1707 CE

The Treaty (or Act) of Union, of the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, is ratified by the Parliament of Scotland by a vote of 110 to 68. The new sovereign state of Great Britain comes into being as a result of the Acts of Union which combine the Kingdoms of England and Scotland into a single united Kingdom of Great Britain and merge the Parliaments of England and Scotland to form the Parliament of Great Britain. The Equivalent, a sum of £398,000, is paid to Scotland by the English government. The Honours of Scotland are locked away in Edinburgh Castle. (May 1 Old Style) – The new sovereign state of Great Britain comes into being, as a result of the Acts of Union, which combine the Kingdoms of Scotland and England into a single united Kingdom of Great Britain, and merge the Parliaments of England and Scotland, to form the Parliament of Great Britain.

In the 1700s, the 18th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • January 16 – The Treaty (or Act) of Union, of the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, is ratified by the Parliament of Scotland by a vote of 110 to 68.source
  • February 15 – As part of the process of the unification of Scotland and England as Great Britain, Scotland selects 16 members to sit in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster.source
  • March 19 – The Act of Union with Scotland is ratified by the Parliament of England; the Parliament of Scotland is adjourned for the last time on May 1, 1707.source
  • 19 March – The Act of Union with Scotland is passed by the Parliament of England.Englandsource
  • 1 May – the new sovereign state of Great Britain comes into being as a result of the Acts of Union which combine the Kingdoms of England and Scotland into a single united Kingdom of Great Britain and merge the Parliaments of England and Scotland to form the Parliament of Great Britain. The Equivalent, a sum of £398,000, is paid to Scotland by the English government. The Honours of Scotland are locked away in Edinburgh Castle.Scotlandsource
  • 1 May – The Acts of Union come into force, making Wales officially a part of the Kingdom of Great Britain. The newly established Parliament of Great Britain has a total of 27 MPs representing Welsh constituencies, as opposed to 45 for Scotland and 486 for England.Walessource
  • May 12 (May 1 Old Style) – The new sovereign state of Great Britain comes into being, as a result of the Acts of Union, which combine the Kingdoms of Scotland and England into a single united Kingdom of Great Britain, and merge the Parliaments of England and Scotland, to form the Parliament of Great Britain.source
  • 12 May (1 May Old Style) – The new sovereign state of Great Britain comes into being as a result of the Acts of Union which ratified the Treaty of Union: the kingdoms of England and Scotland are combined into a single, United Kingdom and merge the Parliaments of England and Scotland to form the Parliament of Great Britain. The Equivalent, a sum of £398,000, is paid to Scotland by the English government due to Scotland now taking on shared responsibility for England’s national debt.United Kingdomsource
  • June 4 – On the island later known as Sri Lanka, Narendra Sinha becomes the monarch of most of the area as the new Kandyan king, succeeding to the throne upon the death of his father, King Vimaladharmasuriya II. Narendra Sinha reigns for almost 32 years until his death on May 13, 1739.source
  • June 13 – On Francis II Rákóczi's recommendation, and with Count Miklos Bercsényi's support, a meeting of the Hungarian independence activists, held at the village of Ónod declares the deposing of the House of Habsburg (and Joseph I, King of Hungary) from the Hungarian throne.source
  • 31 August - Treaty of Altranstädt (1707) signed between Charles XII of Sweden and Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor, during the Great Northern War.Swedensource
  • September 14 – Vincenzo Durazzo is elected to a 2-year term as the new Doge of the Republic of Genoa (including the island of Corsica), succeeding the outgoing Doge, Domenico Maria De Mari.source
  • October 23 – The Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain first meets in London.source
  • 23 October – first sitting of the Parliament of Great Britain, at Westminster.United Kingdomsource
  • October 24 - an act of the Parliament of Ireland creates the Dublin Ballast Office to improve Dublin Port.Irelandsource
  • The English Parliament establishes the first turnpike trusts, which place a length of road under the control of trustees, drawn from local landowners and traders. The trusts borrow capital for road maintenance against the security of tolls, and this arrangement becomes the common method of road maintenance for the next 150 years.source
  • Bundi State conquered Kota State on 18 June and held the territory for six yearsIndiasource

Conflict & Security

  • 14 April (25 April New Style) – At the Battle of Almansa (Spain) in the War of the Spanish Succession, the Bourbon army of Spain and France (with Irish mercenaries) under the French-born Englishman James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, soundly defeats the allied forces of Portugal, England, and the Dutch Republic led by the French-born Huguenot in English service Henri de Massue, Earl of Galway.Englandsource
  • April 14 (April 25 New Style) – at the Battle of Almansa (Spain) in the War of the Spanish Succession, the Bourbon army of Spain and France (with Irish mercenaries) under the French-born Englishman James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, soundly defeats the allied forces of Portugal, England, and the Dutch Republic led by the French-born Huguenot in English service Henri de Massue, Earl of Galway.Irelandsource
  • April 25 (April 14 Old Style) – War of the Spanish Succession – Battle of Almansa: The Bourbon army of Spain and France (with Irish mercenaries) under the French-born Englishman James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, soundly defeats the allied forces of Portugal, England, and the Dutch Republic led by the French-born Huguenot (in English service) Henri de Massue, Earl of Galway. Following this, Philip V of Spain promulgates the first Nueva Planta decrees, bringing the Kingdoms of Valencia and Aragon under the laws of the Crown of Castile.source
  • April 25 - Battle of Almansa: the Bourbon army of Spain and France (with Irish mercenaries) under the French-born Englishman James FitzJames, 1st Duke of Berwick, soundly defeats the allied forces of Portugal, England, and the Dutch Republic led by the French-born Huguenot in English service Henri de Massue, Earl of Galway. Following this, Philip V of Spain promulgates the first Nueva Planta decrees, bringing the Kingdoms of Valencia and Aragon under the laws of the Crown of Castile.Spainsource
  • May 8 – The siege of Játiva within the Spanish kingdom of Valencia begins as 9,000 Castilian and French troops, at the direction of King Philip V attack Játiva, defended by troops of the Kingdom of Aragon. Játiva (modern Xàtiva) falls on June 6.source
  • June 6 – The soldiers and officers defending the Aragonese city of Játiva are massacred after a larger force of Castilian troops breaks through the walls at the end of a 30-day siege. The rest of the town's residents are deported, and most of the dwellings are burned, with the area being renamed "San Felipe".source
  • July 29–August 21 – War of the Spanish Succession – Battle of Toulon: The Allies are obliged to withdraw, but the French fleet is effectively put out of action.source
  • 29 July - 21 August: Battle of Toulon: Prince Eugene is forced to abandon his attempt to take the naval port of ToulonFrancesource
  • 29 July–21 August – War of the Spanish Succession: Battle of Toulon – Allies, including British forces under Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, are obliged to withdraw, but the French fleet is effectively put out of action.United Kingdomsource
  • August 27 – Charles XII of Sweden launches his campaign to conquer Russia, marching to the east from Altranstädt with 60,000 coalition troops. Another 16,000 soldiers are waiting on the outskirts of Riga, guarding the Swedish supply lines.source
  • September 18–October 4 – War of the Spanish Succession: The Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, led by troops under the command of Alexandre Maître, begins and lasts for 16 days. On the final day, General Maitre begins the attack that takes the fortress within 45 minutes.source
  • September 30 – War of the Spanish Succession: the conquest by Austrian troops, of the Italian peninsula city state of Gaeta, is accomplished after a three-month siege led by General Wirich Philipp von Daun.source
  • November 30 – War of the Spanish Succession: The Siege of Pensacola ends, with the Spanish successfully defending their fort.source
  • December 28 – Charles XII of Sweden and his coalition of troops begin crossing the first line of defense of the Russian Empire, the Vistula River, in their attempt to conquer Russia.source
  • Battle of Yuraktau, the event that leads to the strengthening of the Bashkir rebellion of 1704–1711.source
  • The Lao empire of Lan Xang officially ends, and splits into the kingdoms of Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Champasak.source
  • Port Royal is attacked twice by the English from Massachusetts.Canadasource
  • Mughal–Maratha Wars ended in May following Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's deathIndiasource
  • Charles XII continued his military campaigns in Eastern Europe as part of the Great Northern War, which had significant impacts on Sweden's political and military landscape.Swedensource

Exploration & Expansion

  • 25 April – a large school of whales appears in the Firth of Forth; 35 strand on the sands of Kirkcaldy.Scotlandsource
  • Edward Lhuyd, Archaeologia Britannica: an Account of the Languages, Histories and Customs of Great Britain, from Travels through Wales, Cornwall, Bas-Bretagne, Ireland and Scotland, vol. 1, GlossographyUnited Kingdomsource

Religion & Belief

  • January 1 – John V is crowned King of Portugal and the Algarves in Lisbon.source
  • June 28 – Yeshe Gyatso is installed as the new Dalai Lama by his father, Lha-bzang Khan, who has recently deposed the 6th Dalai Lama. Though the justification is that the 21-year-old Yeshe was the true reincarnation of the 5th Dalai Lama, Yeshe receives no recognition from Buddhists in Tibet or Mongolia and the 7th Dalai Lama is installed in 1710.source
  • Dost Mohammad of Bhopal founded Bhopal StateIndiasource
  • A new Succession to the Crown Act requires the senior officers of state to proclaim the next protestant heir as successor to the British throne on the death of Queen Anne, on pain of treason; and provides for the continuance of Parliament on the monarch’s death.United Kingdomsource
  • Susanna Centlivre, The Platonick LadyUnited Kingdomsource
  • Matthew Tindal, A Defence of the Rights of the Christian Church (seq. to 1706 work)United Kingdomsource
  • John Toland, A Philippick Oration to Incite the English Against the French (translated from a work by Matthaus Schiner)United Kingdomsource
  • Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spiritual Songs (frequently reprinted hereafter)United Kingdomsource
  • Catherine Trotter, A Discourse Concerning a Guide in ControversiesUnited Kingdomsource
  • Egwyddorion y Grefydd GristianogawlWalessource

Technology & Infrastructure

  • A fortress is founded on the future site of Ust-Abakanskoye (modern Abakan).source
  • Hacienda Juriquilla is built in Querétaro, Mexico.source
  • Senapati, the grandson of Maharaja Chhatrasal, built Raja Ka Tal reservoirIndiasource
  • Construction of the Darbar building in Dehradun was completedIndiasource
  • The Ramlösa mineral water brand was established in 1707, becoming a well-known Swedish brand.Swedensource

Science & Discovery

Crime & Justice

  • December – Richard Bulkeley, 4th Viscount Bulkeley, is accused of having appropriated building materials from Beaumaris Castle for use on his own estates.Walessource
  • Ormacleit Castle on South Uist is first occupied by Allan Macdonald, chief of Clanranald, and his family.Scotlandsource
  • Thomas Brown, The Works of Mr. Thomas BrownUnited Kingdomsource
  • Richard Baxter, The Poetical Works of the Late Richard BaxterUnited Kingdomsource
  • John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester, The Miscellaneous Works of the Late Earls of Rochester and RoscommonUnited Kingdomsource
  • Laurence Echard, The History of England vol. 1United Kingdomsource
  • Nahum Tate, Injur'd Love, adaptation of Webster's The White DevilUnited Kingdomsource
  • Delarivière Manley, The Lady's Pacquet of Letters (fiction)United Kingdomsource

Disasters & Accidents

  • October 22 – Scilly naval disaster: Four British Royal Navy ships run aground in the Isles of Scilly, because of faulty navigation. Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell and at least 1,450 sailors all drown.source
  • 22 October – Scilly naval disaster: Four Royal Navy ships, including HMS Association, run aground in the Isles of Scilly because of faulty navigation – Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell and at least 1450 sailors are drowned.United Kingdomsource

Climate & Environment

  • May 23 – The volcanic eruption in the Santorini caldera begins.source
  • 8 July – "Hot Tuesday" – estimated temperature in England 38°C.United Kingdomsource
  • October 28 – The Hōei earthquake (the most powerful in Japan until 2011) strikes, with an estimated local magnitude of 8.6 and kills at least 5,000 people.source
  • 4 December – The Danish East India Company's ship Norske Løve departs from Copenhagen but is hit by lightning on 18 December.Denmarksource
  • December 16 – The last recorded eruption of Mount Fuji begins in Japan.source

Culture & Society

  • June 19 – The coronation of Muhammad Mu'azzam as the new Emperor of India, Bahadur Shah I, takes place in Delhisource
  • October - Marsh's Library, the first public library in Ireland, is established by an Act of the Irish Parliament called ‘An Act for Settling and Preserving a Publick Library forever’.Irelandsource
  • 5 December – first meeting of the Society of Antiquaries takes place in the Bear Tavern on The Strand, London.United Kingdomsource
  • December 24 – The first British Governor of Gibraltar, directly appointed by Queen Anne, Roger Elliott, takes up his residence in the Convent of the Franciscan Friars.source
  • Sukhrungphaa established Rangpur, the capital of the Ahom kingdomIndiasource
  • Tailors' Hall completed in Dublin.Irelandsource
  • The Velthen Company becomes the perhaps first professional theater company to perform in Norway.Norwaysource
  • Establishment of Warminster School in Wiltshire as Lord Weymouth's Grammar School.United Kingdomsource
  • Establishment of the Fortnum & Mason department store in London.United Kingdomsource
  • Edward Lhuyd – Archaeologia Britannica: an Account of the Languages, Histories and Customs of Great Britain, from Travels through Wales, Cornwall, Bas-Bretagne, Ireland and Scotland. Vol. 1: Glossography Lhuyd's work was compiled with assistance from Moses Williams, and was dedicated to Thomas Mansel, 1st Baron Mansel.Walessource

Births

  • February 1 – Frederick, Prince of Wales (died 1751)source
  • 1 February – Frederick, Prince of Wales, son of the future George II of Great Britain (died 1751)Walessource
  • February 25 – Carlo Goldoni, Italian playwright (died 1793)source
  • March 7 – Stephen Hopkins, governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (died 1785)source
  • March 8 – William Irby, 1st Baron Boston, British peer and Member of Parliament (died 1775)source
  • April 10 – Michel Corrette, French composer (died 1795)source
  • April 15 – Leonhard Euler, Swiss mathematician and physicist (died 1783)source
  • April 22 – Henry Fielding, English novelist and dramatist known for his earthy humour and satire (died 1754)source
  • May 23 – Carl Linnaeus, Swedish botanist (died 1778)source
  • August 24 – Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, English Methodist leader (died 1791)source
  • August 25 – King Louis I of Spain (died 1724)source
  • August 25 - Louis I of Spain (died 1724)Spainsource
  • September 5 – John Forbes, British general (died 1759)source
  • September 7 – Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, French scientist (died 1788)source
  • September 22 – John Rattray, Edinburgh surgeon who served as surgeon to Prince Charles Edward Stuart (died 1771)source
  • December 18 – Charles Wesley, English Methodist leader, brother of John Wesley (died 1788)source
  • 18 December – Charles Wesley, Methodist leader, brother of John Wesley (died 1788)United Kingdomsource
  • Feodor Vassilyev, man with the most children off a single wife.Russiasource

Deaths

  • January 10 – Philibert, comte de Gramont, French writer (born 1621)source
  • January 22 – Richard Towneley, English mathematician and astronomer from Towneley near Burnley (born 1629)source
  • February 4 – Great Northern War: Eighteen months after losing the Battle of Warsaw, while leading a cavalry charge for Saxony against the army of Sweden, General Otto von Paykull of Swedish Livonia is beheaded outside of Stockholm, following his conviction for treason.source
  • March 3 – Aurangzeb, Mughal Emperor of India (born 1618)source
  • March 30 – Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, French noble and military engineer noted for designing fortifications (born 1633)source
  • April 29 – George Farquhar, Irish dramatist (born 1677)source
  • May 3 – Michiel de Swaen, Flemish poet (born 1654)source
  • May 9 – Dieterich Buxtehude, German composer (born c. 1637)source
  • May 27 – Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, Marquise de Montespan, mistress of King Louis XIV of France (born 1641)source
  • June 8 – Less than three months after proclaiming himself to be the new Emperor of India, Muhammad Azam Shah and his three sons are killed in a battle by his troops led by his half-brother Muhammad Mu'azzamsource
  • June 8 – Muhammad Azam Shah, Mughal emperor (born 1653)source
  • June 15 – Giorgio Baglivi, Armenian doctor and writer (born 1668)source
  • September 21 – Wilhelmus Beekman, Dutch politician (born 1623)source
  • October 22 – Sir Cloudesley Shovell, British admiral, drowned (born 1650)source
  • 22 October – Sir Cloudesley Shovell, admiral, drowned (born 1650)United Kingdomsource
  • 14 December – Humphrey Edwin, London merchant and owner of the Llanmihangel estate, 65Walessource
  • Jean-Vincent d'Abbadie de Saint-Castin (born 1652)Canadasource
  • Petter Dass, priest and poet and hymn writer (born 1647).Norwaysource