian changed this year.

1959

On 24 August the newspaper changes its title from the Manchester Guardian to the Guardian, to reflect the growing importance of national and international affairs in the newspaper. – first name change

2006

Comment is Free is launched with the aim of providing ‘an open-ended space for debate, dispute, argument and agreement and to invite users to comment on everything they read’.

The Guardian switches to a ‘web-first’ approach to foreign and city news – posting it to the web as soon as it has been written, edited and subbed.

Sir Bob Phillis retires and is succeeded as GMG chief executive by Carolyn McCall, formerly chief executive of Guardian Newspapers Ltd. Guardian Newspapers and GMG Regional Newspapers are renamed Guardian News & Media and GMG Regional Media to reflect their multimedia nature.

GMG Radio acquires Century FM and Saga Radio. – They started to post online and via the radio.

2015

The Guardian unveils a new site for readers in the UK and across the world. (A US version launched in October 2014, Australia in November).

Katharine Viner is appointed Guardian editor-in-chief.

David Pemsel succeeds Andrew Miller as chief executive of GMG. – a new site in both UK and for the first time the USA.