istoryworld
All Events
James II succeeds to the throne in Britain and immediately introduces pro-Catholic policies
Denis Papin, a French scientist working in England, demonstrates a pressure cooker fitted with a safety valve
400,000 Huguenots leave France after Louis XIV deprives them of their rights by revoking the Edict of Nantes
English naturalist John Ray begins publication of his Historia Plantarum, classifying some 18,600 plants in 'mutual fertility' species
Newton publishes Principia Mathematica, proving gravity to be a constant in all physical systems
The Hungarian diet grants the Habsburg dynasty in Austria a hereditary right to the crown of St Stephen
A son (the future 'Old Pretender') is born to James II, giving Britain a Catholic heir to the throne
Aphra Behn's novel Oroonoko makes an early protest against the inhumanity of the African slave trade
Sébastien de Vauban's socket bayonet is introduced in the French army
English grandees invite William III of Orange and his wife Mary, daughter of James II, to claim the British throne
John Bunyan dies during a preaching visit to London, and is buried in the Nonconformist cemetery, Bunhill Fields
William III of Orange lands with an army at Torbay and marches to London with almost no opposition from supporters of James II
Parliament in Westminster makes the restrictive Bill of Rights the condition on which William III and Mary II are crowned
William III and Mary II embark on extensive work at Hampton Court including demolition of the old Royal lodgings and building of new South and East Fronts around a new quadrangle, the Fountain Court
James II, landing in Ireland, is acclaimed as king in Dublin by enthusiastic Irish Catholics
The Great Fountain Garden at Hampton Court, occupying the semi-circle of land between the East Front and the park, is designed with 13 fountains powered by the Longford River
A Grand Alliance against France is formed by almost all the other powers in Europe
The 17-year-old Peter the Great becomes co-tsar of Russia with his half-brother Ivan V
The Great Fountain Garden at Hampton Court, occupying the semi-circle of land between the East Front and the park, is designed with 13 fountains powered by the Longford River
Young gentlewomen in Chelsea give the first performance of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas
France by now has six fortified trading settlements around the coast of India, of which Pondicherry is the most important
The armies of James II and William III confront each at the river Boyne, with victory going to William
Chinoiserie becomes the new craze in Europe, after Jesuit reports of the Chinese civilization
The French scientist Denis Papin, while professor of mathematics at Marburg, develops the first steam engine to use a piston
The Church of Scotland finally wins recognition as an independent Presbyterian body
