1761 CE

The Russian Empire and the Austrian Empire sign a treaty of alliance. Protestant "manifesto of intolerance" ("Black Petition") against Roman Catholics signed in Galway. A 500-man force from the Army of Spain brings the revolt of Mexico's Maya population to an end, capturing the Yucatan village of Cisteil, killing about 500 of the 2,500 Mayan defenders and losing 40 of their own. The Spaniards arrest 254 people, including Jacinto Canek, who had proclaimed himself as King Canek Montezuma of the Mayas. Canek and eight other rebellion leaders are executed less than three weeks later.

In the 1760s, the 18th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • 5 February – Anders Johan von Höpken steps down as President of the Privy Council Chancellery.Swedensource
  • 25 March–5 May – a general election is held. The Whig party retains its majority.United Kingdomsource
  • April 1 – The Austrian Empire and the Russian Empire sign a new treaty of alliance.source
  • 1 April — The Russian Empire and the Austrian Empire sign a treaty of alliance.Russiasource
  • August 11 – Two years after his marriage to Martha Custis and his move to Mount Vernon, American military officer and politician George Washington advertises a reward in the Maryland Gazette for the capture of four fugitive slaves who ran away from him: Cupid, Peros, Jack and Neptune, claiming in the gazette that they had escaped "without the least suspicion, provocation, or difference with anybody".source
  • 15 August – Seven Years' War: France and Spain sign the Pacte de Famille forming an alliance against Britain.United Kingdomsource
  • August 29 – Cherokee chief Attakullakulla and British Army officer Major James Grant meet at Fort Prince George in the Province of South Carolina and begin negotiations to end the Anglo-Cherokee War.source
  • September 19 – Slavery in Portugal is abolished.source
  • 5 October – Pitt resigns as Secretary of State for the Southern Department. The Tory The Earl of Bute forms a new administration.United Kingdomsource
  • October 30 – Colonel Henry Bouquet issues the first proclamation against Anglo-American settlement on Indian lands in America.source
  • November 19 – A separate peace treaty is signed between the Cherokee Indians and the Colony of Virginia, bringing the Anglo-Cherokee War to a close.source
  • The Halifax Treaties are concluded between the various bands of the Miꞌkmaq, other First Nations people and the British in Halifax, Nova Scotia, notably in the Burying the Hatchet ceremony on June 25.source
  • In Dutch Guyana, a "state" formed by escaped slaves signs a treaty with the local governor.source
  • Wednesday July 29 – The British terms of peace are so hard that Choiseul declares: "I am as indifferent to peace as Pitt can be. I freely admit the King's desire for peace, and his Majesty may sign such a treaty, but my hand shall never be set to it."Canadasource
  • The village of Nuneham Courtenay in Oxfordshire is demolished and rebuilt on a new site by Simon, Earl Harcourt to improve the landscaping of Nuneham House.United Kingdomsource

Conflict & Security

  • January 14 – Third Battle of Panipat: In India, the armies of the Durrani Empire from Afghanistan, led by Ahmad Shah Durrani and his coalition decisively defeat the Maratha Confederacy, killing over 100,000 Maratha soldiers and civilians in battle and in a subsequent massacre, regaining territory lost by the Mughal Empire and restoring the Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II, to the throne in Delhi as the nominal ruler.source
  • 14 January – Third Battle of PanipatIndiasource
  • January 16 – In India, the Siege of Pondicherry ends as the British Empire captures Pondichéry from the French colonial empire.source
  • 16 January – in India, general Sir Eyre Coote captures Pondicherry from the French.United Kingdomsource
  • 9 March – Hexham Riot ("Bloody Monday"): a crowd protesting at enlistment to the militia in Hexham (Northumberland) is fired on by members of the North Yorkshire Militia with around 45 killed and many more wounded.United Kingdomsource
  • September – Secretary of State for the Southern Department William Pitt the Elder fails to garner support to declare war on Spain.United Kingdomsource
  • October 1 – Austrian field marshal Ernst Gideon von Laudon captures the Prussian town of Schweidnitz (now Świdnica in Poland) during the Seven Years' War.source
  • November 26 – A 500-man force from the Army of Spain brings the revolt of Mexico's Maya population to an end, capturing the Yucatan village of Cisteil, killing about 500 of the 2,500 Mayan defenders and losing 40 of their own. The Spaniards arrest 254 people, including Jacinto Canek, who had proclaimed himself as King Canek Montezuma of the Mayas. Canek and eight other rebellion leaders are executed less than three weeks later.source
  • December 16 – Seven Years' War: After four months of siege, the Russians under Pyotr Rumyantsev take the Prussian fortress of Kolberg.source
  • 16 December — Under the leadership of Pyotr Rumyantsev, Russian forces besiege and take control of the Prussian city of Kolberg during the Seven Years' War.Russiasource
  • 15–16 July – Seven Years' War: a combined Prussian-Hanoverian-British force led by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick defeats a large French army at the Battle of Villinghausen.United Kingdomsource

Exploration & Expansion

  • 4 January – The Danish Arabia Expedition departs from Copenhagen.Denmarksource
  • Matthew Boulton's Soho Manufactory opens in the midlands of England.source
  • Hvalbakur began appearing on maps in 1761Icelandsource
  • Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society formed on the outskirts of Edinburgh.Scotlandsource

Religion & Belief

  • 10 April – Claes Ekeblad appointed Privy Council Chancellery.Swedensource
  • 22 September – coronation of King George III and Queen Charlotte at Westminster Abbey.United Kingdomsource
  • 22 October – Relief Church founded as a liberal Presbyterian denomination at Colinsburgh by Thomas Gillespie, Thomas Boston and Thomas Colier.Scotlandsource
  • 10 November – Protestant "manifesto of intolerance" ("Black Petition") against Roman Catholics signed in Galway.Irelandsource
  • First church of the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion opened, in Brighton.United Kingdomsource
  • John Wesley – Rules of the United Societies, translated into Welsh by John Evans of Bala.Walessource

Economy & Finance

  • Faber-Castell Company is founded by Kasper Faber in Nuremberg, Germany.source
  • National income - ₹9,456 millionIndiasource

Technology & Infrastructure

  • July 17 – The first section of the Bridgewater Canal is opened, for the transportation of coal from local mines to Manchester.source
  • 17 July – James Brindley completes the Bridgewater Canal from Worsley to Manchester.United Kingdomsource
  • November 7 – The New London Harbor Light is first lit to guide ships into the Connecticut harbor; the lighthouse, only the fourth to be built has been in continuous operation for more than 250 years.source
  • Construction begins on Stjórnarráðshúsið.Icelandsource
  • The construction of Coche Manor in Breivik is completed.Norwaysource
  • The construction of Kongsberg Church is completed.Norwaysource
  • Penicuik House in Midlothian built in Palladian style on the site of an earlier house by Sir James Clerk, 3rd Baronet, for himself.Scotlandsource
  • Robert Adam and Sir William Chambers are jointly appointed Architect of the King's Works to King George III of Great Britain.Scotlandsource
  • Industrial Revolution: Establishment of Matthew Boulton's Soho Manufactory near Birmingham to serve the "Birmingham toy industry", considered as the first factory for the production of metal goods in Britain.United Kingdomsource

Science & Discovery

  • June 6 – (May 26 old style); A transit of Venus occurs, and is observed from 120 locations around the Earth. In his observations by telescope at St. Petersburg, Mikhail Lomonosov notes a ring of light around the planet's silhouette as it begins the transit, and becomes the first astronomer to discover that the planet Venus has an atmosphere.source
  • Marine chronometer invented as a means to accurately determine longitude.source
  • Johann Heinrich Lambert finds a proof that π is irrational.source
  • Georg Christian Oeder begins the publication of Flora DanicaDenmarksource
  • Johan Jacob Bruun begins the publication of his Novus Atlas DaniæDenmarksource
  • John Parry – A Collection of Welsh, English and Scotch AirsWalessource
  • Thomas Pennant – British Zoology, volume 1Walessource

Health & Medicine

  • April 4 – A severe epidemic of influenza breaks out in London and "practically the entire population of the city" is afflicted; particularly contagious to pregnant women, the disease causes an unusual number of miscarriages and premature births.source
  • April 14 – Thomas Boone is transferred south to become the Royal Governor of South Carolina after proving to be unable to work with the local assembly as the Royal Governor of New Jersey.source
  • October 5 – William Pitt is dismissed from his position as Secretary of State for the Southern Department after having been a powerful part of a coalition government with the Prime Minister, the Duke of Newcastle.source

Disasters & Accidents

  • 13 January – The Fire Insurance for All Danish Market Towns is instituted by law.Denmarksource
  • August 6 – The Parlement of Paris votes to close all colleges, associations and seminaries associated with the Jesuit Order, following a long campaign by Louis-Adrien Le Paige.source

Climate & Environment

  • February 8 – An earthquake in London breaks chimneys in Limehouse and Poplar.source
  • 8 February – an earthquake in London breaks chimneys in Limehouse and Poplar.United Kingdomsource
  • March 8 – A second earthquake occurs in North London, Hampstead and Highgate.source
  • 8 March – a second earthquake occurs in North London, Hampstead and Highgate.United Kingdomsource
  • March 31 – An 8.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Lisbon in the Kingdom of Portugal, with effects felt as far north as Scotland, but few deaths are reported because of censorship by the Portuguese government.source
  • May 4 – The first multiple death tornado in the 13 American colonies strikes Charleston, South Carolina, killing eight people and sinking five ships in harbor.source
  • 14 October – Great Malvern Tornado.United Kingdomsource
  • November 11 – The Earl of Egremont, serving as Secretary of State for the Southern Department, initiated a policy which forbids the issuing of any land grants to white settlers in territory occupied by the American Indian tribes.source

Culture & Society

  • May 9 – Exhibition of 1761, the innaugaral exhibition of the Society of Artists of Great Britain opens at Spring Gardens in Londonsource
  • 9 May – The Exhibition of 1761, the innaugaral exhibition of the Society of Artists of Great Britain opens at Spring Gardens in LondonUnited Kingdomsource
  • September 8 – George III marries Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.source
  • 8 September – King George III marries Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (who he has met for the first time earlier in the day) at St James's Palace.United Kingdomsource
  • September 22 – George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz are crowned.source
  • December – James Macpherson, supposedly translating "Ossian", publishes Fingal, an Ancient Epic Poem in Six Books, together with Several Other Poems composed by Ossian, the Son of Fingal, translated from the Gaelic Language.Scotlandsource
  • The music for "Ah! vous dirai-je, maman" ("Ah, would I tell you Mom?") is first published in France by a Monsieur Bouin in his book Les Amusements d'une Heure et Demy; in 1806, English poet Jane Taylor publishes her poem, The Star, whose words fit the rhythm of the tune and become the children's song Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.source
  • l'Ordre des Chevaliers Maçons Élus Coëns de l'Univers is founded.source
  • Tuesday October 6 – King George III offers Pitt the governorship of Canada, with £5,000 per annum, but, instead, makes Pitt's wife, Hester Pitt, Countess of Chatham, a peeress; and £13,000 per annum is granted to the survivor of three of his family.Canadasource
  • Johan Christopher Wessel was ennobled, and given the noble family name Tordenskiold.Norwaysource
  • After March – Allan Ramsay appointed to succeed John Shackelton as Principal Painter in Ordinary to King George III.Scotlandsource
  • Edward Allgood II (1712–1801) establishes a japannery at Usk.Walessource
  • Goronwy Owen takes up his position as a rector in Virginia, and his salary is agreed.Walessource

Births

Deaths

  • January 4 – Stephen Hales, English physiologist, chemist, and inventor (born 1677)source
  • January 10 – Edward Boscawen, British admiral (born 1711)source
  • January 26 – Charles Louis Auguste Fouquet, duc de Belle-Isle, French general and statesman (born 1684)source
  • February 1 – Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix, French historian (born 1682)source
  • February 6 – Clemens August of Bavaria, Archbishop-Elector of Cologne (born 1700)source
  • April 2 – William Sawyer, English cricketer (born 1712)source
  • April 9 – William Law, English minister (born 1686)source
  • April 15 – Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll, Scottish politician (born 1682)source
  • April 17 – Thomas Bayes, English mathematician (born c. 1702)source
  • May 14 – Thomas Simpson, English mathematician (born 1710)source
  • July 4 – Samuel Richardson, English writer (born 1689)source
  • 14 August - Birgitte Christine Kaas, poet and translator of hymns (born 1682).Norwaysource
  • August 15 – The Third Family Compact is executed by King Charles III of Spain and King Louis XV of France, as well as representatives of members of the House of Bourbon, King Ferdinand IV of Naples and Philip, Duke of Parma.source
  • November 15 – Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye, French Canadian fur trader and explorer (born 1717)Canadasource
  • December 9 – Tarabai, Indian queen regent of the Maratha Empire (born 1675)source
  • 9 December – Tarabai, Queen of Maratha Empire. (born 1675)Indiasource
  • December 23 – Alestair Ruadh MacDonnell, Scottish Jacobite spy (born c. 1725)source
  • Ivan Vishnyakov, painter (b.1699)Russiasource