1750

January 3

• Tax revolt in Haarlem Netherlands. [1]

January 17

• Tomaso Albinoni Italian composer (Adagio in G Minor), dies at age 78. [1]

February 2

• Johann Graf composer, dies at age 65. [1]

February 8

• Minor earthquake in London. [1]

February 22

• Pietro Filippo Scarlotti composer, dies at age 71. [1]

March 5

• First American Shakespearean production-"altered" Richard III, New York City, New York. [1]

March 7

• Cornelis Troost Dutch painter (Beslikte Zwaentje), dies at age 52. [1]

May 2

• Carlo Goldoni's "La Botega di Caffè" premieres in Mantua. [1]

May 17

• Tax revolt in Gorinchem. [1]

May 23

• Carlo Goldoni's "Il Bugiardo" premieres in Mantua. [1]

May 29

• Giuseppe Porsile composer, dies at age 70. [1]

July 28

• Johann Sebastian Bach German composer (Art of the Fugue), dies at age 65. [1]

December 1

• First American school to offer manual training courses opens, Maryland. [1]
• Doppelmayr mathematician. [1]

1751

February 9

• Henri F D'Aguesseau Chancellor of France (1717-50), dies at age 82. [1]

February 16

• First publication of Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard". [1]

February 25

• First performing monkey exhibited in America, New York City (admission 1 cent). [1]

March 20

• Frederick Louis English prince of Wales/son of George I, dies. [1]

March 25

• Frederik of Hessen Kassel King of Sweden (1720-51), dies at age 74. [1]

April 5

• Adolf Frederik of Holstein-Gottorp crowns himself king of Sweden. [1]

May 11

• First US hospital founded (Pennsylvania Hospital). [1]

May 20

• Domingo Miguel Bernaube Terradellas composer, dies at age 38. [1]

May 24

• William Hamilton of Gilbertsfield, poet, dies. [1]

July 29

• First international world title prize fight-Jack Stack of England. [1]

August 24

• Thomas Colley executed in England for drowning supposed witch. [1]

December 8

• Jozef LD von Königsegg minister of Austrian Netherlands, dies at age 78. [1]

December 17

• Kilian I von Dientzenhofer Czechoslovakian master builder, dies at age 62. [1]

December 18

• Kilian I von Dientzenhofer builder (Nepomukkerk, Prague), dies at age 62. [1]

December 23

• France sets plan to tax clergymen. [1]

1752

January 3

• East Indies invasion "Geldermalsen" leaves at Malakka; 92 killed. [1]

January 4

• Gabriel Cramer Swiss mathematician (paradox of Cramer), dies at age 47. [1]

January 15

• Tobias Smollett publishes pamphlet accusing Fielding of plagiarism. [1]

February 3

• Dutch States-General forbid export of windmills. [1]

February 11

• Pennsylvania Hospital, the first hospital in the US, opened. [1]

March 22

• Pope Stephen II elected to succeed Zacharias, died two days later. [1]

May 4

• Pieter Snyers Flemish painter/engraver, dies at age 71. [1]

May 10

• Benjamin Franklins first tests the lightning rod. [1]

May 11

• First US fire insurance policy issued (Philadelphia). [1]

June 10

• Benjamin Franklin flies a kite during a thunderstorm and collects a charge in a Leyden jar when the kite is struck by lightning, enabling him to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning. [1] [129]

September 2

• Last day of Julian calendar in Britain, British colonies. [1] [66.54]

September 3

• This day never happened nor the next 10 as England adopts Gregorian Calendar. People riot thinking the government stole 11 days of their lives. [1]

September 14

• England and colonies adopt Gregorian calendar, previous 11 calendar days disappear. [1]

1753

January 1

• Louis-Maurice de La Pierre composer, dies at age 55. [1]

January 11

• Ferdinand VI of Spain and Pope Benedictus XIV sign concord. [1]
• Hans Sloane English physician (British Museum), dies at age 92. [1]

February 18

• Eleven days (February 18 to March 1) are removed from the Swedish calendar, to bring Sweden in line with the rest of Europe. The Julian lunar calendar is replaced with the Gregorian calendar based on the solar year. [7]

March 6

• Gerhardus Havingha composer, dies at age 56. [1]

March 12

• George Berkeley philosopher/bishop (Cloyne), dies on 68th birthday. [1]

March 17

• First official Saint Patrick's Day. [1]

March 25

• Voltaire leaves the court of Frederik II of Prussia. [1]

April 5

• British Museum forms (opens in 1759). [1]

May 6

• French King Louis XV observes transit of Mercury at Mendon Castle. [1]

May 9

• King Louis XV disbands French parliament. [1]

May 26

• Willem Maurits Earl of Nassau/Governor of Zeeuws-Flanders, dies. [1]

May 29

• Joseph Haydns "Krumme Teufel" premieres. [1]

June 7

• The British Museum is created by an act of Parliament. [434.46]

July 18

• Lemuel Haynes, escapes from slaveholder in Framingham Massachusetts [1]

August 4

• George Washington becomes a master mason. [1]

1754

January 4

• Columbia University founded, as Kings College (New York City New York). [1]

January 10

• Daniel Raap Dutch porcelain salesman/politician, dies at about age 51. [1]

January 15

• Riot at burial of doelist Daniel Raap in Amsterdam. [1]

January 28

• Ludvig Holberg Danish lawyer/writer (Hendrig og Pernille), dies at age 69. [1]

February 5

• Nicolaas S Cruquius hydraulic engineer, (Haarlemmermeer), dies at age 75. [1]

February 16

• Richard Mead physician, dies. [1]

March 6

• Henry Pelham English premier (1745, 46-54), Gin Act, dies at about age 57. [1]

March 8

• Don José de Carvajal bon Lancaster Spanish minister of Foreign affairs, dies. [1]
• Marquis of Ensenada becomes premier of Spain. [1]

March 18

• Duke of Newcastle becomes English premier. [1]

April 9

• Christian von Wolff German philosopher, dies at age 75. [1]

May 9

• First newspaper cartoon in America-divided snake "Join or die". [1]

May 16

• Giovanni Carlo Maria Clari composer, dies at age 76. [1]

May 23

• John Wood architect/town planner, dies. [1]

May 28

• George Washington defeats French and Indians at Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh). [1]

June 19

• Albany Congress held by 7 British colonies and Iroquois indians. [1]

July 3

• George Washington surrenders to French, Fort Necessity (7 Years' War). [1]

July 7

• Kings College in New York City opens (renamed Columbia College). [1]

December 14

• Mahmud I sultan of Turkey, dies at age 58. [1]

1755

January 7

• Gallus Zeiler composer, dies at age 49. [1]

January 12

• Tsarina Elisabeth establishes first Russian University. [1]

January 15

• Azzolino Bernardino Della Ciaia composer, dies at age 83. [1]

February 13

• Rebel leader Mangkubuni signs Treaty of Gianti Java. [1]

March 12

• First steam engine in America installed, to pump water from a mine. [1]

March 17

• Transylvania Land Company buys Kentucky for $50,000 from a Cherokee chief. [1]

March 24

• Theodor Christleib Reinhold composer, dies at age 72. [1]

April 26

• First Russian university opens (Moscow). [1]

June 16

• British capture Fort Beauséjour, expel the Acadians. [1]

July 9

• British General E Braddock mortally wounded during French and Indian War. [1]
• British General E Braddock mortally wounded during French and Indian War. [1]

September 18

• Fort Ticonderoga, New York opens. [1]

November 1

• In Lisbon, Portugal, a magnitude 8.7 earthquake occurs, claiming 70,000 deaths, one quarter of Lisbon's population. A large tsunami drowns many, and fire ravages the city. [1] [53]

November 18

• In Cape Ann, Massachusetts, a large earthquake occurs, causing considerable damage in Boston. [1] [53]

December 1

• Maurice Greene composer, dies at age 59. [1]

December 21

• Caspar Ruetz composer, dies at age 47. [1]

1756

January 16

• England and Prussia sign Treaty of Westminster. [1]

March 13

• Johann Melchior Conradi composer, dies at age 81. [1]

March 17

• Saint Patrick's Day first celebrated in New York City at Crown and Thistle Tavern. [1]

March 23

• Georg Gottfried Wagner composer, dies at age 57. [1]

April 10

• Giacomo Antonio Perti Italian composer, dies at age 94. [1]

April 13

• Johann T Gottlieb Goldberg German klavecinist/composer, dies at age 29. [1]

April 14

• Governor Glen of South Carolina protests against 900 Acadia Indians. [1]

April 15

• Johann Gottlieb Goldberg composer, dies at age 29. [1]

April 16

• Jacques Cassini French astronomer (Discover rings of Saturn), dies at age 79. [1]

May 15

• Britain declares war on France (Seven Years' or French and Indian War). [1] [241.9]

June 20

• Between 64 and 146 British soldiers are confined in Calcutta, India in a prison known as the Black Hole. Only 23 survive the night. [1] [117.25]

August 14

• French capture Fort Oswego, New York. [1]

September 22

• Nassau Hall opens at Princeton University. [1]

December 6

• British troops under Robert Clive occupy Fulta India. [1]

December 11

• Theodor A Freiherr von Neuhoff German adventurer/king, dies. [1]

December 31

• Russia joins the Alliance of Versailles. [1]

1757

January 2

• British troops recapture Calcutta, India. [1] [117.23]

January 5

• Failed assassination attempt on French king Louis XV by Damiens. [1]

January 17

• German Diet declares war on Prussia. [1]

February 9

• British East Africa Company makes a treaty with Siraj-Ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal. [117.23]

March 14

• John Byng English Admiral (Minorca), executed at age 52. [1]

March 17

• Prince Mas Saïd of Mataram surrenders to Mangkubumi in Java. [1]

March 20

• Johann Paul Kunzen composer, dies at age 60. [1]

March 27

• Johann Wenzel Anton Stamitz composer, dies at age 39. [1]

April 6

• English king George II fires minister William Pitt Sr. [1]

May 1

• Austria and France divide Prussia. [1]

May 6

• Battle at Prague: Frederik II of Prussia beats emperor army. [1]

June 23

• British East Africa Company defeats Siraj-Ud-Daulah at the Battle of Plassey through treachery. [117.24]

December 5

• Battle at Leuthen: Prussian army beats Austrians. [1]

1758

January 1

• Johann F von Cronegk German playwright (Codrus), dies at age 26. [1]

January 7

• Allan Ramsay Sr Scottish poet (Gentle Shepherd), dies at age 71. [1]

January 11

• Russian troops occupy Königsberg, East-Prussia. [1]

January 22

• Russian troops occupy Königsberg, East Prussia. [1]

February 5

• Bernhard Christian Weber composer, dies at age 45. [1]

March 2

• Johann Baptist Zimmermann German stucco worker, buried at age 78. [1]

March 22

• Jonathan Edwards theologian/philosopher (Original Sin), dies at age 54. [1]

March 27

• Battle at Emmerich: British army floats around France the Rhine. [1]

March 28

• Jonathan Edwards US theologist (Great Awakening), dies at age 54. [1]

April 2

• Johann Balthasar Konig composer, dies at age 67. [1]

April 17

• Francis Williams, first US black college graduate, publishes poems. [1]

April 24

• Florian Wrastill composer, dies at age 41. [1]

April 27

• Jan Francisci composer, dies at age 66. [1]

May 3

• Benedict XIV [Prospero L Lambertini] Pope (1740-58), dies at age 83. [1]

June 2

• French troops under commander Comtede Lally attack and capture Fort Saint David on the Coromandel Coast. [117.24]

July 24

• George Washington admitted to Virginia House of Burgess. [1]

August 29

• First indian reservation established. [1]

September 12

• Charles Messier observes the Crab Nebula and begins catalog. [1]

November 25

• Britain captures Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh). [1]

December 5

• Johann Friedrich Fasch composer, dies at age 70. [1]

December 25

• Halley's comet first sighted by Johann Georg Palitzsch during return. [1]

December 31

• British expeditionary army occupies Goree (Dakar) Senegal. [1]

1759

January 3

• Marquis and Marquess of Tavora Portuguese nobles, executed. [1]

January 5

• Thomas-Philippe et de Boussu South Netherlands cardinal, dies at age 79. [1]

January 6

• George Washington marries Martha Dandridge Curtis. [1]

January 11

• First American life insurance company incorporated, Philadelphia. [1]

January 12

• Anne of Hannover English princess, dies at age 49. [1]

January 15

• British Museum opens in Montague House, London. [1]

January 16

• British Museum opens in London. [1]

February 15

• Alexander von Papenhoven Flemish religious sculptor, dies at age 89. [1]

February 28

• Pope Clement XIII allows Bible to be translated into various languages. [1]

March 13

• 27th recorded perihelion passage of Halley's Comet. [1]

April 8

• British troops chase French out of Masulipatam India. [1]
• François de La Croix composer, dies at age 76. [1]

April 13

• French beat European Allies in Battle of Bergen. [1]

April 14

• Georg Frideric Händel organist/composer (Watermusic), dies at age 74. [1]

April 20

• Georg Friedrich Händel buried in Westminster Abbey. [1]

May 1

• British fleet occupies Guadeloupe, West-Indies, on France. [1]

July 25

• British capture Fort Niagara from French (7 Years' War). [1]

September 13

• James Wolfe British general (Plains of Abraham), dies at age 32. [1]
• Wolfe defeats Montcalm on Plains of Abraham; Canada becomes English. [1]

September 14

• Louis Montcalm French general (Plains of Abraham), dies at age 47. [1]

September 18

• British troops capture Québec City during the French and Indian War. [1] [491.15]

October 16

• New lighthouse on Eddystone Rock off Devon, England first shines light, powered by 24 candles, designed by John Smeaton. The lighthouse cost 40,000 pounds sterling to build, using 988 tons of granite. [272.623]

October 31

• Earthquake in Safed Palestine kills hundred. [1]

November 24

• Destructive eruption of Vesuvius. [1]

December 13

• First music store in America opens (Philadelphia). [1]