Later today we will hold our first ever petitions debates in the @HouseofCommons Chamber!

To set the scene, we've picked out a few other significant 'firsts' from over 700 years of petitioning in the UK, with a little help from @HistParl and @UKParlArchives...

The first petition...

In 1378, Sir Thomas Felton wrote the first petition submitted to the @HouseofCommons.

Sir Thomas, a military commander during the Hundred Years' War, was being held captive and wanted MPs to pay the ransom!

Find out more: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/142823/sir-thomas-felton-and-the-first-petition-addressed-to-the-commons/

The first mass petition...

In 1866, a petition to Parliament marked the start of the organised campaign for women's suffrage.

It was started by a group of women known as the Kensington Society, and got over 1,500 signatures.

Find out more: https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/petitions-committee/petition-of-the-month/votes-for-women-the-1866-suffrage-petition