1709 CE

The first influx into Britain of poor refugee families of German Palatines from the Rhenish Palatinate arrives in England. Most of them are Protestants en route to the New World colonies. (June 27 Old Style; June 28 in the Swedish calendar) – Great Northern War: Battle of Poltava in the Cossack Hetmanate (Ukraine) – Peter the Great leads forces of the Tsardom of Russia to a decisive victory over Swedish forces under Charles XII, ending the Swedish invasion of Russia and effectively ending Sweden's role as a major power in Europe. Christopher Slaughterford of London is executed in Guildford for the murder of Jane Young, his fiancée. He is the first person in modern England executed for murder based exclusively on circumstantial evidence, and he maintains his innocence to the last.

In the 1700s, the 18th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • April 13 – The Raudot Ordinance of 1709 becomes law in the French colony of New France, legalizing slavery.source
  • 13 April – The Raudot Ordinance of 1709 becomes law in the French colony of New France, legalizing slavery.Francesource
  • June 17 – Trịnh Cương becomes the new king of northern Vietnam (Đàng Ngoài) upon the death of his grandfather, Trịnh Căn, and begins a 20-year reign until his death on December 20, 1729source
  • June 28 – A treaty is signed in Dresden to re-establish an alliance between the Kingdoms of Denmark–Norway and the Electorate of Saxony, on behalf of King Frederik IV of Denmark–Norway and Saxony's King Augustus II.source
  • July 27 – Japan's Emperor Higashiyama abdicates after a reign of 23 years that began in 1687, and is succeeded by his son Yoshihito, who is enthroned as the Emperor Nakamikado.source
  • August 30 – the Parliament of Ireland passes an amending act which requires any adult male (including registered Roman Catholic priests) to take an oath of abjuration if required by a magistrate.Irelandsource
  • 9 October - Treaty of Thorn (1709) between Russia and Poland-Lithuania.Russiasource
  • 22 October – The Treaty of Copenhagen renews the alliance between the Russian Empire and Denmark–Norway after it had been destroyed in 1700 with the Peace of Travendal. Denmark–Norway re-enters the Great Northern War as a result.Denmarksource
  • December 25 – From London, ten ships leave for the New York Colony carrying over 4,000 people.source
  • 25 December – ten ships leave for the New York Colony from London carrying over 4,000 people.United Kingdomsource
  • In New France, slavery becomes legal.Canadasource
  • Appointment of the first Chair of Oriental Languages in the University of Glasgow, Charles Morthland.Scotlandsource
  • Publication of Mrs. Delarivier Manley's political satire The New Atalantis.United Kingdomsource

Conflict & Security

  • January 1 – Battle of St. John's: The French capture St. John's, the capital of the British colony of Newfoundland.source
  • 1 January – Battle of St. John's: French capture St. John's, capital of the British colony of Newfoundland.Francesource
  • February 19 – Tokugawa Ienobu becomes the sixth shōgun of the Tokugawa dynasty of Japan, after the death of the shōgun Tsunayoshi, who had been head of government since 1680.source
  • June 26 – The Battle of Fort Albany, an attack by 100 French colonial volunteers and Cree natives on the British Hudson's Bay Company outpost at Fort Albany on Hudson Bay. John Fullartine, commander of the post, leads a successful defense of the fort and 18 of the attackers are killed and then retreat. The site becomes part of a Cree First Nation reserve in the Canadian province of Ontario.source
  • June 27 (June 28 in the Swedish calendar; July 8 New Style) – Great Northern War: Battle of Poltava: In Ukraine, Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia, defeats Charles XII of Sweden, thus effectively ending Sweden's role as a major power in Europe.Swedensource
  • 30 June - Swedish forces surrender at PerevolochnaRussiasource
  • 1 July – Treason Act 1708 comes into force, harmonising the law of high treason in Scotland with that of England.Scotlandsource
  • July 8 (June 27 Old Style; June 28 in the Swedish calendar) – Great Northern War: Battle of Poltava in the Cossack Hetmanate (Ukraine) – Peter the Great leads forces of the Tsardom of Russia to a decisive victory over Swedish forces under Charles XII, ending the Swedish invasion of Russia and effectively ending Sweden's role as a major power in Europe.source
  • 8 July - Russians win the Battle of Poltava, halting the Swedish invasion of Russia.Russiasource
  • July 30 – War of the Spanish Succession: Tournai is captured by John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene of Savoy.source
  • August 28 – Pamheiba is crowned King of Manipur.source
  • 31 August (11 September NS) – War of the Spanish Succession: Battle of Malplaquet – troops of the Dutch Republic, Habsburg monarchy, Great Britain and the Kingdom of Prussia led by the Duke of Marlborough drive the French from the field but suffer twice as many casualties. The song "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" is based on the French song "Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre" composed following this battle.United Kingdomsource
  • September 11 (August 31 Old Style) – War of the Spanish Succession: Battle of Malplaquet – Troops of the Dutch Republic, Habsburg monarchy, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Prussia, led by the Duke of Marlborough, drive the French from the field, but suffer twice as many casualties.source
  • 11 September – Battle of Malplaquet (War of the Spanish Succession) fought near the French border: French strategic victory but tactical victory for the opposing alliance.Francesource
  • October 9 – War of the Spanish Succession: The British army captures Mons.source
  • 9 October – War of the Spanish Succession: British army captures Mons.United Kingdomsource

Exploration & Expansion

  • May 6 – The first influx into Britain of poor refugee families of German Palatines from the Rhenish Palatinate arrives in England. Most of them are Protestants en route to the New World colonies.source
  • May – first influx of poor refugee families of German Palatines from the Rhenish Palatinate, mostly Protestants en route to the New World colonies.United Kingdomsource
  • September 4–8 – nearly 800 poor Protestant refugee families of German Palatines arrive in Dublin to be settled in Ireland.Irelandsource
  • The earliest known cricket match involving county teams played is between Kent and Surrey.United Kingdomsource
  • 1 or 2 February – during his first voyage, Captain Woodes Rogers on the Duke encounters marooned privateer Alexander Selkirk and rescues him after four years living on one of the Juan Fernández Islands, inspiring Defoe's book Robinson Crusoe. After sacking Guayaquil, he and Selkirk will visit the Galapagos Islands.United Kingdomsource

Religion & Belief

  • 22 April – Hugo Octavius Accoramboni was given the title Marquis of Lista.Norwaysource
  • 26 April – Act of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for the provision of public libraries in presbyteries.Scotlandsource
  • October 12 – Chihuahua City in Mexico is founded.source
  • 11 November – Henry Sacheverell preaches an incendiary sermon The Perils of False Brethren at St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London which leads to his impeachment by Parliament.United Kingdomsource
  • 1 December - William Gambold, son of John Gambold of Puncheston, becomes rector of Puncheston with Llanychaer.Walessource
  • Basil Lazarus III becomes Syriac Orthodox Maphrian of the East.source
  • Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge established by royal charter.Scotlandsource
  • Publication of An English-Saxon Homily on the Birth-day of St. Gregory by Ælfric of Eynsham, translated from Old English by Elizabeth Elstob.United Kingdomsource
  • Humphrey Foulkes becomes rector of Marchwiel.Walessource

Economy & Finance

  • 5 October – last Scottish coinage issued by a mint in Scotland, at Edinburgh.Scotlandsource
  • The "Company of Mine Adventures", headed by Humphrey Mackworth, goes bankrupt.Walessource

Technology & Infrastructure

  • January 10 – Abraham Darby I successfully produces cast iron using coke fuel at his Coalbrookdale blast furnace in Shropshire, England.source
  • 10 January – Abraham Darby I successfully produces cast iron using coke fuel at his Coalbrookdale blast furnace in Shropshire.United Kingdomsource
  • March 28 – Johann Friedrich Böttger reports the first production of hard-paste porcelain in Europe, at Dresden.source
  • July 13 – Production of Eau de Cologne is begun by perfumier Johann Maria Farina in Germany, founding Johann Maria Farina gegenüber dem Jülichs-Platz.source
  • The first piano is exhibited in Florence by its inventor Bartolomeo Cristofori, who names it "gravicembalo col piano e forte", a name which is subsequently shortened to "pianoforte" and then "piano".source
  • The second Eddystone Lighthouse, erected off the south west coast of England by John Rudyerd, is completed.source
  • Construction of Marlborough House begins in London.United Kingdomsource
  • The second Eddystone Lighthouse, erected by John Rudyerd, is completed.United Kingdomsource
  • Enactment of Britain's first copyright law, the Statute of Anne, coming into effect on 10 April 1710.United Kingdomsource

Science & Discovery

  • 12 April – first edition of The Tatler magazine published.United Kingdomsource
  • August 8 – The hot air balloon of Bartolomeu de Gusmão flies in Portugal.source
  • A collapsible umbrella is introduced in Paris.source
  • 1 or 2 February – marooned Lower Largo-born privateer Alexander Selkirk, the original Robinson Crusoe, is rescued after four years living on the Juan Fernández Islands and begins his return to civilisation.Scotlandsource
  • Edward Holdsworth - The mouse-trap; or, The Welsh engagement with the mice (a mock-heroic satire on the Welsh people, published anonymously)Walessource

Crime & Justice

  • April 21 – Mirwais Hotak takes control of Kandahar (in Afghanistan) by murdering the Persian governor, Gurgin Khan, known also as George XI.source
  • 3 May – Elspeth Rule becomes the last person in Scotland to be tried before the High Court of Justiciary for witchcraft; the judge, sitting at Dumfries, orders her to be burned on the cheek and banished from Scotland for life.Scotlandsource
  • Griffith Jones (Llanddowror) takes charge of a school at Laugharne.Walessource

Disasters & Accidents

  • Priceless medieval altarpieces, created by Tyrolese sculptor Michael Pacher, are destroyed.source

Climate & Environment

  • January 6 – Western Europe's Great Frost of 1709, the coldest period in 500 years, begins during the night, lasting three months, with its effects felt for the entire year. In France, the Atlantic coast and Seine River freeze, crops fail, and 24,000 Parisians die. Floating ice enters the North Sea.source
  • 6 January – Western Europe's Great Frost of 1709, the coldest period in 500 years, begins during the night, lasting three months, with its effects felt for the entire year. In France, the Atlantic coast and Seine River freeze, crops fail, and 24,000 Parisians die. Floating ice enters the North Sea.Francesource
  • January to March – unusually cold weather (the Great Frost of 1709) brings floating ice into the North Sea.United Kingdomsource
  • October 14 – The Chinese region of Ningxia is shaken by a 7.5 earthquake killing more than 2,000 people.source
  • Herculaneum, an ancient town in Ercolano, Campania, Italy and buried under volcanic ash and pumice in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, is discovered by accident when attempts to drill a well for a monastery encountered marble and other materials.source
  • c. December – start of Hougher disturbances against the extension of livestock rearing in Connacht including maiming of cattle.Irelandsource
  • Summer – bad weather causes a poor harvest with consequent distress.Scotlandsource

Culture & Society

  • 24 January - The Central Naval Museum was established.Russiasource
  • February 1 or 2 – During his first voyage, Captain Woodes Rogers encounters marooned privateer Alexander Selkirk, and rescues him after four years living on one of the Juan Fernández Islands, inspiring Daniel Defoe's novel Robinson Crusoe. After sacking Guayaquil, he and Selkirk will visit the Galápagos Islands.source
  • 5 February – dramatist John Dennis devises the thundersheet as a new method of producing theatrical thunder for his tragedy Appius and Virginia at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London.United Kingdomsource
  • February – In America, Mardi Gras is celebrated one more time with Masque de la Mobile in the capital of French Louisiana, Mobile, Alabama, before Mobile is moved 27 miles (43 km) down the Mobile River to Mobile Bay in 1711.source
  • June – The Worcester Post-Man is first published in Worcester; as Berrow's Worcester Journal it will continue to be published as a newspaper more than 300 years later.United Kingdomsource
  • 19 July - David Parry is appointed keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, in succession to Edward Lhuyd.Walessource
  • July 26 – Reinhard Keiser's opera Desiderius, König der Langobarden is premiered in Hamburg.source
  • December 26 – The first performance of the opera Agrippina by George Frideric Handel takes place at the Teatro San Giovanni Grisostomo in Venice.source
  • The first modern edition of William Shakespeare's plays is published in London, edited by Nicholas Rowe.source
  • Trinity School is founded as the charity school of Trinity Church, in New York City.source
  • De Nostri Temporis Studiorum Ratione (On the Study Methods of Our Times) is published by Neapolitan philosopher Giambattista Vico.source
  • First clout archery competition for the Edinburgh Arrow held by the Royal Company of Archers and won by David Drummond, advocate.Scotlandsource
  • The deposed Polish monarch Stanisław I of Poland is given refuge in Kristianstad in Sweden with his family, including Queen Catherine Opalińska and Marie Leszczyńska.Swedensource
  • Publication of The Works of Mr William Shakespear edited by dramatist Nicholas Rowe, the first modern edition of Shakespeare's plays, including scene divisions, dramatis personæ and a prefatory account of Shakespeare's life, the first substantial biography of him.United Kingdomsource

Births

  • January 13 – Mollie Sneden, operator of a ferry service at Palisades, New York in the United States (died 1810)source
  • January 17 – George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton (died 1773)source
  • February 24 – Jacques de Vaucanson, French inventor of mechanical automata (died 1782)source
  • February 27 – Timothy Woodbridge American missionary, deacon, schoolteacher, judge, Superintendent of Indian Affairs (died 1774)source
  • March 10 – Georg Wilhelm Steller, German botanist (died 1746)source
  • June 9 – Francis Towneley, English Catholic and supporter of the exiled House of Stuart or Jacobite (died 1746)source
  • 11 June - Philip David, Independent minister (died 1787)Walessource
  • August 10 – Jean-Jacques Lefranc, Marquis de Pompignan, French man of letters and erudition (died 1784)source
  • September 18 – Samuel Johnson, English poet, biographer, essayist, and lexicographer (died 1784)source
  • 18 September – Samuel Johnson, English writer, critic and lexicographer (died 1784)United Kingdomsource
  • September 26 - Jean-Louis Le Loutre, priest, Spiritan, and missionary (died 1772)Canadasource
  • October 9 – Jean-Baptiste de Belloy, Archbishop of Paris and cardinal of the Catholic Church (died 1808)source
  • November 2 – Anne, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange, Hanoverian-born regent of Friesland (died 1759)source
  • November 18 – Henry Loftus, 1st Earl of Ely (died 1783)source
  • December 1 – Franz Xaver Richter, Austro-Moravian singer, violinist, composer, conductor and music theoretician (died 1789)source
  • December 14 – Charles Lawrence, British military officer who (died 1760)source
  • December 18 – Elizabeth of Russia, empress regnant of Russia (died 1762)source
  • (cirka) – Hans Holtermann, businessman and landowner (died 1781).Norwaysource

Deaths

  • January 24 – George Rooke, English admiral (born 1650)source
  • February 9 – François Louis, Prince of Conti, French general (born 1664)source
  • February 19 – Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, Japanese shōgun (born 1646)source
  • April 1 – Henri Jules, Prince of Condé (born 1643)source
  • April 2 – Giovanni Battista Gaulli, Italian artist working in the High Baroque and early Rococo periods (born 1639)source
  • 6 June - James Herbert, politician, about 55Walessource
  • June 30 – Edward Lhuyd, Welsh scientist (born 1660)source
  • July 9 – Christopher Slaughterford of London is executed in Guildford for the murder of Jane Young, his fiancée. He is the first person in modern England executed for murder based exclusively on circumstantial evidence, and he maintains his innocence to the last.source
  • 9 July – Christopher Slaughterford of London is executed in Guildford for the murder of Jane Young, his fiancée. He is the first person in modern England executed for murder based exclusively on circumstantial evidence, and he maintains his innocence to the last.United Kingdomsource
  • July 17 – Robert Bolling, English settler in Virginia (born 1646)source
  • August 31 – Andrea Pozzo, Jesuit Brother, architect and painter (born 1642)source
  • August - Robert Giguère, pioneer in New France and founder of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré (born 1616)Canadasource
  • October 2 – Ivan Mazepa, Hetman of Ukraine (born 1639)source
  • October 9 – Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland, English mistress of Charles II of England (born 1640)source
  • October 31 – Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon, English nobleman (born 1638)source
  • November 23 – William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland (born 1649)source
  • December 7 – Meindert Hobbema, Dutch painter (born 1638)source
  • Bjørn Frøysåk, farmer and merchant (born 1634).Norwaysource