Timeline: William David Ellingford: Steven's Genealogy

	Date	Event(s)
1	1499	16 Nov 1499: Perkin Warbeck Perkin Warbeck, pretender to the throne, executed
2	1503	1503: Mona Lisa Leonardo da Vinci paints Mona Lisa (-1505) 28 May 1503: King James IV Marriage of King James IV of Scots and Margaret Tudor
3	1505	1505: Royal College of Surgeons Royal College of Surgeons founded in Edinburgh
4	1506	22 Jan 1506: Swiss Guards First contingent of 150 Swiss Guards arrives at the Vatican
5	1507	1507: First printing press First printing press in Scotland set up in Edinburgh by Andrew Myllar
6	1509	1509: Naturalisation Naturalisation papers start in England 22 Apr 1509: Henry VIII Henry VIII becomes king of England (to 1547) at 17 years old 11 Jun 1509: Catherine of Aragon Henry VIII marries Catherine of Aragon
7	1512	1512: The Auld Alliance The 'Auld Alliance' treaty with France - all Scottish citizens became French and vice versa 1512: Admiralty founded Admiralty founded in London Nov 1512: Sistine Chapel Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, exhibited to the public for the first time
8	1513	16 Aug 1513: Battle of the Spurs Battle of the Spurs - English troops under Henry VIII defeat a French force at Guinegate 9 Sep 1513: Battle of Flodden Battle of Flodden, defeat of Scottish Army - death of King James IV of Scots
9	1514	1514: Recording of Testaments Recording of Testaments (wills) begins in Scotland
10	1515	15 Nov 1515: Thomas Wolsley Thomas Wolsley invested as Cardinal
11	1516	1516: Thomas More writes Utopia Thomas More writes Utopia'
12	1517	31 Oct 1517: Martin Luther Martin Luther fixes his 95 theses on church door at Wittenburg - regarded as start of the Reformation
13	1518	1518: Treaty of London Treaty of London, a non-aggression pact between the major European nations: France, England, Holy Roman Empire, the Papacy, Spain, Burgundy and the Netherlands - sponsored by Cardinal Wolsey
14	1520	Nov 1520: Ferdinand Magellan Three ships under the command of Ferdinand Magellan negotiate the Strait of Magellan, becoming the first Europeans to sail from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific
15	1521	17 May 1521: Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, executed for treason Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, executed for treason
16	1522	6 Sep 1522: The Victoria circumnavigates the world The Victoria, one of the surviving ships of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition, becomes the first ship known to circumnavigate the world
17	1525	1525: New Testament New Testament translated into English by William Tyndale
18	1527	1527: Bishop Vesey Bishop Vesey's Grammar School founded in Sutton Coldfield
19	1528	1528: St George's Chapel St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle completed
20	1531	11 Feb 1531: Church of England Henry VIII recognised as Supreme Head of the Church of England
21	1532	1532: Court of Session Foundation of the Court of Session in Scotland
22	1533	25 Jan 1533: Anne Boleyn Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn secretly, wife #2 (she was crowned as Queen on 1st June) 30 Mar 1533: Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer becomes Archbishop of Canterbury 23 May 1533: Catherine of Aragon Henry VIII's marriage with Catherine of Aragon officially declared annulled 11 Jul 1533: Henry VIII excommunicated Henry VIII excommunicated by Pope Clement VII 17 Sep 1533: Queen Elizabeth I born Anne Boleyn gives birth to a daughter Elizabeth, to become Queen Elizabeth I
23	1534	1534: The Reformation Reformation of the Catholic Church in England church (Henry VIII)
24	1535	1535: Sir Thomas More executed Sir Thomas More executed
25	1536	1536: Wales and England united Wales and England legally united by the Laws in Wales Act of 1535 1536—1540: Dissolution of monasteries Dissolution of monasteries starts in England (to 1540) 19 May 1536: Anne Boleyn Anne Boleyn executed 30 May 1536: Jane Seymour Henry VIII marries Jane Seymour, wife #3 (she was crowned as Queen on 29th October) 18 Jul 1536: The authority of the Pope The authority of the Pope is declared void in England
26	1537	24 Oct 1537: Jane Seymour Jane Seymour dies from complications in giving birth to a son, the future Edward VI
27	1538	1538: Henry VIII Henry VIII issues English Bible 1538: Parish Registers English and Welsh parish registers start 17 Dec 1538: Henry VIII excommunicated Henry VIII excommunicated by Pope Paul III
28	1540	1540: Statute of Wills Statute of Wills allows freehold land to be bequeathed 6 Jan 1540: Henry VIII marries Anne of Cleves Henry VIII marries Anne of Cleves, the 'Flanders Mare', wife #4 9 Feb 1540: Horse Racing First recorded horse racing event in Britain, at Chester 9 Jul 1540: Anne of Cleves Henry VIII divorces Anne of Cleves 28 Jul 1540: Thomas Cromwell Thomas Cromwell executed; Henry VIII marries Catherine Howard the same day, wife #5
29	1541	1541: Henry VIII proclaimed king of Ireland Henry VIII proclaimed king (rather than feudal lord) of Ireland
30	1542	13 Feb 1542: Catherine Howard Catherine Howard executed 14 Dec 1542: King James V Death of King James V of Scots; his baby daughter Mary ?Queen of Scots' succeeds him just 6 days old
31	1543	12 Jul 1543: Henry VIII marries Catherine Parr Henry VIII marries Catherine Parr, wife #6, who survives him 9 Sep 1543: Mary Stuart Mary Stuart, at nine months old, is officially crowned Queen of Scots' in Stirling (spelling of the royal house changes from Stewart to Stuart)
32	1544	1544: Henry's VIII's Rough Wooing' of the Scottish Borders Henry's VIII's Rough Wooing' of the Scottish Borders
33	1545	20 Jul 1545: Mary Rose sinks in the Solent Mary Rose, flagship of Henry VIII, sinks in the Solent - raised in 1982
34	1546	1546: Trinity College Trinity College, Cambridge founded by Henry VIII
35	1547	1547: Ivan the Terrible Ivan the Terrible takes title 'Tsar of all the Russias' 1547: Vagrants Act Vagrants Act passed (able-bodied tramps can be detained as slaves) 1547: English replaced Latin English replaced Latin in church services in England and Wales 28 Jan 1547: Death of Henry VIII Death of Henry VIII (succeeded by Edward VI, aged 9, to 1553) 20 Feb 1547: Coronation of Edward VI Coronation of Edward VI in Westminster Abbey 10 Sep 1547: Battle of Pinkie Cleugh Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, said to be the first 'modern' battle to be fought in the British Isles
36	1548	1548: Priests in England allowed to marry Priests in England allowed to marry (about a third then did so) - but see 1554
37	1549	1549: English Parliament declares enclosures legal English Parliament declares enclosures legal 1549: First Act of Uniformity First Act of Uniformity in England made Catholic Mass illegal 1549: Wedding ring finger changed Wedding ring finger changed from right to left hand 9 Jun 1549: First Book of Common Prayer First Book of Common Prayer sanctioned by English Parliament
38	1550	1550: Walloon Protestants Walloon Protestants arrive as refugees from the Low Countries
39	1551	1551: Scottish parish registers start Scotland: General Provincial Council orders each parish to keep a register of baptisms and banns of marriage
40	1552	Mar 1552: An 'Act of Uniformity' imposes the Protestant prayerbook An 'Act of Uniformity' imposes the Protestant prayerbook of 1552 in England
41	1553	6 Jul 1553: Edward VI dies Edward VI dies; Lady Jane Grey queen for a few days only 19 Jul 1553: Mary Tudor comes to the throne Mary Tudor ('Bloody Mary') comes to the throne
42	1554	1554: Brief Catholic restoration under Queen Mary Brief Catholic restoration under Queen Mary Tudor - married priests forced to separate at least 30 miles from their wives 12 Feb 1554: Lady Jane Grey beheaded Lady Jane Grey beheaded
43	1556	21 Mar 1556: Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer burned at the stake Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer burned at the stake in Oxford
44	1558	1558: System of Counties adopted System of Counties adopted 1558: Scottish parish registers start Scottish parish registers start 7 Jan 1558: French take Calais French take Calais, last English possession in France 24 Apr 1558: Marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots Marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots to Francois the Dauphin of France in Paris 17 Nov 1558: Queen Elizabeth I Queen Mary Tudor of England dies and is succeeded by her half-sister Elizabeth - Protestantism restored in England
45	1559	1559: Tobacco introduced to Europe Tobacco introduced to Europe 1559: John Knox returns from Continent John Knox returns from Continent - strengthens case for Presbyterianism in Scotland 15 Jan 1559: Queen Elizabeth I Elizabeth crowned in Westminster Abbey by Owen Oglethorpe, the Bishop of Carlisle 29 Apr 1559: Acts of Supremacy passed in Parliament Acts of Supremacy passed in Parliament, ending papal jurisdiction over England & Wales; established Church of England
46	1560	1560: Protestantism in Scotland Establishment of Protestantism in Scotland - commissary courts thrown into confusion - some records lost 27 Feb 1560: Treaty of Berwick Treaty of Berwick between Duc du Chatelherault (as governor of Scotland) and the English, agreeing to act jointly to expel the French from Scotland
47	1561	1561: St Paul's Spire of St Paul's, highest in England, destroyed by fire 1561: first coins produced by machinery The first coins produced by machinery (known as a 'mill') rather than by hand, but it was a slow process and did not replace hand struck coinage until new machinery was introduced in 1663
48	1562	1562: Earliest English slave-trading expedition Earliest English slave-trading expedition, under John Hawkins - between Guinea and the West Indies
49	1563	28 Jul 1563: English surrender Le Havre The English surrender Le Havre to the French after a siege
50	1564	26 Apr 1564: Shakespeare baptised Shakespeare baptised - he is said to have been born on Apr 23, St George's Day; he certainly died on Apr 23, 1616
51	1565	29 Jul 1565: Marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots Marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, her first cousin
52	1566	9 Mar 1566: Murder of David Riccio Murder of David Riccio (or Rizzio) in Holyrood House
53	1567	15 May 1567: Marriage of Mary Queen of Scots Marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell 24 Jul 1567: Mary Queen of Scots deposed Mary Queen of Scots deposed and replaced by her 1 year old son James VI
54	1568	13 May 1568: Battle of Langside Battle of Langside - Mary's flight to England and her imprisonment by Queen Elizabeth I
55	1569	1569: Elizabeth I approved Sunday sports Elizabeth I approved Sunday sports
56	1570	25 Feb 1570: Regnans in Excelsis Pope Pius V issued the papal bull 'Regnans in Excelsis' to excommunicate Elizabeth I and her followers in the Church of England
57	1571	1571: Presbyterianism introduced Presbyterianism introduced into England by Thomas Cartwright 1571: Repeal of Act prohibiting lending of money on interest Repeal of Act prohibiting lending of money on interest - gradual change from 'subsistence economy' to 'cash economy' resulted 1571: Legislation against Catholics Beginning of penal legislation against Catholics in England 23 Jan 1571: Opening of the Royal Exchange Opening of the Royal Exchange in London, founded by Sir Thomas Gresham - this building destroyed in Great Fire of London 1666
58	1577	1577: First theatre in London James Burbage opens first theatre in London
59	1579	1579: Act of Uniformity Act of Uniformity in matters of religion enforced
60	1580	1580: Congregational movement founded Congregational movement founded by Robert Browne about this time 1580: Colonisation of Ireland Colonisation of Ireland 6 Apr 1580: Dover Straits earthquake Dover Straits earthquake, largest in the recorded history of England, mentioned by Shakespeare - dozens of ships sunk and a tsunami hit Calais
61	1581	1581: English Levant Company English Levant Company founded to regulate English trade with Turkey and the Levant. A member of the Company was known as a Turkey Merchant. 16 Jan 1581: Roman Catholicism English Parliament outlaws Roman Catholicism 4 Apr 1581: Francis Drake Francis Drake knighted by Elizabeth I aboard the Golden Hind after circumnavigating the world
62	1583	1583: University of Edinburgh University of Edinburgh founded 1583: Cambridge University Press Foundation of Cambridge University Press by Thomas Thomas Aug 1583: Sir Humphrey Gilbert Sir Humphrey Gilbert attempts to establish English authority at St John's, Newfoundland
63	1584	4 Jun 1584: first English colony in the New World Sir Walter Raleigh establishes first English colony in the New World, on Roanoke Island, Virginia (now in North Carolina) - the so-called 'Lost Colony'
64	1585	1585: Oxford University Press Foundation of Oxford University Press
65	1587	1587: Introduction of potatoes to England Introduction of potatoes to England 8 Feb 1587: Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots Execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, at Fotheringay Castle, near Peterborough 19 Apr 1587: Sir Francis Drake Sir Francis Drake sinks the Spanish fleet in Cadiz harbour 11 Aug 1587: Raleigh's second expedition Raleigh's second expedition to New World lands in North Carolina - first child born in the New World of English parents was Virginia Dare (Aug 18)
66	1588	1588: Invention of shorthand Invention of shorthand by Dr Timothy Bright 19 Jul 1588: Spanish Armada Spanish Armada sighted off the Lizard (had set sail from Lisbon in late May)
67	1591	1591: Trinity College, Dublin Trinity College, Dublin, founded
68	1592	1592: Presbyterian Church formally established Scotland: Presbyterian Church formally established - all ministers equal - no bishops - secular commissaries appointed by the Crown
69	1593	1593: British statute mile British statute mile established by law
70	1594	1594—1603: Irish rebellion against English Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, leads Irish rebellion against English rule (-1603)
71	1597	1597: Poor Law Act Poor Law Act for erection of parish workhouses for the Poor - Poor Rate collection allowed
72	1598	1598: Bishop's transcripts start Bishop's transcripts of English and Welsh parish registers start - parish records were to be kept in 'great decent books of parchment' and copies or 'Bishop's Transcripts' of new entries were to be sent each month to the diocesan centre
73	1600	1 Jan 1600: Scotland adopts New Year Scotland adopts New Year beginning 1st January (previously 25th March) 31 Dec 1600: British East India Company founded British East India Company founded
74	1601	1601: Elizabethan Poor Law Great English Poor Law Act passed The impotent poor (people who can't work) were to be cared for in almshouse or a poorhouse. The law offered relief to people who were unable to work: mainly those who were "lame, impotent, old, blind" The able-bodied poor were to be set to work in a House of Industry. Materials were to be provided for the poor to be set to work The idle poor and vagrants were to be sent to a House of Correction or even prison. Pauper children would become apprentices. 1601: Scurvy First use of fruit juice as a preventative for scurvy by James Lancaster
75	1602	20 Mar 1602: Dutch East India Company founded Dutch East India Company founded 8 Nov 1602: Bodleian Library Bodleian Library at Oxford University opened to the public
76	1603	24 Mar 1603: Death of Elizabeth I Death of Elizabeth I: union of Scottish and English crowns - under King James VI of Scots and I of England (d. 1625) 25 Jul 1603: Coronation Coronation - James VI of Scotland is crowned first king of Great Britain
77	1604	1 Nov 1604: Shakespeare Shakespeare: Othello' first presented
78	1605	5 Nov 1605: Gunpowder plot Gunpowder plot at Westminster (Guy Fawkes, etc)
79	1606	1606: The London Company chartered to colonise Virginia The London Company chartered to colonise Virginia: the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery leave England on 19th De c taking 144 days to reach America 1606: Episcopacy established in Scotland Episcopacy established in Scotland (against wishes of the Scots) 31 Jan 1606: Guy Fawkes Guy Fawkes and co-conspirators executed 12 Mar 1606: Adoption of Union Flag Adoption of Union Flag as the flag of Great Britain' (the term Union Jack is used officially only when the Union Flag is flown from the Jack Mast of a Royal Naval vessel)
80	1607	14 May 1607: Jamestown, Virginia settled Jamestown, Virginia settled - to become the first permanent British colony in North America
81	1608	1608: First use of telescope by Galileo First use of telescope by Galileo - he observed the moons of Jupiter two years later in Jan 1610
82	1610	1610: Episcopal Church James VI & I established the Episcopal Church in Scotland - Prebyterians persecuted and many of their records lost
83	1611	1611: King James Bible Authorised (King James) Version of Bible in Britain 22 May 1611: Baronet James VI & I created the title of baronet
84	1613	1613: Copper Farthing A copper farthing was produced, as a silver coin would be too small 29 Jun 1613: The Globe Theatre The Globe Theatre in London burns during a performance of Henry the Eighth (finally pulled down in 1644)
85	1616	23 Apr 1616: Shakespeare Tuesday Apr 23 (Julian calendar): Death of Shakespeare
86	1618	29 Oct 1618: Sir Walter Raleigh Sir Walter Raleigh beheaded for allegedly conspiring against James I
87	1619	4 Dec 1619: Thanksgiving (Nov 24 old style): Colonists from Berkeley Parish in England disembark in Virginia and give thanks to God (considered by many to be the first Thanksgiving in the Americas)
88	1620	1620: Coke Manufacture of coke (the fuel, not the drink!) patented by Dud Dudley 21 Dec 1620: Mayflower (Dec 16 old style): The Mayflower reaches America - founds Plymouth, New England (had initially set sail from Southampton on Aug 5)
89	1621	1621: Chimneys Chimneys to be made of brick and to be four and a half feet above the roof
90	1622	1622: The Weekly News First English newspaper appeared - Weekly News'
91	1624	1624: Monopoly Act Monopoly Act in England: patents protected 1624: Edmund Gunter Edmund Gunter introduces the surveyor's chain (measurement of length)
92	1625	1625: Bricks The size of bricks standardised in England around this time 27 Mar 1625: King James Death of King James VI & I
93	1628	1 Mar 1628: Charles I Writs issued by Charles I that every county in England (not just seaport towns) pay ship tax by this date
94	1629	10 Mar 1629: Parliament dissolved Parliament dissolved by King Charles I - did not meet for another 11 years
95	1633	Jun 1633: Galileo Galileo summoned by Inquisition for publishing in favour of Copernican theory
96	1635	1635: Flintlock small arms Flintlock small arms invented around this time (replaces matchlock)
97	1636	1636: Hackney Carriages Hackney Carriages in use by now in London
98	1638	1638: revival of Presbyterian Church King Charles regarded protests against the prayerbook as treason - forced Scots to choose between their church and the King - a 'Covenant' swearing to resist these changes to the Death was signed in Greyfriars Church Edinburgh and was accepted by hundreds of thousands of Scots (revival of Presbyterian Church)
99	1639	1639: Act of Toleration Act of Toleration in England established religious toleration
100	1640	3 Nov 1640: The Long Parliament Charles I forced to recall Parliament (the 'Long Parliament') due to Scottish invasion
101	1641	1641: Charles I Charles I's policies cause insurrection in Ulster and Civil War in England 1641: English Parliament acknowledge the Prebyterian Church Charles I and the English Parliament acknowledge the Prebyterian Church in Scotland 23 Oct 1641: Ulster uprising 50,000 Irish killed in an uprising in Ulster
102	1642	1642: English theatres closed English theatres closed by Puritans (till 1660) 22 Aug 1642: First Civil War in England Charles I raises his standard at Nottingham - First Civil War in England (to 1649) 13 Nov 1642: Battle of Turnham Green Battle of Turnham Green - Royalist forces withdraw in face of the Parliamentarian army and fail to take London 24 Nov 1642: Discovery of Van Diemen's Land Abel Janszoon Tasman discovers Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) 18 Dec 1642: First European to set foot in New Zealand Abel Janszoon Tasman first European to set foot in New Zealand
103	1643	13 Dec 1643: Battle of Alton Battle of Alton - victory for Parliamentarians - Sir Richard Bolle killed in St Lawrence's church
104	1644	29 Jun 1644: Battle of Cropredy Bridge Battle of Cropredy Bridge - Royalists beat the Parliamentarian forces 2 Jul 1644: Battle of Marston Moor Battle of Marston Moor, near York - Parliamentarian forces beat the Royalists
105	1645	1645: Scots Militia Scotland: Each county and burgh ordered to raise and maintain a number of foot soldiers, according to population, to serve as militia - population of Scotland estimated at 420,000 1645: Plague Plague made its last appearance in Scotland 14 Jun 1645: Battle of Naseby Battle of Naseby: Parliament's New Model Army crushes the Royalist forces 13 Sep 1645: Battle of Philiphaugh Battle of Philiphaugh in Scotland (near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. The Royalist army of the Marquess of Montrose was destroyed by the Covenanter army of Sir David Leslie, restoring the power of the Committee of Estates.)
106	1646	5 May 1646: Charles I Charles I surrenders to the Scottish Army at Newark 20 Jun 1646: Royalists surrender Royalists sign articles of surrender at Oxford
107	1648	1648: Society of Friends founded Society of Friends (Quakers) founded by George Fox 1648: First practical thermometers First practical thermometers made
108	1649	1649: Cromwell's Irish campaign Cromwell's Irish campaign starts 1649: King Charles II King Charles II proclaimed King of Scots and England in Scotland 6 Jan 1649: 'Rump' Parliament 'Rump' Parliament votes to put Charles I on trial 30 Jan 1649: King Charles I King Charles I executed 19 May 1649: Commonwealth declared Commonwealth declared 20 Dec 1649: Theatres banned Theatres banned by Cromwell 20 Dec 1649: Christmas banned Christmas banned by Cromwell
109	1650	1650: Coffee Coffee brought to England about this time
110	1651	1651: English Civil War The second English Civil War (1651-1652) 1651: Scottish prisoners Scottish prisoners transported to the British settlements in America 3 Sep 1651: Battle of Worcester Battle of Worcester
111	1653	1653: Commonwealth registers Commonwealth registers start 1653: Act of Settlement Under the Act of Settlement Cromwell's opponents stripped of land 1653: Provincial probate courts abolished Provincial probate courts abolished - probates granted only in London 20 Apr 1653: Rump Parliament Cromwell dissolves the Rump Parliament 16 Dec 1653: Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland
112	1657	1657: Post Office Post Office established by Act of Parliament [others say 1660] 1657: Jews A few Jews permitted to settle in England
113	1658	1658: Richard Cromwell Richard Cromwell (son of Oliver) Lord Protector (-1660) 3 Sep 1658: Oliver Cromwell Death of Oliver Cromwell
114	1659	1659: Temperature records Start of national meteorological Temperature records in the UK 6 Feb 1659: 1st bank cheque Date of first known bank cheque to be drawn
115	1660	1660: Commonwealth registers ended Commonwealth registers ended, Parish Registers resumed 1660: Provincial Probate Courts Provincial Probate Courts re-established 1660: Clarendon code Clarendon code restricts Puritans' religious freedom 1660: Composition of light discovered Composition of light discovered by Newton 1660: Honourable East India Company Honourable East India Company founded by British 1 Jan 1660: Samuel Pepys Samuel Pepys starts his diary 29 May 1660: Restoration of monarchy Restoration of British monarchy (Charles II) - 'Oak Apple Day' - theatres reopened 17 Oct 1660: Ten Regicides are executed Ten Regicides are executed at Charing Cross or Tyburn 28 Nov 1660: Royal Society formed Twelve men, including Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle, John Wilkins, and Sir Robert Moray decide to found what is later known as the Royal Society 8 Dec 1660: First actress plays in London First actress plays in London (Margaret Hughes as Desdemona)
116	1661	1661: Restoration of Episcopacy Restoration of Episcopacy in Scotland 1661: Board of Trade Board of Trade founded in London 1661: Hand-struck postage stamps Hand-struck postage stamps first used 1661: Corporation Act Corporation Act prevents non-Anglicans from holding municipal office 30 Jan 1661: Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell formally 'executed', having been dead for over two years!
117	1662	1662: Hearth Tax 'Hearth Tax' introduced - until 1689 (1690 in Scotland) 1662: Poor Relief Act Poor Relief Act or Act of Settlement' - gave JPs the power to return any wandering poor to the parish of origin (repealed 1834) 1662: Tea introduced to Britain Tea introduced to Britain 24 Aug 1662: Act of Uniformity Act of Uniformity - Acceptance of Book of Common Prayer required - About 2,000 vicars and rectors driven from their parishes as nonconformists (Presbyterians and Independents) - Persecution of all non-conformists - Presbyterianism dis-established - Episcopalian Church of England restored
118	1664	29 May 1664: Oak Apple Day Oak Apple Day - the birthday of Charles II and the day when he entered London at the Restoration; commanded by Act of Parliament in 1664 to be observed as a day of thanksgiving. A special service (expunged in 1859) was inserted in the Book of Common Prayer and people wore sprigs of oak with gilded oak-apples on that day. 27 Aug 1664: New York Nieuw Amsterdam becomes New York as 300 English soldiers under Col. Mathias Nicolls take the town from the Dutch under orders from Charles II. The town is renamed after the King's brother James, Duke of York
119	1665	1665: Great Plague of London Great Plague of London (July-October) kills over 60,000 1665: Five-mile Act Five-mile Act restricts non-conformist ministers in Britain. It was one of the English penal laws that sought to enforce conformity to the established Church of England 7 Nov 1665: London Gazette The 'London Gazette' first published - one of the official journals of record of the United Kingdom government and the oldest continuously published newspaper in the United Kingdom
120	1666	1666: Semaphore signalling Use of semaphore signalling pioneered by Lord Worcester 1666: Newton Newton formulated Laws of Gravity 2 Sep 1666: Great Fire of London Great Fire of London, after a drought beginning 27 June (2-6 Sep)
121	1668	1668: British East India Company British East India Company obtains control of Bombay 1668: Reflecting telescope Newton constructs reflecting telescope
122	1669	31 May 1669: Last entry in Pepys's diary Last entry in Pepys's diary
123	1670	26 May 1670: Secret Treaty of Dover King Charles II and King Louis XIV of France sign the Secret Treaty of Dover. The Treaty was a treaty between England and France signed at Dover on June 1[1] in 1670. It required France to assist England in the king's aim that it would rejoin the Roman Catholic Church and England to assist France in its war of conquest against the Dutch Republic.
124	1671	9 May 1671: Crown Jewels Thomas Blood caught stealing the Crown Jewels
125	1672	1672: High Court of Justiciary High Court of Justiciary established in Scotland 1672: War with Holland War with Holland (to 1674) - British Army increased to 10,000 men
126	1673	1673: First Test Act First Test Act deprives British Catholics and Non-conformists of Public Office
127	1674	10 Nov 1674: Treaty of Westminster Treaty of Westminster - Netherlands cedes New Netherlands (on the eastern coast of North America) to Britain
128	1675	1675: Whig party Beginning of Whig party under Shaftsbury 1675: Rebuilding of St Paul's Rebuilding of St Paul's started by Wren (completed 1710) 4 Mar 1675: Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed appointed first Astronomer Royal of England 10 Aug 1675: Royal Greenwich Observatory Building of Royal Greenwich Observatory started
129	1676	1676: Compton Census Compton Census, named after its initiator Henry Compton, Bishop of London, was intended to discover the number of Anglican conformists, Roman Catholic recusants and Protestant dissenters in England and Wales from enquiries made in individual parishes
130	1677	1677: Lee's Collection Lee's Collection of Names of Merchants in London' published
131	1678	1678: Extension of Test Act Extension of Test Act to peers
132	1679	1679: Tories Tories first so named 27 May 1679: Habeas Corpus Habeas Corpus Act becomes law in England - (later repealed from time to time)
133	1680	1680: London Penny Post William Dockwra(y) begins his London Penny Post 1680: Dodo becomes extinct in Dodo becomes extinct in Mauritius through over-hunting
134	1681	1681: Second Test Act Second Test Act (against non-conformists) passed by Westminster Parliament 1681: Oil lighting Oil lighting first used in London streets
135	1682	1682: Pennsylvania founded Pennsylvania founded by William Penn 1682: Library of Advocates founded Library of Advocates founded in Edinburgh - later National Library of Scotland 1682: Halley's Comet Halley observes the comet which bears his name
136	1683	1683: Wild boar become extinct Wild boar become extinct in Britain 6 Jun 1683: Ashmolean Museum opened Ashmolean Museum opened at Oxford - first museum in Britain
137	1685	1685: James the Second James the Second (1685-1689, died 1701) - Monmouth rebellion and battle of Sedgemoor - British Army raised to 20,000 men 1685: Invasion of Scotland Earl of Argyll's Invasion of Scotland 1685: Judge Jeffreys Judge Jeffreys and the Bloody Assizes - 320 executed, 800 transported
138	1686	1686: Release of all prisoners Release of all prisoners held for their religious beliefs
139	1687	4 Apr 1687: Declaration of Indulgence James II issues the Declaration of Indulgence, suspending laws against Catholics and non-conformists 5 Jul 1687: Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica' Newton published his Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica' - written in Latin
140	1688	1688: British Army British Army raised to 40,000 1688: Bill of Rights Bill of Rights limits the powers of the monarchy over parliament 1688: Hearth Tax abolished Hearth Tax abolished 1688: Mutiny Act Mutiny Act. This act made desertion, mutiny, and sedition of officers and soldiers crimes which were triable by court-martial and punishable by death. Feb 1688: Edward Lloyd's Coffee House opens Edward Lloyd's Coffee House opens - later became Lloyd's of London Nov 1688: The Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution: James II abdicates 5 Nov 1688: William of Orange William of Orange lands at Torbay Dec 1688—28 Jul 1689: Siege of Londonderry Siege of Londonderry (began Dec 1688; ended 28 Jul 1689)
141	1689	1689: Devonport dockyard established Devonport naval dockyard established 13 Feb 1689: William III and Mary II William III and Mary II, daughter of James II, jointly take the throne (only William, however, has regal power) 12 Mar 1689: Deposed James VII & II flees to Ireland Deposed James VII & II flees to Ireland - defeated at the Battle of the Boyne (1 Jul 1690) 24 May 1689: Toleration Act Toleration Act passed for Protestant non-conformists 27 Jul 1689: Battle of Killiecrankie Battle of Killiecrankie in Scotland - Jacobites defeated Government troops but at high cost 16 Dec 1689: Bill of Rights Bill of Rights passed by Parliament, ending King's divine right to raise taxes or wage war
142	1690	20 May 1690: Act of Grace England passes Act of Grace, forgiving Roman Catholic followers of James II
143	1692	1692: Land Tax introduced Land Tax introduced - originally designed as an annual tax on personal estate, public offices and land. For practical purposes, however, assessors tended to avoid assessing items of wealth other than landed property so that it became known as the Land Tax. 1692: Fench Invasion Plans French intention to invade England came to nothing 13 Feb 1692: The massacre of Glencoe The massacre of Glencoe - Clan Campbell sides with King William and murders members of Clan McDonald
144	1693	4 Aug 1693: Champagne Date traditionally ascribed to Dom Pierre Perignon's invention of Champagne
145	1694	1694: National Debt National Debt came into effect in England 1694: Stamp Duties Stamp Duties introduced into Britain from Holland 1694: Mary II Mary II death leaves William III as sole ruler 1694: Triennial Act Triennial Act, new Parliamentary elections every three years 1694: Poll Tax Scotland: Poll Tax imposed on all over sixteen, except the destitute and insane (-1699) 27 Jul 1694: Bank of England founded Bank of England founded by William Paterson (a Scot)
146	1695	1695: Freedom of Press Freedom of Press in England granted 1695: Bank of Scotland Bank of Scotland founded 1695: Act of Parliament Act of Parliament imposes a fine on all who fail to inform the parish minister of the birth of a child (repealed 1706) 1695: Start of Dissenters' lists Start of Dissenters' lists in parish registers - children born but not christened in the parish church - some were named 'Papist' and others 'Protestants'
147	1697	2 Dec 1697: Opening of St Paul's Cathedral Official opening of St Paul's Cathedral
148	1698	1698: Steam Engine Invention of steam engine by Capt Thomas Savery 1698: Darien Expedition Darien Expedition: a disastrous attempt to establish a Scots settlement in Panama 1698: Duties (taxes) on entries in parish registers Duties (taxes) on entries in parish registers - repealed after five years 4 Jan 1698: Palace of Whitehall Most of the Palace of Whitehall in London destroyed by fire 14 Nov 1698: Eddystone Lighthouse first lit Eddystone Lighthouse (Henry Winstanley's) first lit; completed 10 days earlier
149	1700	1700: Population Population in England and Scotland approx 7.5 million
150	1701	1701: Act of Settlement Act of Settlement bars Catholics from the British throne 23 May 1701: Captain Kidd hanged After being convicted of piracy and murdering William Moore, Captain William Kidd hanged in London
151	1702	8 Mar 1702: Queen Anne Anne Stuart becomes Queen 11 Mar 1702: The Daily Courant First English daily newspaper The Daily Courant (till 1735)
152	1703	4 Aug 1703: British take Gibraltar British take Gibraltar 24 Nov 1703—2 Dec 1703: Most violent storms of the millennium Climate: Most violent storms of the millennium cause vast damage across southern England - about a third of Britain's merchant fleet lost, and Eddystone lighthouse destroyed on 27 November (Nov 24 - Dec 2)
153	1704	1704: Penal Code enacted Penal Code enacted - Catholics barred from voting, education and the military 13 Aug 1704: Battle of Blenheim The Battle of Blenheim (referred to in some countries as the Second Battle of Höchstädt), fought on 13 August 1704, was a major battle of the War of the Spanish Succession.[1] Louis XIV of France sought to knock Emperor Leopold out of the war by seizing Vienna, the Habsburg capital, and gain a favourable peace settlement.
154	1705	1705: Thomas Newcomen First workable steam pumping engine devised by Thomas Newcomen (some say c1710 or 1711) 1705: Isaac Newton knighted Isaac Newton knighted (for his work at the Royal Mint)
155	1706	1706: First evening newspaper First evening newspaper The Evening Post' issued in London
156	1707	16 Jan 1707: Union with Scotland Union with Scotland - Scots agree to send 16 peers and 45 MPs to English Parliament in return for full trading privileges - Scottish Parliament meets for the last time in March 1 May 1707: The Kingdom of Great Britain established English and Scottish Parliaments united by an Act of the English Parliament - The Kingdom of Great Britain established - largest free-trade area in Europe at the time
157	1708	1708: First Jacobite rising First Jacobite rising in Scotland 1708: Earliest Artillery Muster Rolls Earliest Artillery Muster Rolls
158	1709	1709: Second Eddystone lighthouse completed Second Eddystone lighthouse completed 1709: First Copyright Act passed First Copyright Act passed 1709: bread riots in Britain Bad harvests throughout Europe - bread riots in Britain 2 Feb 1709: Alexander Selkirk rescued Alexander Selkirk rescued from shipwreck on a desert island, inspiring the book Robinson Crusoe (published in 1719) by Daniel Defoe
159	1710	1710: Tax on Apprentice Indentures Tax on Apprentice Indentures introduced
160	1711	1711: Incorporation of South Sea Company Incorporation of South Sea Company, in London. The South Sea Company was a British joint-stock company founded in 1711, created as a public-private partnership to consolidate and reduce the cost of national debt. The company was also granted a monopoly to trade with South America, hence its name. 11 Aug 1711: First meeting at Ascot First race meeting at Ascot
161	1712	1712: Soap Tax Imposition of Soap Tax (abolished 1853) 1712: Last trial for witchcraft Last trial for witchcraft in England (Jane Wenham) 1712: Toleration Act passed Toleration Act passed - first relief to non-Anglicans
162	1713	1713: 3,000 coffee houses in London By this year there are some 3,000 coffee houses in London
163	1714	1714: Longitude Act Longitude Act: prize of £20,000 offered to the inventor of a workable method of determining a ship's longitude (won by John Harrison in 1773 for his chronometer). 1714: Schism Act Schism Act, prevents Dissenters from being schoolmasters in England 1714: Oath of Allegiance Landholders forced to take the Oath of Allegiance and renounce Roman Catholicism 1 Aug 1714: Queen Anne Stuart dies Queen Anne Stuart dies - George I Hanover becomes king (1714-1727).
164	1715	1715: Second Jacobite rebellion Second Jacobite rebellion in Scotland, under the Old Pretender ('The Fifteen') 1 Aug 1715: Riot Act passed Riot Act passed
165	1716	1716: Septennial Act The Septennial Act of Britain leads to greater electoral corruption - general elections now to be held once every 7 years instead of every 3 (until 1911) 1716: Frost Fair Climate: Thames frozen so solid that a spring tide lifted the ice bodily 13ft without interrupting the frost fair
166	1717	1717: First Masonic Lodge First Masonic Lodge opens in London 1717: Golden Guinea Value of the golden guinea fixed at 21 shillings
167	1719	1719: Third Jacobite rising Third abortive Jacobite rising
168	1720	1720: South Sea Bubble South Sea Bubble, a stock-market crash on Exchange Alley - government assumes control of National Debt 1720: Manufacturing towns Manufacturing towns start to increase in population - rise of new wealth 1720: Wallpaper Wallpaper becomes fashionable in England
169	1721	2 Apr 1721: Robert Walpole Robert Walpole (Whig) becomes first Prime Minister (to 1742)
170	1722	1722: Last trial for witchcraft in Scotland Last trial for witchcraft in Scotland 1722: Knatchbull's Act The Workhouse Test Act also known as the General Act or Knatchbull's Act was poor relief legislation passed by the British government by Sir Edward Knatchbull in 1723. The "workhouse test" was that a person who wanted to receive poor relief had to enter a workhouse and undertake a set amount of work. The test was intended to prevent irresponsible claims on a parish's poor rate.
171	1723	1723: Excise tax Excise tax levied for coffee, tea, and chocolate 1723: Waltham Black Acts The Waltham Black Acts add 50 capital offences to the penal code - people could be sentenced to death for theft and poaching - repealed in 1827
172	1724	1724: Gin drinking Rapid growth of gin drinking in England 1724: Longman's founded Longman's founded (Britain's oldest publishing house)
173	1726	1726: First circulating library First circulating library opened in Edinburgh 1726: Invention of the chronometer A marine chronometer is a clock that is precise and accurate enough to be used as a portable time standard; it can therefore be used to determine longitude by means of celestial navigation. When first developed in the 18th century, it was a major technical achievement, as accurate knowledge of the time over a long sea voyage is necessary for navigation, lacking electronic or communications aids. The first true chronometer was the life work of one man, John Harrison, spanning 31 years of persistent experimentation and test that revolutionized naval navigation enabling the Age of Discovery and Colonialism to accelerate
174	1727	1727: Board of Manufacturers established Board of Manufacturers established in Scotland 11 Jun 1727: George I dies George I dies - George II Hanover becomes king
175	1729	9 Nov 1729: Treaty of Seville Treaty of Seville signed between Britain, France and Spain - Britain maintained control of Port Mahon and Gibraltar
176	1730	1730: Irish famine Irish famine
177	1731	1731: Invention of seed drill Invention of seed drill by Jethro Tull [others say 1701] 1731: Invention of sextant Invention of sextant by John Hadley
178	1732	7 Dec 1732: Opera House opens Covent Garden Opera House opens
179	1733	1733: Excise crisis Excise crisis: Sir Robert Walpole wanted to add excise tax to tobacco and wine - Pulteney and Bolingbroke oppose the excise tax 1733: Latin in parish registers Law forbidding the use of Latin in parish registers generally obeyed - some continued in Latin for a few years 1733: John Kay invents the flying shuttle John Kay invents the flying shuttle, revolutionised the weaving industry
180	1734	1734: Kent's Directory Kent's Directory published
181	1737	1737: Licensing Act Licensing Act restricts the number of London theatres and subects plays to censorship of the Lord Chamberlain (till 1950s)
182	1738	24 May 1738: John Wesley John Wesley has his conversion experience
183	1739	1739: Methodist revival Wesley and Whitefield commence great Methodist revival 7 Apr 1739: Dick Turpin Dick Turpin, highwayman, hanged at York 23 Oct 1739: War of Jenkins' Ear War of Jenkins' Ear starts: Robert Walpole reluctantly declares war on Spain
184	1741	1741: Benjamin Ingham Benjamin Ingham founded the Moravian Methodists or Inghamites - Earliest Moravian registers
185	1742	1742: England goes to war with Spain England goes to war with Spain - incited by William Pitt the Elder (Earl of Chatham) for the sake of trade
186	1743	16 Jun 1743: Battle of Dettingen (June 27 in Gregorian calendar): Battle of Dettingen - last time a British sovereign (George II) led troops in battle
187	1744	1744: God Save the King Tune 'God Save the King' makes its appearance
188	1745	1745: Jacobite rebellion in Scotland Jacobite rebellion in Scotland ('The Forty-five') 19 Aug 1745: Bonnie Prince Charlie Bonnie Prince Charlie (The Young Pretender) lands in the western Highlands - raises support among Episcopalian and Catholic clans - The Pretender's army invades Perth, Edinburgh, and England as far as Derby
189	1746	16 Apr 1746: Battle of Culloden Battle of Culloden - last battle fought in Britain - 5,000 Highlanders routed by the Duke of Cumberland and 9,000 loyalists Scots - Young Pretender Charles flees to Continent, ending Jacobite hopes forever - the wearing of the kilt prohibited
190	1747	1747: Abolition of Heritable Jurisdictions Abolition of Heritable Jurisdictions in Scotland. It abolished the traditional rights of jurisdiction afforded to a Scottish clan chief. 1747: Act for Pacification Act for Pacification of the Highlands
191	1749	27 Apr 1749: Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks First performance of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks (in Green Park, London)
192	1750	Feb 1750: Earthquakes in London and the Home Counties Series of earthquakes in London and the Home Counties cause panic with predictions of an apocalypse (Feb/Mar) 16 Nov 1750: Westminster Bridge opened Original Westminster Bridge opened (replaced in 1862 due to subsidence)
193	1751	Mar 1751: Chesterfield's Calendar Act Chesterfield's Calendar Act passed - royal assent to the bill was given on 22 May 1751 - It reformed the calendar of England and British Dominions so that a new year began on 1 January rather than 25 March (Lady Day) and would run according to the Gregorian calendar, as used in most of western Europe.
194	1752	1752: Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin invents the lightning conductor 3 Sep 1752: Julian Calendar dropped Julian Calendar dropped and Gregorian Calendar adopted in England and Scotland, making this Sep 14
195	1753	1753: British Museum Private collection of Sir Hans Sloane forms the basis of the British Museum 1 May 1753: Species Plantarum Publication of 'Species Plantarum' by Linnaeus and the formal start date of plant taxonomy
196	1754	1754: Hardwicke Act Hardwicke Act (1753): Banns to be called, and Printed Marriage Register forms to be used - Quakers & Jews exempt 1754: Cow Inn at Haslemere In the General Election, the Cow Inn at Haslemere, Surrey caused a national scandal by subdividing the freehold to create eight votes instead of one 1754: British troops First British troops not belonging to the East India Company despatched to India
197	1755	1755: Dr Samuel Johnson Publication of Dictionary of the English Language' by Dr Samuel Johnson 1755—1827: Canal construction began Period of canal construction began in Britain (till 1827) 2 Dec 1755: Eddystone Lighthouse destroyed Second Eddystone Lighthouse destroyed by fire
198	1756	15 May 1756: Seven Years War The Seven Years War with France (Pitt's trade war) begins Jun 1756: Black Hole of Calcutta Black Hole of Calcutta - 146 Britons imprisoned, most die according to British sources
199	1757	1757: Empire of India The foundation laid for the Empire of India 14 Mar 1757: Admiral Byng Admiral Byng shot at Portsmouth for failing to relieve Minorca 23 Jun 1757: battle of Plassey The Nawab of Bengal tries to expel the British, but is defeated at the battle of Plassey (Palashi, June 23) - the East India Company forces are led by Robert Clive
200	1759	1759: Methodist chapels Wesley builds 356 Methodist chapels 15 Jan 1759: British Museum British Museum opens to the public in London 16 Oct 1759: Third Eddystone Lighthouse Third Eddystone Lighthouse (John Smeaton's) completed
201	1760	1760: Carron Iron Works Carron Iron Works in operation in Scotland 5 May 1760: First use of hangman's drop First use of hangman's drop 25 Oct 1760: George II dies George II dies - George III Hanover, his grandson, becomes king. The date conventionally marks the start of the so-called first Industrial Revolution'
202	1761	16 Jan 1761: British capture Pondicherry British capture Pondicherry, India from the French
203	1762	1762: Cigars introduced Cigars introduced into Britain from Cuba
204	1763	10 Feb 1763: Treaty of Paris Treaty of Paris - The Treaty of Paris, also known as the Peace of Paris and the Treaty of 1763, was signed on 10 February 1763 by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement, after Britain's victory over France and Spain during the Seven Years' War.
205	1764	1764: Lloyd's Register of shipping Lloyd's Register of shipping first prepared 1764: Practice of numbering houses Practice of numbering houses introduced to London 1764: James Hargeaves James Hargeaves invents the Spinning Jenny. The device reduced the amount of work needed to produce yarn. 1764: Mozart Mozart produces his first symphony at age eight
206	1765	1765: The potato The potato becomes the most popular food in Europe 22 Mar 1765: Stamp Act passed Stamp Act passed - imposed a tax on publications and legal documents in the American colonies (repealed the following year)
207	1766	1766: National records on rainfall start Start of 'composite' national records on rainfall in the UK 5 Dec 1766: Christie's auction house Christie's auction house founded in London by James Christie
208	1767	1767: James Watt Newcomen's steam pumping engine perfected by James Watt
209	1768	9 Jan 1768: Philip Astley starts his circus Philip Astley starts his circus in London 6 Dec 1768: Encyclopaedia Britannica The first edition of the 'Encyclopaedia Britannica' published in Edinburgh by William Smellie
210	1769	1769: Arkwright invents water frame Arkwright invents water frame (textile production) 1769: New Zealand Capt James Cook maps the coast of New Zealand 6 Sep 1769: First Shakespeare festival David Garrick organises first Shakespeare festival at Stratford-upon-Avon
211	1770	1770: Clyde Trust Clyde Trust created to convert the River Clyde, then an insignificant river, into a major thoroughfare for maritime communications 28 Apr 1770: Botany Bay Capt James Cook lands in Australia (Botany Bay) ? Aug 21: formally claims Australia for Britain
212	1771	1771: Right to report Parliamentary debates Right to report Parliamentary debates established in England
213	1772	1772: First Travellers' Cheques First Travellers' Cheques issued by the London Credit Exchange Company 1772: Morning Post first published 'Morning Post' first published (until 1937) 14 May 1772: Judge Mansfield Judge Mansfield rules that there is no legal basis for slavery in England
214	1774	13 Sep 1774: Easter Island Cook arrives on Easter Island
215	1775	19 Apr 1775: Battle of Lexington Battle of Lexington: first action in American War of Independence (1775- 1783)
216	1776	1776: Somerset House Somerset House in London becomes the repository of records of population 1776: First commercial steam engine Watt and Boulton produce their first commercial steam engine 4 Jul 1776: American Declaration of Independence American Declaration of Independence 7 Sep 1776: First submarine attack First attack on a warship by a submarine - David Bushnell's 'Turtle' attacked HMS Eagle in New York harbour. The attack was perhaps spectacular (a charge did detonate beneath the ship) but was nevertheless unsuccessful. 'Turtle' was a one man - man-powered affair
217	1777	1777: Circular saw Samuel Miller of Southampton patents the circular saw.
218	1779	1779: Marc Isambard Brunel Marc Isambard Brunel opens the first steamdriven sawmill at Chatham Dockyard in Kent 1779: First iron bridge built First iron bridge built, over the Severn by John Wilkinson 1779: First Spinning Mills First Spinning Mills operational in Scotland 14 Feb 1779: Capt James Cook Capt James Cook killed on Hawaii 23 Sep 1779: Naval engagement between Britain and USA Naval engagement between Britain and USA off Flamborough Head
219	1780	1780: Male Servants Tax Male Servants Tax 1780: English Reform Movement The English Reform Movement - until now, only landowners and tenants (freeholders with 40 shillings per year or more) allowed to vote, and in open poll books 1780: Quiz About this time the word 'Quiz' entered the language, said to have been invented as a wager by Mr Daly, a Dublin theatre manager 4 May 1780: The Derby First Derby run at Epsom (some say 2nd June) 2 Jun 1780—8 Jun 1780: The Gordon Riots The Gordon Riots - Parliament passes a Roman Catholic relief measure and for days, London is at the mercy of a mob and destruction is widespread
220	1782	1782: The Relief of the Poor Act 1782 Thomas Gilbert's Act establishes outdoor poor relief - the way of life of the poor beginning to alter due to industrialisation - New factories in rapidly expanding towns required a workforce that would adjust to new work patterns 1782: James Watt patents his steam engine James Watt patents his steam engine
221	1783	1783: Parish Register Duty payable on Parish Register entries (3d per entry - repealed 1794) - led to a fall in entries! 3 Nov 1783: Public execution Last public execution at Tyburn in London (John Austin, a highwayman)
222	1784	1784: Pitt's India Act Pitt's India Act - the Crown (as opposed to officers of the East India Company) has power to guide Indian politics 1784: Wesley Wesley breaks with the Church of England 1784: St Andrews First golf club founded at St Andrews 1784: Threshing Machine Invention of threshing machine by Andrew Meikle 2 Aug 1784: 1st Mail Coaches First mail coaches in England (4pm Bristol / 8am London)
223	1785	1785: Sunday School Society founded Sunday School Society founded to educate poor children (by 1851, enrols more than 2 million) 1 Jan 1785: The Times John Walter publishes first edition of The Times (called The Daily Universal Register for 3 years)
224	1787	1787: Marylebone Cricket Club MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) established at Thomas Lord's ground in London
225	1788	1788: 1st Steamboat First steamboat demonstrated in Scotland 1788: Chimney Sweepers Law passed requiring that chimney sweepers be a minimum of 8 years old (not enforced) 1788: First slave carrying act First slave carrying act, the Dolben Act of 1788, regulates the slave trade - stipulates more humane conditions on slave ships 1788: Regency Crisis King George III's mental illness occasions the Regency Crisis - Edmund Burke and Charles James Fox attack ministry of William Pitt - trying to obtain full regal powers for the Prince of Wales 1788: Gibbon completes 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' Gibbon completes 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' 26 Jan 1788: First convicts arrive in New South Wales First convicts (and free settlers) arrive in New South Wales (left Portsmouth 13 May 1787) ? the 'First Fleet'; eleven ships commanded by Captain Arthur Phillip
226	1789	28 Apr 1789: Mutiny on HMS Bounty Mutiny on HMS Bounty - Captain William Bligh and 18 sailors are set adrift and the rebel crew ends up on Pitcairn Island
227	1790	1790: Forth and Clyde Canal opened Forth and Clyde Canal opened in Scotland
228	1791	1791: John Bell, printer, abandons the long 's' John Bell, printer, abandons the long 's' (the 's' that looks like an 'f') 1791: Establishment of the Ordnance Survey Establishment of the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain 4 Dec 1791: First publication of The Observer First publication of The Observer - world's oldest Sunday newspaper
229	1792	1792: Repression in Britain Repression in Britain (restrictions on freedom of the press) - Fox gets Libel Act through Parliament, requiring a jury and not a judge to determine libel 1792: Boyle's Street Directory Boyle's Street Directory published 1792: Coal-gas lighting invented Coal-gas lighting invented by William Murdock, an Ayrshire Scot 1 Oct 1792: Introduction of Money Orders Introduction of Money Orders in Britain 1 Dec 1792: King's Proclamation King's Proclamation drawing out the British militia
230	1793	11 Feb 1793: Britain-French war Britain declares war on France (1793-1802) 15 Apr 1793: £5 notes issued £5 notes first issued by the Bank of England
231	1794	1794: Abolition of Parish Register duties Abolition of Parish Register duties 6 Oct 1794: Lord Justice Eyre The prosecutor for Britain, Lord Justice Eyre, charges reformers with High Treason - he argued that, since reform of parliament would lead to revolution and revolution to executing the King, the desire for reform endangered the King's life and was therefore treasonous
232	1795	1795: The Famine Year The Famine Year 1795: Foundation of the Orange Order Foundation of the Orange Order 1795: Speenhamland Act Speenhamland Act proclaims that the Parish is responsible for bringing up the labourer's wage to subsistence level - towards the end of the eighteenth century, the number of poor and unemployed increased dramatically - price increases during the Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815) far outstripped wage rises - many small farmers were bankrupted by the move towards enclosures and became landless labourers - their wages were often pitifully low 1795: The Gagging Acts Pitt and Grenville introduce 'The Gagging Acts' or 'Two Bills' (the Seditious Meetings and Treasonable Practices Bills) - outlawed the mass meeting and the political lecture. 1795: Consumption of lime juice Consumption of lime juice made compulsory in Royal Navy
233	1796	1796: Pitt's Reign of Terror Pitt's 'Reign of Terror': More treason trials - leading radicals emigrate 1796: Legacy Tax Legacy Tax on sums over £20 excluding those to wives, children, parents and grandparents 14 May 1796: Smallpox Dr Edward Jenner gave first vaccination for smallpox in England
234	1797	1797: Bank of England suspends cash payments England in Crisis, Bank of England suspends cash payments 1797: Mutinies in the Roayl Navy Mutinies in the Roayl Navy at Spithead and Nore 1797: Tax on newspapers increased Tax on newspapers (including cheap, topical journals) increased to repress radical publications 1797: First copper pennies The first copper pennies were produced ('cartwheels') by application of steam power to the coining press 22 Feb 1797: French invade Fishguard French invade Fishguard, Wales; last time UK invaded; all the French were captured 2 days later 26 Feb 1797: First £1 notes First £1 (and £2) notes issued by Bank of England
235	1798	1798: Vaccination First planned human experiment with vaccination, to test theories of Edward Jenner Feb 1798: The Irish Rebellion The Irish Rebellion; 100,000 peasants revolt; approximately 25,000 die - Irish Parliament abolished (Feb-Oct) 1 Aug 1798: Battle of the Nile Battle of the Nile (won by Nelson)
236	1799	1799: Royal Military College Sandhurst Foundation of Royal Military College Sandhurst by the Duke of York 1799: Foundation of the Royal Institution The Royal Institution was founded in 1799 by the leading British scientists of the age, including Henry Cavendish and its first president, George Finch, the 9th Earl of Winchilsea, for "diffusing the knowledge, and facilitating the general introduction, of useful mechanical inventions and improvements; and for teaching, by courses of philosophical lectures and experiments, the application of science to the common purposes of life." 9 Jan 1799: Income tax Pitt brings in 10% income tax, as a wartime financial measure 12 Jul 1799: Combination Laws 'Combination Laws' in Britain against political associations and combinations 15 Jul 1799: Rosetta Stone 'Rosetta Stone' discovered in Egypt made possible the deciphering (in 1822) of Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics
237	1800	1800: First electric light produced by Sir Humphrey Davy 1800: Richard Trevithick Use of high pressure steam pioneered by Richard Trevithick (1771-1833) 1800: Royal College of Surgeons Royal College of Surgeons founded 1800: Infra-red light discovered Herschel discovers infra-red light 1800: first electrical battery Volta makes first electrical battery 2 Jul 1800: union of Great Britain and Ireland Parliamentary union of Great Britain and Ireland
238	1801	1801: Grand Union Canal Grand Union Canal opens in England 1801: Elgin Marbles Elgin Marbles brought from Athens to London 1 Jan 1801: Union Jack Union Jack becomes the official British flag 10 Mar 1801: First census First census puts the population of England and Wales at 9,168,000. Population of Britain nearly 11 million (75% rural) 24 Dec 1801: First self-propelled passenger carrying road loco Richard Trevithick built the first self-propelled passenger carrying road loco
239	1802	25 Mar 1802: Treaty of Amiens Treaty of Amiens signed by Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. The 'Peace of Amiens' as it was known brought a temporary peace of 14 months during the Napoleonic Wars one of its most important cultural effects was that travel and correspondence across the English Channel became possible again
240	1803	1803: Poaching Poaching made a Capital offense in England if capture resisted 1803: Richard Trevithick Richard Trevithick built another steam carriage and ran it in London as the first self-propelled vehicle in the capital and the first London bus 1803: Semaphore signaling Semaphore signaling perfected by Admiral Popham 30 Apr 1803: Louisiana Purchase Louisiana Purchase: Napoleon sells French possessions in America to United States 12 May 1803: Napoleonic Wars Peace of Amiens ends - resumption of war with France - The Napoleonic Wars (1803-18l5) 23 Jul 1803: First public railway opens First public railway opens (Surrey Iron Railway, 9 miles from Wandsworth to Croydon, horse-drawn)
241	1804	1804: Australia Matthew Flinders recommends that the newly discovered country, New Holland, be renamed 'Australia' 21 Feb 1804: Penydarren Railway Richard Trevithick runs his railway engine on the Penydarren Railway (9.5 miles from Pen-y-Darren to Abercynon in South Wales) this hauled a train with 10 tons of iron and 70 passengers. It was commemorated by the Royal Mint in 2004 in the form of a £2 coin. 3 Mar 1804: The Royal Horticultural Society John Wedgwood (eldest son of the potter Josiah Wedgwood) founds The Royal Horticultural Society 2 Dec 1804: Napoleon Napoleon declares himself Emperor of the French 12 Dec 1804: Spain declares war Spain declares war on Britain
242	1805	1805: London docks opened The London docks were constructed in Wapping downstream from the City of London between 1799 and 1815, at a cost exceeding £5½ million 21 Oct 1805: Battle of Trafalgar Admiral Nelson's victory at Trafalgar 2 Dec 1805: Battle of Austerlitz Battle of Austerlitz; Napoleon defeats Austrians and Russians
243	1806	1806: Dartmoor Prison opened Dartmoor Prison opened (built by French prisoners) 9 Jan 1806: Nelson buried Nelson buried in St Paul's cathedral, London
244	1807	25 Mar 1807: Act prohibiting slavery Parliament passes Act prohibiting slavery and the importation of slaves from 1808, but does not prohibit colonial slavery
245	1808	1808: Gas lighting Gas lighting in London streets 13 Jul 1808: Hot Wednesday 'Hot Wednesday' - temperature of 101F in the shade recorded in London 20 Dec 1808: Beethoven Beethoven premieres his Fifth Symphony, Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto and Choral Fantasy together in Vienna
246	1809	12 Feb 1809: Charles Darwin Birth of Charles Darwin 18 Sep 1809: Royal Opera House Royal Opera House opens in London
247	1810	1810: John McAdam John McAdam begins road construction in England, giving his name to the process of road metalling
248	1811	5 Feb 1811: Prince of Wales Prince of Wales (future George IV) made Regent after George III deemed insane
249	1812	11 May 1812: Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval, assassinated Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval, assassinated ? shot as he entered the House of Commons by a bankrupt Liverpool broker, John Bellingham, who was subsequently hanged 18 Jun 1812: Start of American 'War of 1812' Start of American 'War of 1812' (to 1814) against England and Canada Oct 1812: Napoleon retreats Napoleon retreats from Moscow with catastrophic losses
250	1813	1813: First recorded '12th of July' sectarian riots in Belfast Ireland: First recorded '12th of July' sectarian riots in Belfast 1813: Jane Austen wrote 'Pride and Prejudice' Jane Austen wrote 'Pride and Prejudice'
251	1814	1 Jan 1814: Invasion of France Invasion of France by Allies 6 Apr 1814: Napoleon abdicates Napoleon abdicates and is exiled to Elba 13 Aug 1814: Convention of London signed Convention of London signed, a treaty between the UK and the Dutch 24 Aug 1814: The British burn the White House The British burn the White House 29 Nov 1814: The Times printed by a mechanical apparatus 'The Times' first printed by a 'mechanical apparatus' (at 1100 sheets per hour)
252	1815	1815: Trial by Jury established in Scotland Trial by Jury established in Scotland 1815: Davy safety lamp Davy develops the safety lamp for miners 18 Jun 1815: The Battle of Waterloo The Battle of Waterloo: Napoleon defeated and exiled to St. Helena
253	1816	1816: Income tax abolished Income tax abolished 1816: Silver coins For the first time British silver coins were produced with an intrinsic value substantially below their face value - the first official 'token' coinage 1816: year without a summer Climate: the 'year without a summer' - followed a volcanic explosion of the mountain 'Tambora' in Indonesia the previous year the biggest volcanic explosion in 10000 years 1816: Large scale emigration to North America Large scale emigration to North America, Trans-Atlantic packet service begins
254	1817	1817: March of the Manchester Blanketeers March of the Manchester Blanketeers; Habeas Corpus suspended 1817: Constable painted 'Flatford Mill' Constable painted 'Flatford Mill'
255	1818	1818: Manchester cotton spinners' strike Manchester cotton spinners' strike 20 Oct 1818: 'Convention of 1818' 'Convention of 1818' signed between the United States and the United Kingdom which, among other things, settled the US-Canada border on the 49th parallel for most of its length
256	1819	1819: the Dandy Horse becomes popular Primitive bicycle, the Dandy Horse, becomes popular 1819: Britain returns to gold standard Britain returns to gold standard 1819: Singapore founded Singapore founded by Sir Stamford Raffles May 1819: SS 'Savannah' SS 'Savannah' first steamship to cross Atlantic reaching Liverpool 20 June 1819. Voyage used both sail & steam 16 Aug 1819: Peterloo Massacre at Manchester Peterloo Massacre at Manchester, a large, orderly group of 60,000 meets at St. Peter's Fields, Manchester and demand Parliamentary Reform. Mounted troops charge on the meeting, killing 11 people and and maiming many others.
257	1820	1820: Cato Street Conspiracy Cato Street Conspiracy - plot to assissinate British cabinet 1820: Spanish Inquisition Abolition of the Spanish Inquisition 29 Jan 1820: George IV Accession of George IV, previously Prince Regent 1 Aug 1820: Regent's Canal opens Regent's Canal in London opens 17 Aug 1820: Queen Caroline Trial of Queen Caroline to prove her infidelities so George IV can divorce her - George tries to secure a Bill of Pains and Penalties against her -Caroline is virtually acquitted because bill passed by such a small majority of Lords
258	1821	1821: Principles of electro-magnetic rotation Faraday publishes 'Principles of electro-magnetic rotation' 1821: The Hay Wain Constable paints 'The Hay Wain' 5 May 1821: Death of Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte dies on St Helena
259	1822	14 Jun 1822: Charles Babbage Charles Babbage proposes a difference engine in a paper to the Royal Astronomical Society
260	1823	1823: Peel begins penal reforms Peel begins penal reforms - death penalty abolished for over 100 crimes 1823: Rugby Football Rugby Football 'invented' at Rugby School 1823: MacIntosh Rubberised waterproof material produced by MacIntosh 2 Dec 1823: US President James Monroe US President James Monroe delivers a speech establishing American neutrality in future European conflicts (the 'Monroe Doctrine')
261	1824	1824: RSPCA RSPCA established 1824: Portland cement Portland cement patented 4 Mar 1824: (RNLI) founded Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) founded (called the 'National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck' until 1854) 10 May 1824: National Gallery opens National Gallery in London opens to the public
262	1825	27 Sep 1825: Stockton to Darlington Railway Stockton to Darlington Railway opens - world's first service of locomotive-hauled passenger trains
263	1827	1827: Ohm's Law Ohm's Law published
264	1828	25 Oct 1828: St Katharine Docks St Katharine Docks in London opened (designed by Thomas Telford)
265	1829	1829: London Metropolitan Police Force London Metropolitan Police Force formed, nicknamed 'Bobbies' after Sir Robert Peel 1829: Louis Braille Louis Braille invents his system of finger-reading for the blind 10 Jun 1829: Oxford/Cambridge Boat Race First Oxford/Cambridge Boat Race 6 Oct 1829: George Stephenson's Rocket George Stephenson's Rocket wins the Rainhill trials (it was the only one to complete the trial!)
266	1830	1830: Uprisings and agitation across Europe Uprisings and agitation across Europe: the Netherlands are split into Holland and Belgium Jul 1830: Fall of Charles X Revolution in France, fall of Charles X and the Bourbons - Louis Philippe (the Citizen King) on the throne 15 Sep 1830: Liverpool & Manchester Railway opened George Stephenson's Liverpool & Manchester Railway opened by the Duke of Wellington - first mail carried by rail, and first death on the railway as William Huskisson, a leading politician, is run over!
267	1831	1831: A list of parish registers compiled A list of all parish registers dating prior to 1813 compiled 1 Jun 1831: North Magnetic Pole James Clark Ross discovers the North Magnetic Pole 1 Aug 1831: 'New' London Bridge opens 'New' London Bridge opens (replaced 1973) old bridge (which had existed for over 600 years) then demolished
268	1832	1832: Electoral Register Electoral Registers introduced 1832: Electric telegraph invented Electric telegraph invented by Morse 7 Jun 1832: Representation of the People Act Reform Bill passed - Representation of the People Act
269	1833	Jan 1833: Falkland Islands In December 1832, two naval vessels were sent by the United Kingdom to reassert British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands (Spanish: Islas Malvinas), after the United Provinces of South America (part of which later became Argentina) ignored British diplomatic protests over the appointment of Luis Vernet as governor of the Falkland Islands and a dispute over fishing rights. 29 Aug 1833: Factory Act Factory Act forbids employment of children below age of 9
270	1834	1834: Babbage Babbage invents forerunner of the computer 18 Mar 1834: Tolpuddle Martyrs 'Tolpuddle Martyrs' transported (to Australia) for Trades Union activities 1 May 1834: Slavery abolished Slavery abolished in British possessions
271	1835	1835: First railway boom First railway boom period starts in Britain construction of Great Western Railway 25 Dec 1835: Christmas Christmas becomes a national holiday
272	1836	1836: First Potato famine First Potato famine in Ireland 30 Jan 1836: Menai Straits Bridge opened Telford's Menai Straits Bridge opened, considered the world's first modern suspension bridge 25 Feb 1836: Samuel Colt Samuel Colt patented the 'revolver' 6 Mar 1836: Death of Davy Crockett The Alamo falls to Mexican troops - death of Davy Crockett Jul 1836: Arc de Triomphe Inauguration of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
273	1837	1837: Pitman shorthand Pitman introduces his shorthand system 1837: P&O Founded P&O Founded 20 Jun 1837: King William IV dies William IV dies - accession of Queen Victoria (to 1901) 1 Jul 1837: Compulsory registration of Births, Marriages & Deaths in England & Wales Compulsory registration of Births, Marriages & Deaths in England & Wales - Registration Districts were formed covering several parishes; initially they had the same boundaries as the Poor Law boundaries set up in 1834 13 Jul 1837: Buckingham Palace Queen Victoria moves into the first Buckingham Palace 20 Jul 1837: Euston Railway station Euston Railway station opens - first in London
274	1838	28 Jun 1838: Coronation of Queen Victoria Coronation of Queen Victoria at Westminster Abbey
275	1839	1839: First Opium War First Opium War between Britain and China (to 1842) - Britain captures Hong Kong 1839: Kirkpatrick MacMillan Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick MacMillan refines the primitive bicycle adding a mechanical crank drive to the rear wheel,thus creating the first true 'bicycle' in the modern Sense 1839: Charles Goodyear Charles Goodyear invented vulcanized rubber
276	1840	1840: Census Population Act relating to taking of censuses in Britain 1840: Last convicts landed in NSW Last convicts landed in NSW (some say 1842 or 1849, but these probably landed elsewhere) 10 Jan 1840: Penny Postage Uniform Penny Postage introduced nationally
277	1841	1841: Thomas Cook Thomas Cook starts package tours 10 Feb 1841: Penny Red Penny Red replaces Penny Black postage stamp 6 Jun 1841: First full census June 6: First full census in Britain in which all names were recorded(Population 18.5M)
278	1842	1842: Income Tax reintroduced Income Tax reintroduced in Britain 30 Mar 1842: Ether used as an anesthetic Ether used as an anesthetic for the first time (by Dr Crawford Long in America) 29 Aug 1842: Treaty of Nanking Treaty of Nanking - End of First Opium War - Britain gains Hong Kong
279	1843	1843: First Christmas card First Christmas card in England 27 May 1843: Great Hall of Euston station opens The Great Hall of Euston station opened in London 19 Jul 1843: SS Great Britain Brunel's 'Great Britain' launched
280	1844	6 Jun 1844: YMCA founded YMCA founded in London by Sir George Williams
281	1845	1845: Tarmac laid for first time Tarmac laid for first time (in Nottingham) 17 Mar 1845: Rubber band patented The rubber band patented by Stephen Perry
282	1846	10 Sep 1846: Sewing machine is patented The sewing machine is patented by Elias Howe
283	1847	1847: Mormons US Mormons make Salt Lake City their centre Jan 1847: Anesthetic used for the first time in England An anesthetic used for the first time in England (James Simpson used ether to numb the pain of labour)
284	1848	1848: Chewing gum First commercial production of chewing gum 24 Jan 1848: California gold rush Gold found at Sutter's Mill, California - starts the California gold rush 11 Jul 1848: Waterloo station opens Waterloo railway station in London opens
285	1849	1849: Florin introduced Florin(2 shilling coin) introduced as the first step to decimalisation - which finally occurred in 1971!
286	1851	1851: Gold Rush Gold discovered in Australia 1 May 1851: 'Crystal Palace' exhibition Great exhibition of the works of industry of all nations ('Crystal Palace' exhibition) opened in Hyde Park
287	1852	1852: Tasmania Tasmania ceases to be a convict settlement 1852: Wells Fargo Wells Fargo established in USA
288	1853	1853: Vaccination against smallpox Vaccination against smallpox made compulsory in Britain
289	1854	1854: Cigarettes introduced into Britain Cigarettes introduced into Britain 27 Mar 1854: Crimean War Britain declares war on Russia (Crimean War) 25 Oct 1854: charge of the Light Brigade Battle of Balaklava in Crimea (charge of the Light Brigade)
290	1856	1856: End of Crimean War End of Crimean War 29 Jan 1856: Victoria Cross created by Royal Warran Victoria Cross created by Royal Warrant, backdated to 1854 to recognise acts during the Crimean War (first award ceremony 26 June 1857)
291	1857	1857: Transatlantic cable Work starts on the laying of the Transatlantic cable
292	1858	1858: The great stink 'The great stink' - smell of the River Thames forced Parliament to stop work 1858: Royal Opera House Royal Opera House opens in Covent Garden, London
293	1859	25 Apr 1859: Work Started on the Suez canal Work started on building the Suez canal (opened 17 Nov 1869) 4 May 1859: Royal Albert Bridge opened Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge opened at Saltash giving rail link between Devon and Cornwall 24 Nov 1859: The Origin of Species published Charles Darwin publishes 'The Origin of Species'
294	1860	29 Aug 1860: First tram service in Europe starts First tram service in Europe starts in Birkenhead
295	1861	25 May 1861: American Civil War begins American Civil War begins
296	1862	20 Apr 1862: First pasteurisation test First pasteurisation test completed by Louis Pasteur and Claude Bernard
297	1863	1863: Football Association founded Football Association founded (UK) 1863: Broadmoor opens Opening of state institution for criminally insane at Broadmoor, England 10 Jan 1863: London Underground First section of the London Underground Railway opens - In 1855 an Act of Parliament was passed approving the construction of an underground railway between Paddington Station and Farringdon Street via King's Cross which was to be called the Metropolitan Railway.
298	1864	1864: First recorded successful attack by a submarine on a surface ship A man-powered submarine, 'Hunley' sank a Federal steam ship USS Housatonic at the entrance to Charleston harbour in 1864 - the first recorded successful attack by a submarine on a surface ship 11 Mar 1864: Great Sheffield Flood The Great Sheffield Flood - over 250 died when a new dam broke while it was being filled for the first time 20 Aug 1864: Red Cross established Red Cross established - Twelve nations sign the First Geneva Convention 8 Dec 1864: Clifton Suspension Bridge Clifton Suspension Bridge over the River Avon officially opened
299	1865	1865: First woman doctor in England Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (1836-1917) becomes first woman doctor in England [she later became the first woman mayor in England, in Aldeburgh 1908] 1865: Last convicts landed in NSW First concrete roads built in Britain 14 Apr 1865: End of American Civil War End of American Civil War - slavery abolished in USA 14 Apr 1865: Abraham Lincoln assassinated Abraham Lincoln assassinated in Ford's Theatre by John Wilkes Booth 5 Jul 1865: Salvation Army founded William Booth (1829-1912) founds Salvation Army, in London
300	1867	1 Jul 1867: Canadian Confederation The British North America Act takes effect, creating the Canadian Confederation
301	1868	1868: Last convicts landed in Australia Last convicts landed in Australia (Western Australia)
302	1869	1869: Washing machines Ball bearings, celluloid, margarine, and washing machines, all invented 23 Nov 1869: Cutty Sark Cutty Sark launched in Dumbarton
303	1870	1870: General Post Office GPO takes over the privately-owned Telegraph Companies (nationalised) 1870: Dr Thomas Barnardo Dr Thomas Barnardo opens his first home for destitute children 1870: Water closets Water closets come into wide use 1870: Diamonds Diamonds discovered in Kimberley, South Africa 1 Oct 1870: First British postcard First British postcard - halfpenny post
304	1871	27 Mar 1871: First Rugby Football international First Rugby Football international, England v Scotland, played in Edinburgh 29 Mar 1871: Royal Albert Hall Opening of Royal Albert Hall, London 29 Jun 1871: Trades Unions legalised Trades Unions legalised in Britain, but picketing made illegal
305	1872	1872: Licensing hours introduced Licensing hours introduced 1872: Penalties introduced Penalties introduced for failing to register births, marriages & deaths (Eng & Wales) 4 Dec 1872: Mary Celeste American ship 'Mary Celeste' is found abandoned by the British brig 'Dei Gratia' in the Atlantic Ocean
306	1874	1874: 56-hour week Factory Act introduces 56-hour week 5 Apr 1874: Birkenhead Park opened Birkenhead Park opened, said to be the first civic public park in the world - features of it later copied in Central Park, New York
307	1875	1875: London's main sewage system completed. Joseph Bazalgette, a civil engineer and Chief Engineer of the Metropolitan Board of Works, was given responsibility for the work. He designed an extensive underground sewerage system that diverted waste to the Thames Estuary, downstream of the main centre of population. Six main interceptor sewers, totalling almost 100 miles (160 km) in length, were constructed, some incorporating stretches of London's 'lost' rivers. Three of these sewers were north of the river, the southernmost, low-level one being incorporated in the Thames Embankment. 1 Jan 1875: Second Class passenger facilities abolished Midland Railway abolishes Second Class passenger facilities, leaving First Class and Third Class. Other British railway companies followed during the rest of the year. (Third Class was renamed Second Class in 1956)
308	1876	14 Feb 1876: Alexander Graham Bell Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray each file a patent for the telephone - Bell awarded the rights
309	1877	1877: Edison invents microphone Edison invents microphone and phonograph
310	1878	1878: Electric lamp invented Edison & Swan invent electric lamp 1878: Red Flag Act in Red Flag Act in Britain limits mechanical road vehicles to 4mph 1878: CID established Criminal Investigation Department established at New Scotland Yard
311	1879	18 Sep 1879: Blackpool illuminations Blackpool illuminations switched on for first time
312	1880	1880: Education Act: Education Act: schooling compulsory for 5-10 year olds 1880: Malaria Mosquito found to be the carrier of malaria 2 Aug 1880: Greenwich Mean Time Greenwich Mean Time adopted throughout UK
313	1881	1881: Postal Orders introduced Postal Orders introduced 1881: Flogging abolished Flogging abolished in Army and Royal Navy Sep 1881: First town with electricity supply Godalming in Surrey became the first town in England to have a public electricity supply installed (but in 1884 it reverted to gas lighting until 1904) 26 Oct 1881: Gunfight at OK Corral Gunfight at OK Corral
314	1882	1882: Fourth Eddystone Lighthouse completed Fourth Eddystone Lighthouse completed
315	1883	1883: Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty presented to USA by France 24 May 1883: Brooklyn Bridge Brooklyn Bridge, New York opens (crosses East River) 1 Aug 1883: Parcel post starts in Britain Parcel post starts in Britain 27 Aug 1883: Eruption of Krakatoa Eruption of Krakatoa near Java - 30,000 killed by tidal wave
316	1884	31 May 1884: Kellogg's corn flakes John Harvey Kellogg patents corn flakes 13 Oct 1884: Greenwich made prime meridian Greenwich made prime meridian of the world
317	1885	1885: Carl Benz Carl Benz builds the 'Motorwagen', a single-cylinder motor car 1885: Gottlieb Daimler Gottlieb Daimler patents the world's first motorcycle 1885: first coated photographic paper Eastman makes first coated photographic paper Mar 1885: First UK cremation in modern times First UK cremation in modern times took place at Woking 5 Sep 1885: Severn Tunnel The first train runs through the Severn Tunnel 29 Sep 1885: Blackpool Trams First electric tramcar used at Blackpool
318	1886	20 Jan 1886: Mersey railway opened Mersey railway (under Mersey) opened by Prince of Wales May 1886: Coca-Cola Pharmacist John Styth Pemberton invents a carbonated beverage later named 'Coca-Cola' 29 May 1886: Putney Bridge Putney Bridge opens in London
319	1887	1887: Daimler produces a four-wheeled motor car Daimler produces a four-wheeled motor car
320	1888	1888: Suez Canal Convention of Constantinople guarantees free maritime passage through Suez Canal in war and peace 1888: Jack the Ripper Jack the Ripper active in east London during the latter half of the year 1888: County Councils County Councils set up in Britain 1888: Pneumatic tyre invented Dunlop invents pneumatic tyre 1888: First box camera First box camera - George Eastman registers the trademark Kodak, and receives a patent for his camera which uses roll film 20 Mar 1888: Football League Football League formed
321	1889	1889: Celluloid film Celluloid film produced 1889: Dock Strike Dock Strike - docker's won their 'Docker's Tanner' 6 old pennies 31 Mar 1889: Eiffel Tower Eiffel Tower completed (to mark centenary of French Revolution) 14 May 1889: NSPCC charity launched Children's charity NSPCC launched in London 3 Jun 1889: Canadian Pacific Railway Canadian Pacific Railway completed from coast to coast 28 Sep 1889: Length of a metre defined Length of a metre defined
322	1890	4 Mar 1890: Forth railway bridge opens Forth railway bridge opens - took six years to build 4 Nov 1890: City & South London Railway opens City & South London Railway opens - London's first deep-level tube railway and first major railway in the world to use electric traction
323	1891	1891: Primary education Primary education made free and compulsory 18 Mar 1891: London & Paris First telephone link between London & Paris 4 May 1891: Reichenbach Falls Fictional date when Sherlock Holmes throws Moriarty over Reichenbach Falls, then disappears for 3 years! (published in 1893) 24 Aug 1891: Thomas Edison Thomas Edison patents the motion picture camera
324	1892	1892: Electric oven invented Electric oven invented 1892: Shop Hours Act Shop Hours Act - limit 74 hours per week for under-18's 6 Oct 1892: Alfred Lord Tennyson Alfred Lord Tennyson dies, aged 83, at his house Aldworth, near Haslemere
325	1893	1893: Henry Ford Henry Ford's first car 1893: Zip fastener invented Zip fastener invented
326	1894	1894: Picture postcard Picture postcard introduced in Britain 1 Jan 1894: Manchester Ship Canal Manchester Ship Canal opens 1 Mar 1894: Blackpool Tower opens Blackpool Tower opens 30 Jun 1894: Tower Bridge Tower Bridge first opens 2 Aug 1894: Death duties Death duties first introduced in Britain
327	1895	1895: Promenade Concerts Sir Henry Wood starts Promenade Concerts in London 12 Jan 1895: The National Trust The National Trust founded in England 24 May 1895: Henry Irving Henry Irving becomes the first person from the theatre to be knighted 28 May 1895: Oscar Wilde Oscar Wilde sent to prison 12 Jul 1895: First recorded motor journey of any length First recorded motor journey of any length (56 miles) in Britain 17 Oct 1895: First motor offences First people in Britain to be charged with motor offences - John Henry Knight and James Pullinger of Farnham, Surrey Nov 1895: X-rays discovered X-rays discovered
328	1896	5 Apr 1896: First modern Olympic Games First modern Olympic Games held in Athens 2 Jun 1896: Guglielmo Marconi Guglielmo Marconi receives a British patent (later disputed) for the radio
329	1897	1897: Thomas Edison Thomas Edison patents the Kinetoscope, the first movie projector
330	1898	1898: First photograph using artificial light First photograph using artificial light 1898: Zeppelin airship Zeppelin builds airship 17 Mar 1898: USS Holland launched USS Holland launched, the first practical submarine 27 Jun 1898: First solo circumnavigation of the globe The first solo circumnavigation of the globe completed at Rhode island by Joshua Slocum in Spray (started from Boston, Mass on Apr 24, 1895)
331	1899	6 Mar 1899: Aspirin Aspirin first marketed by Bayer 11 Oct 1899: Second Boer War Start of Second Boer War
332	1900	1900: School leaving age School leaving age in Britain raised to 14 years 1900: Central Line Central Line opens in London: underground is electrified 1900: Escalators Escalator shown at Paris exhibition 9 Feb 1900: Davis Cup Davis Cup tennis competition established 27 Feb 1900: Labour Party formed Labour Party formed
333	1901	1901: Commonwealth of Australia Commonwealth of Australia founded 1901: Vacuum cleaner Hubert Cecil Booth patents the vacuum cleaner 22 Jan 1901: Queen Victoria dies Queen Victoria dies - Edward VII king 2 Feb 1901: Queen Victoria's funeral Queen Victoria's funeral - interred beside Prince Albert in the Frogmore Mausoleum at Windsor Great Park Jun 1901: Concentration camps Denunciation of use of concentration camps by British in Boer War 2 Oct 1901: Britain's first submarine launched Britain's first submarine launched 12 Dec 1901: Radio transmission across the Atlantic First successful radio transmission across the Atlantic, by Marconi - Morse code from Cornwall to Newfoundland
334	1902	1902: Balfour's Education Act Balfour's Education Act provides for secondary education 1902: Cremation Act Cremation Act - cremation can only take place at officially recognised establishments, and with two death certificates issued 1902: Marie Curie Marie Curie discovers radioactivity 24 May 1902: Empire Day Empire Day (later Commonwealth Day) first celebrated 31 May 1902: Treaty of Vereeniging Treaty of Vereeniging ends Second Boer War 9 Aug 1902: Edward VII Coronation of Edward VII
335	1903	1903: Workers' Education Association (WEA) Workers' Education Association (WEA) formed in Britain 1903: Women's Social and Political Union Women's Social and Political Union formed in Britain by Emmeline Pankhurst 1903: Henry Ford Henry Ford sets up his motor company 14 Dec 1903: First flight First flight of Wilbur & Orville Wright
336	1904	1904: Leeds University established Leeds University established 8 Apr 1904: Entente Cordiale France and UK sign the Entente Cordiale 4 May 1904: Panama Canal America takes over construction of the Panama Canal from the French (completed 1914)
337	1905	1905: Prime Minister The title 'Prime Minister' noted in a royal warrant for the first time - placed the Prime Minister in order of precedence in Britain immediately after the Archbishop of York 1905: Aliens Act in Britain Aliens Act in Britain: Home Office controls immigration 11 Apr 1905: Special Theory of Relativity Einstein publishes Special Theory of Relativity
338	1906	1906: Free school meals Introduction of free school meals for poor children 10 Feb 1906: HMS Dreadnought Launching of HMS Dreadnought, first turbine-driven battleship 15 Mar 1906: Rolls-Royce Ltd Rolls-Royce Ltd registered 26 May 1906: Vauxhall Bridge Vauxhall Bridge opened in London 20 Sep 1906: RMS Mauretania Launching of Cunard's RMS Mauretania on the Tyne
339	1907	1907: New Zealand New Zealand becomes a Dominion 1907: Imperial College, London Imperial College, London, is established 1907: First airship flies over London First airship flies over London 1907: colour photography Lumiere develops a process for colour photography Jul 1907: Bakelite Leo Hendrik Baekeland patents Bakelite, the first plastic invented that held its shape after being heated 1 Aug 1907: Baden-Powell Baden-Powell leads the first Scout camp on Brownsea Island 9 Nov 1907: Cullinan Diamond The Cullinan Diamond presented to Edward VII on his birthday
340	1908	1908: Coal Mines Regulation Act Coal Mines Regulation Act in Britain limits men to an eight hour day 1908: Separate courts for juveniles Separate courts for juveniles established in Britain 1908: Lord Baden-Powell Lord Baden-Powell starts the Boy Scout movement 1 Jul 1908: SOS SOS became effective as an international signal of distress 12 Aug 1908: First Ford Model T First 'Model T' Ford made
341	1909	1909: Beveridge Report Beveridge Report prompts creation of labour Exchanges 1909: Peary reaches the north pole Peary reaches the north pole 1909: First commercial manufacture of Bakelite First commercial manufacture of Bakelite - start of the plastic age 1 Jan 1909: Old Age Pensions Act Old Age Pensions Act came into force 16 Jan 1909: Ernest Shackleton Ernest Shackleton's expedition finds the magnetic South Pole 15 Mar 1909: Selfridges Selfridges department store opens in London 25 Jul 1909: Bleriot flies across the Channel Bleriot flies across the Channel (36 minutes, Calais to Dover)
342	1910	1910: Railway and coal strikes Railway strike and coal strikes in Britain 1910: Constitutional crisis in Britain The 1909 People's Budget was a product of then British Prime Minister H. H. Asquith's Liberal government, introducing many unprecedented taxes on the wealthy and radical social welfare programmes to Britain's political life. It was championed by Chancellor of the Exchequer David Lloyd George and his strong ally Winston Churchill, who was then President of the Board of Trade; the duo was called the "Terrible Twins" by contemporaries 1910: Dr Crippen Dr Crippen caught by radio telegraphy; hanged 23 Nov at Pentonville 1910: Madame Curie Madame Curie isolates radium 1910: Halley's comet Halley's comet reappears 1910: Tango becomes popular Tango becomes popular in North America and Europe 6 May 1910: Edward VII dies Edward VII dies - George V becomes King