18th Century History Timeline1700s1710s1720s1730s1740s1750s1760s
1770s1780s1790s1800s1810s1820s1830s
1760George III becomes King of England (dies 1820)
Rousseau publishes the Social Contract
Catherine II, The Great becomes ruler of Russia. (dies 1796)
Tristram Shandy by Sterne is published.
Berlin is burned by the Russians
1761James Otis gives a four hour speech against the Writs of Assistance.
Franz Josef Haydn becomes court composer to Prince Esterhazy.
22 May The first life insurance policy in the United States was issued, in Philadelphia.
1762British seizes Cuba and the Philippines from Spain.
Catherine II (the Great), becomes Emperess of Russia.
Louisiana ceded to Spain by France in an attempt British control of the region.
The Social Contract and Emile is published by Rousseau.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performs at the Imperial court in Vienna at age 6.
1763The Seven Years war ends with the Treaties of Paris and Hubertusburg.
Pontiac's Rebellion
Augustus III dies; he is succeeded (1764) by Stanislaw II, the last king of Poland.
Britain returns Cuba and the Philippines to Spain in exchange for Florida.
Canada and the territory east of the Mississippi River is ceded to Britain by France.
France recognizes Britains dominance in India.
1764German historian Johann Winckelmann publishes his History of the Art of Antiquity.
Thomas Chatterton writes the Rowley poems at the age of 12.
1765Joseph II becomes the Holy Roman Emperor (dies 1790)
January - Parliament passes the Stamp Act to pay for the French and Indian War.
The Stamp Act Congress meets in New York
Horace Walpole publishes his Gothic novel The Castle of Otranto.
Robert Clive is appointed governor of Bengal in India.
Sir William Blackstone begins his Commentaries on the Laws of England.
1766English chemist Henry Cavendish isolates hydrogen gas for the first time.
The Nautical Almanac provides the first practical method for determining longitude.
1767Repeal of the Stamp Act
The Townshend Duties go into effect.
The Mason-Dixon Line established between Maryland and Pennsylvania
Russian-Turkish War (ends 1774)
1768The first modern Circus is formed in England by Philip Astley
James Cook discovers and explores the east coast of Australia.
6 October - Turks Declare war on Russia
Genoa sells its rights in Corsica to France.
Joshua Reynolds becomes the first president of the Royal Academy in London.
Bougainville claims the Pacific island of Tahiti for France.
The first weekly numbers of the Encyclopaedia Britannica are issued.
1769James Cook Lands in New Zealand
The first working automobile in history
was a steam tractor used to pull artillery for the French Army.
Daniel Boone explores a route through the Cumberland Gap.
James Watt patents a condenser to improve the performance of steam engines.
Richard Arkwright invents a spinning frame to mechanize cotton weaving.
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