Short answers, pulled from the story.
Pall Mall takes its name from the ball game pall-mall, played on a court that occupied the site of the modern street. The game's name derives from the Italian pallamaglio, meaning "ball-mallet." The street was opened in September 1661 on the footprint of the old playing court.
Pall Mall was opened in September 1661, replacing an older road to the south that ran from the Haymarket to St James's Palace. A grant to Dan O'Neale and John Denham established the 1,400 by 23-foot site. Charles II named it Catherine Street at first, after his wife Catherine of Braganza.
Pall Mall is home to several historic gentlemen's clubs, including the Reform Club (founded 1836), the Athenaeum Club (which moved to No. 107 in 1830), and the Travellers Club (founded 1819). The Army and Navy Club was established there in 1837, and the Royal Automobile Club has maintained its headquarters on the street since 1908.
King James I introduced pall-mall to England in the early 17th century. The game was already popular in France and Scotland before it arrived in England. His sons Henry and Charles both became players, and London's first dedicated court was laid out at St James's Field in 1630.
Pall Mall was the first street in London to be lit by gas. Frederick Albert Winsor installed experimental gas lamps there on the 4th of June 1807, to mark King George III's birthday. Permanent gas lighting was established on the street in 1820.
The future King George V was born at Marlborough House in 1865. The house was built for Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, with the foundation stone laid in 1709 and construction complete by 1711. It became government property in 1959 and now houses the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Commonwealth Foundation.