References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 June 28.

1720 January 1 Death of Francis Daniel Pastorius in Germantown, Pennsylvania (born in Sommerhausen, Germany). He purchased land from William Penn and founded the city of Germantown. [37] February 1 Sweden and Prussia sign peace treaty. [1] February 10 Edmund Halley appointed second Astronomer Royal of England. [1] February 11 Sweden and Prussia sign peace (second Treaty of Stockholm). [1] February 29 Queen Ulrica Eleonora of Sweden resigns. [1] March 6 Pieter van Flowers Flemish painter, buried at age 63. [1] March 8 Georg Bronner composer, dies at age 53. [1] May 25 "Le Grand Saint Antoine" reaches Marseille, plague kills 80,000. [1] June 10 Mrs Clements of England markets first paste-style mustard. [1] November 9 Rabbi Yehuda Hasid synagogue set afire. [1] 1721 January 7 Rochus Aerts Flemish sculptor, dies. [1] January 25 Czar Peter the Great ends Russian-orthodox patriarchy. [1] February 5 James Stanhope first earl of Stanhope English General, dies at age 47. [1] March 9 English Chancellor Exchequer John Aislabie confined in London Tower. [1] March 19 Clement XI [Giovanni F Albani], Italian Pope (1700-21), dies at age 71. [1] March 24 Johann Sebastian Bach opens his Brandenburgse Concerts. [1] March 27 France and Spain sign Treaty of Madrid. [1] April 3 Robert Walpole becomes England's first Lord of the Treasury. [1] April 26 Smallpox vaccination first administrated. [1] May 8 Michelangiolo dei Conti replaces Pope Clement XI, as Innocent XIII. [1] May 25 John Copson becomes America's first insurance agent. [1] May 29 South Carolina formally incorporated as a royal colony. [1] August 30 The Treaty of Nystadt ends the war between Sweden and Russia. Sweden loses Livonia, Estonia, Ingria, and East Karelia incluing Viborg. Russia returns Finland, and pays two million riksdaler. Russia agrees not to interfere in Swedish internal affairs or royal succession. [7] December 22 Nathaniel Hawes tortured and executed in England for robbery. [1] 1722 January 7 Antoine Coypel French painter/poet, dies at age 60. [1] January 24 Czar Peter the Great begins civil system. [1] Edward Wigglesworth appointed first US divinity professor (Harvard). [1] March 8 Afghan monarch Mir Mahmud occupies Persia. [1] March 17 Willem KH Friso appointed mayor of Drente. [1] March 31 Campegius Vitringa Dutch theologist/exegete, dies at age 62. [1] April 5 Jacob Roggeveen discovers Easter Island. [1] April 6 Peter the Great ends tax on men with beards. [1] April 13 Charles Leslie Irish controversialist, dies. [1] April 22 Nineteen VOC "komplotteurs" in Batavia executed. [1] Pieter Erberfeld German/Thais merchant on Java, dies. [1] April 30 The game of Billiards is mentioned in the New England Courant. [1] May 3 Pierre de Marivaux' "La Double Inconstance" premieres in Paris France. [1] December 8 Elisabeth C "Liselotte" van Palts German/French duchess, dies at age 70. [1] 1723 January 12 Händel's opera "Ottone" premieres, London. [1] January 23 Georg Friedrich Händel's opera "Ottone" premieres in London. [1] February 2 Antonio M Valsalva Italian anatomist, dies at age 66. [1] February 25 Sir Christopher Wren England, astronomer/architect, dies at age 90. [1] March 15 Johann C Günther writer, dies at age 27. [1] April 5 J Fischer von Erlach Austrian architect (Hofburg, Vienna), dies at age 66. [1] April 10 Claude F Tserclaes South Netherlands earl of Tilly, dies at age 74. [1] April 23 Cornelis Steenoven elected archbishop of Utrecht. [1] December 2 Philip French duke of Orléans/regent (1715-23)/Prime Minister (1723), dies. [1] December 6 Emperor Karel VI's Pragmatic Sanctie declares Constitution. [1] December 22 Jacques Basnage French/Dutch historian/vicar, dies at age 70. [1] 1724 January 14 Spanish King Philip V abdicates throne. [1] February 13 Francisco Jose Coutinho composer, dies at age 43. [1] March 7 Innocent XIII [Michelangiolo dei Conti], Pope (1721-24), dies at age 68. [1] March 8 Enrico Giovanni Zuccalli Swiss architect, dies at about age 81. [1] April 1 Henry Pelham becomes English minister of War. [1] Jonathan Swift publishes Drapier's letters. [1] April 6 Duke of Newcastle becomes English minister of Foreign Affairs. [1] April 7 Johann S Bach's "John Passion" premieres in Leipzig. [1] April 16 First Easter observed. [1] May 18 Johann K Amman Swiss/Dutch doctor for deaf-mutes, dies at age 54. [1] December 9 Colley Cibber's "Caesar in Aegypt" premieres in London. [1] December 23 Emperor Charles VI names Maria Elisabeth land guardian of Australia Netherlands. [1] December 24 Benjamin Franklin arrives in London. [1] 1725 January 4 Benjamin Franklin arrives in London. [1] January 6 Chikamatsu Monzaemon Jap playwright (Yotsugi Soga), dies at about age 71. [1] January 28 Peter I "the Great" Romanov czar of Russia, dies at age 52. [1] February 6 Johann Philipp Krieger composer, dies at age 75. [1] February 8 Peter I "the Great" Romanov czar of Russia (1682-1725), dies at age 52. [1] Peter the Great Tsar of Russia dies. [1] February 20 Ten sleeping Indians scalped by whites in New Hampshire for £100/scalp bounty. [1] March 2 Georg F Händels opera "Giulio Cesare in Egitto" premieres in London. [1] April 30 Emperor Charles VI and King Philip IV of Spain sign Treaty of Vienna. [1] May 1 Spain and Austria sign trade treaty. [1] May 8 John Lovewell US Indian fighter, dies in battle. [1] May 21 Robert Haley earl of Oxford English Whig-premier (1710-4), dies at age 63. [1] 1726 January 2 Domenico Zipoli composer, dies at age 37. [1] January 25 Guillaume Delisle French geographer (Atlas géographique), dies at age 50. [1] February 26 Maximilian II M Emanuel elect of Bavaria/governor of Netherlands, dies. [1] March 26 John Vanbrugh Dutch/English playwright (Provoked Wife), dies at age 62. [1] April 17 Henriëtte Amalia ruler of Nassau-Dietz, dies at age 49. [1] April 26 Jeremy Collier English bishop/historian/opponent to theater, dies at age 75. [1] May 5 Marie de Camargo (16) premieres at Opéra of Paris France. [1] May 14 John B Wellekens poet/painter (Wedding Guests), dies. [1] Moshe Darshan Rabbi/author (Torat Ahsam), dies. [1] May 24 People's revolt due to increase in gin/brandy tax. [1] 1727 January 20 John van Bylevelt Catholic apostle, dies. [1] February 22 Francesco Gasparini composer, dies at age 58. [1] March 20 Sir Issac Newton English physicist/astronomer, dies in London at age 84. [1] April 6 Denmark signs Covenant of Hannover. [1] May 2 Paul Aler French jesuit/poet (Gradus ad Parnassum), dies at age 70. [1] May 6 Catharina I Latvia tsarina of Russia, dies at about age 42. [1] May 7 Jews are expelled from Ukraine by Empress Catherine I of Russia. [1] May 17 Catherine I Empress of Russia (1725-27), dies. [1] May 29 Peter II Aleksei (11) becomes czar of Russia. [1] May 31 France, England and Netherlands sign accord of Paris. [1] October 29 Severe earthquake in New England. [1] November 18 In Tabriz, Iran, a powerful earthquake occurs, claiming 77,000 deaths. [53] December 1 Johann Heinrich Buttstett composer, dies at age 61. [1] 1728 January 29 John Gays' "Beggar's Opera" premieres in London. [1] February 12 Agostino Steffani Italian/German diplomat/composer, dies at age 73. [1] February 28 Georg F Händels opera "Siroe, re di Persia" premieres in London. [1] March 6 Spain and England sign (first) Convention of Pardo. [1] March 8 Gian M Crescimbeni Italian literary/critic (Arcadia), dies at age 64. [1] April 13 Johann Christoph Schmidt composer, dies at age 63. [1] April 22 Pierre de Marivaux' "Le Triomphe de Plutus", premieres in Paris France. [1] April 23 Tomas de Torrejon y Velasco composer, dies at age 83. [1] April 25 John Woodward geologist/physician, dies. [1] May 4 Georg F Händels opera "Tolomeo, re di Egitto" premieres in London. [1] December 17 Congregation Shearith Israel of New York purchases a lot on Mill Street in lower Manhattan, to build New York's first synagogue. [1] December 23 Prussian Emperor Karel VI sign Treaty of Berlin. [1] 1729 January 4 Joseph de Montesquiou Earl d'Artagnan French Lieutenant-General , dies at age 77. [1] Meir Bacharach Hebrew poet, dies. [1] January 19 William Congreve English dramatist (Love for Love), dies in London at age 58. [1] March 15 Sister Saint Stanislas Hachard, first US nun, takes her vows, N Orleans. [1] March 21 John Law Scottish financier, dies at about age 57. [1] April 11 Manuel de Egues composer, dies at age 71. [1] April 15 Johann S Bachs "Matthäus Passion" premieres in Leipzig. [1] May 17 Samuel Clarke theologian, dies. [1] July 25 North Carolina becomes royal colony. [1] July 30 City of Baltimore founded. [1] December 1 Christian Ludwig Boxberg composer, dies at age 59. [1] December 13 Anthony Collins English philosopher (On Liberty and Necessity), dies at age 53. [1] 1730 January 1 Daniel Finch second Earl of Nottingham, dies at age 82. [1] January 18 Peter II czar of Russia (1727-30), dies at age 14. [1] January 30 Peter II Alekseyevitch emperor of Russia (1727-30), dies at age 14. [1] February 21 Benedict XIII [Pietro F Orsini], Pope (1724-30), dies at age 81. [1] February 28 Tsarina Anna Ivanovna leads autocracy. [1] March 16 Willem Charles Henry Friso installed as viceroy of Drenthe. [1] April 8 First Jewish congregation in US consecrates synagogue, "Shearith Israel, New York City". [1] April 21 Jan Palfijn Flemish physician/inventor (forceps), dies at age 79. [1] May 15 Robert Walpole becomes England first prime minister (was chief minister). [1] December 11 Voltaire's "Brutus" premieres in Paris. [1] 1731 January 10 Charles Farnese becomes duke of Parma/Piacenza. [1] January 27 Bartolomeo di Francesco Cristofori Italian piano builder, dies at age 75. [1] February 2 Georg F Händels opera "Poro" premieres in London. [1] February 20 Frederich Karl Erbach composer, dies at age 50. [1] February 22 Frederik Ruysch Dutch anatomist, dies at age 92. [1] February 27 Angelo Predieri composer, dies at age 76. [1] March 15 Adolf H van Rechteren Dutch diplomat/politician, dies at age 75. [1] March 16 Treaty of Vienna: Emperor Charles VI of England and Netherlands. [1] April 10 Maximilian Dietrich Freisslich composer, dies at age 58. [1] April 24 Daniel Defoe English novelist (Robinson Crusoe), dies. [1] April 26 Daniel Defoe English author (Robinson Crusoe), dies at about age 70. [1] May 28 All Hebrew books in Papal State are confiscated. [1] December 22 Dutch people revolt against meat tax. [1] December 29 J Brook Taylor English mathematician, dies at age 46. [1] December 30 First US music concert (Peter Pelham's great room in Boston). [1] 1732 January 21 Russia and Persia sign Treaty of Riascha. [1] January 29 Paris churchyard Saint-Médard closed after Jansenistic ritual. [1] February 1 Parliament of Ratisborn accept Pragmatic Sanctions. [1] February 2 King Frederik Willem I moves Lutherans towards East-Prussia. [1] February 17 Louis Marchand composer, dies at age 63. [1] February 20 Estates of Holland ratifies Treaty of Vienna. [1] February 26 First mass celebrated in American Catholic church, (Saint Joseph's Church, Philadelphia). [1] March 5 Joseph-François Salomon composer, dies at age 82. [1] April 5 Johann Christian Schieferdecker composer, dies at age 52. [1] April 23 Cajetan Kolberer composer, dies at age 63. [1] May 13 Theodor Schwartzkopff composer, dies at age 72. [1] June 9 Royal charter for Georgia granted to James Oglethorpe. [1] November 14 First US professional librarian, Louis Timothee, hired in Philadelphia. [1] December 4 John Gay English poet (Beggar's Opera), dies at age 47. [1] December 6 First play in American colonies acted by professional players, New York City, New York. [1] December 14 Johann Philipp Fortsch composer, dies at age 80. [1] December 18 Johann Valentin Eckelt composer, dies at age 59. [1] December 19 Benjamin Franklin (under the name Richard Saunders) begins publication of "Poor Richard's Almanack". [1] December 28 First known ad for "Poor Richard's Almanack" (Pennsylvania Gazette). [1] 1733 January 13 James Oglethorpe and 130 English colonists arrive at Charleston, South Carolina. [1] January 18 First polar bear exhibited in America (Boston). [1] January 25 Reinier V van Hompech Dutch General-Major cavalry, dies. [1] February 1 August II the Strong, King of Poland (355 children), dies at age 62. [1] February 12 Georgia founded by James Oglethorpe, at site of Savannah. [1] February 27 Johann Adam Birkenstock composer, dies at age 46. [1] March 22 Joseph Priestly invents carbonated water (seltzer). [1] May 1 Nicolas Coustou French sculptor (Saôn), dies at age 75. [1] May 12 Maria Theresa crowned queen of Bohemia in Prague. [1] May 17 England passes Molasses Act, putting high tariffs on rum and molasses imported to the colonies from a country other than British possessions. [1] May 18 Georg Bohm German organist/composer, dies at age 71. [1] July 30 Society of Freemasons opens first American lodge in Boston. [1] December 31 Hubert K Poot Dutch poet (Akkerleven), dies at age 44. [1] 1734 March 8 Carolomannus Pachschmidt composer, dies at age 33. [1] March 10 Spanish army under Don Carlos (III) draws into Naples. [1] March 12 Antonius Schultingh [Schultingius], Dutch lawyer, dies at age 74. [1] March 14 Prince Willem KHF van Orange marries George II's daughter Mary Anne. [1] March 21 Gunther Jacob Wenceslaus composer, dies at age 48. [1] March 24 Netherlands' William K H Friso marries princess Anne of Hanover. [1] April 1 Louis Lully composer, dies at age 69. [1] April 4 Johann C van Erckel old Catholic theologist, dies at about age 79. [1] November 17 John Zenger, arrested for libel against New York colonial governor; later acquitted. [1] December 13 England and Russia sign trade agreement. [1] December 14 Noel-Nicolas Coypel French painter/cartoonist, dies at age 44. [1] December 21 Philipp Hyacinth Lobkowitz composer, dies at age 54. [1] 1735 February 8 First opera in US, "Flora", opens in Charleston South Carolina. [1] February 18 First opera performed in America, "Flora", in Charleston South Carolina. [1] February 24 Georg Friedrich Kauffman composer, dies at age 56. [1] February 27 John Arbuthnot physician/mathematician, dies. [1] March 10 Dirk T van Cloon Dutch lawyer/Governor-General of E Indies, dies at about age 46. [1] March 13 First US Moravian bishop, David Nitschmann, consecrated in Germany. [1] August 4 Jury acquits John Zenger (New York Weekly Journal) charged with seditious libel by royal governor of New York (victory for Freedom of press). [1] 1736 January 7 Ceslav Vanura composer, dies at age 41. [1] January 17 Death of Daniel Matthäus Pöppelmann in Dresden, Germany; state architect in Dresden, designer of the Zwinger and Elbe Bridge. [37] January 26 Stanislaw Lesczynski flees Polish throne. [1] January 27 Abdication of Stanislas, last king of Poland. [1] February 5 Methodists John and Charles Wesley arrive in Savannah Georgia. [1] February 12 Maria Theresa Habsburg marries French Stefanus (emperor François I). [1] February 19 George Frideric Händel's "Alexander's Feast" premieres. [1] March 16 Giovanni B Pergolesi Italian composer (Stabat Mater), dies at age 26. [1] March 26 Georg Balthasar Schott composer, dies at age 49. [1] April 8 Pedro Vaz Rego composer, dies at age 63. [1] April 21 Frans Eugenius duke/prince of Savoye, dies at age 72. [1] May 2 Albert Seba Amsterdam pharmacist, dies at age 71. [1] May 7 John Weldon composer, dies at age 60. [1] May 26 Battle of Ackia (Louisiana), British and Chickasaw Indians defeat the French. [1] December 1 Simon van Slingelandt Dutch grand pensionary (1727-36), dies at age 72. [1] December 21 Alessandro Galilei Italian architect (Cappella Corsini), dies at age 45. [1] December 26 Antonio Caldara composer, dies. [1] 1737 February 20 Elizabeth Rowe poet, dies. [1] French minister of Finance, Chauvelin, resigns. [1] February 28 Hercule Brehy composer, dies at age 63. [1] March 7 Guido Starhemberg Austrian earl/fieldmarshal, dies at age 79. [1] March 12 Galileo's body moved to Church of Santa Croce in Florence, Italy. [1] April 4 Anthony van Heim installed as Dutch pension advisor. [1] May 3 Abraham Patras Governor-General of East-Indies (1735-37), dies at age 65. [1] May 12 Cornelis van Alkemade historian, dies at age 83. [1] October 7 40 foot waves sink 20,000 small craft and kill 300,000 (Bengal, India). [1] October 11 Earthquake kills 300,000 and destroys half of Calcutta India. [1] December 18 Antonio Stradivari renowned violin-maker, dies in Cremona Italy at age 93. [1] 1738 January 6 Franz Xaver Murschhauser composer, dies at age 74. [1] January 17 Jean-Francois Dandrieu composer, dies. [1] February 5 Georg Reidel composer, dies at age 61. [1] February 12 James Sherard composer, dies at age 71. [1] March 16 Georg Baehr German master builder (Frauenkirche, Dresden), dies at age 72. [1] March 28 English parliament declares war on Spain (War of Jenkin's Ear). [1] April 15 Bottle opener invented. [1] May 9 England routes fleet in Mediterranean Sea and West-Indies. [1] May 24 Methodist Church is established. [1] May 27 Turkish troops occupy Orsova and Ochakov. [1] December 9 Jews are expelled from Breslau Silesia. [1] December 13 Gotthard Wagner composer, dies at age 59. [1] December 20 Jean-Joseph Mouret composer, dies at age 56. [1] 1739 January 1 J B C Bouvet de Lozier discovers Bouvet Island, near Antarctica. [1] January 14 England and Spain signs second Convention of Pardo. [1] April 5 French emperor Karel VI sign secret treaty. [1] April 10 Dick Turpin executed in England for horse stealing. [1] April 19 Nicholas Saunderson mathematician, dies. [1] April 21 Spain and Naples-Austria sign peace accord. [1] May 6 Bernardus Smijtegelt vicar (Gekrookte Reed), dies at age 63. [1] September 1 35 Jews sentenced to life in prison in Lisbon Portugal. [1] September 9 Slave revolt in Stono South Carolina led by Jemmy (25 whites killed). [1] September 18 Treaty of Belgrade-Austria cedes Belgrade to Turks. [1]