The 18th century

The table below summarises some of the general historic events of the 18th century.

Specific Brickell related activities and more local (Dorset, Kent, Cheshire) events will be progressively added to this table with links to further pages that provide more detailed information.

Date	Historic event	Brickell activity
1701	Beginning of the War of the Spanish Succession.
1702	William III dies: accession of Queen Anne.
1704	Battle of Blenheim. The British, under Marlborough, and allied forces defeat the French.
1707	Act of Union between Scotland and England.
1713	Treaty of Utrecht ends the War of the Spanish Succession - Spain cedes Gibraltar to Britain.
1714	Queen Anne dies: accession of George, Elector of Hanover, as George I.
1715	Jacobite Rebellion.
1716	The Septennial Act limits parliaments to a life of seven years.
1718	Attempted Jacobite rising in Scotland.
1720	'South Sea Bubble' bursts - investors lose large amounts of money.
1721	Walpole becomes chief minister.
1726-9	Famine in Ireland.
1727	George I dies: accession of George II.
1733	John Kay invents flying shuttle, enabling weaving to be carried out much faster.
1738	War of the Polish succession, Britain, alone, at war with Spain.
1739	War of Jenkins' Ear: Anglo-Spanish? naval war.
1739-41	Famine in Ireland kills 400,000.
1740	War of Pragmatic Sanction. Britain aids Austria.
1743	The battle of Dettingen.
1745	The battle of Fontenoy. 'Bonnie Prince Charlie', Prince Charles Edward Stuart, lands in Scotland and proclaims his father King. He marches into England and reaches Derby
1746	Prince Charles is chased out of England and defeated in the north of Scotland at Culloden by the Duke of Cumberland.
1747	After several Continental victories for the allies, the war against France and Spain ends.
1751	George II's son, Frederick, Prince of Wales, dies.
1755	English ships attack French vessels without a declaration of war.
1756	War against France. In India, French-backed forces capture Calcutta; English residents are imprisoned in the 'Black Hole'.
1757	Bengal captured by the British after the battle of Plassey.
1759	Quebec captured by the British from the French.
1760	Death of George II: accession of George III, his grandson.
1763	The Seven Years' War with France ends with the Treaty of Paris. France cedes Canada and the Mississippi valley to Britain.
1764	The Sugar Act, placing duties on sugar exports, is imposed on the American colonies to recoup some of the cost of defending them during the war.
1765	The Stamp Act similarly imposed.
1773	The 'Boston Tea Party'.
1774	A continental congress is called in the American colonies to discuss the relationship with Britain.
1776	The colonies declare themselves independent of Britain. Adam Smith publishes his Wealth of Nations.
1778	The French join in the War of Independence on the side of the Americans.
1779	Compton's Mule combines Hargreaves's Spinning Jenny with Richard Arkwright's water-powered frame, speeding up the process of spinning strong cotton thread.
1781	Yorktown falls ensuring the victory of the Americans.
1783	America wins its independence. William Pitt the Younger placed into office by the King.
1789	The French Revolution.