1773 CE

First performance of Oliver Goldsmith's comedy She Stoops to Conquer at the Covent Garden Theatre in London. (Feast of St Martha) – Guatemala earthquake: The Santa Marta earthquake hits, with an estimated epicentral magnitude of 7.5 M i , striking Guatemala; numerous aftershocks last until December. The city of Antigua Guatemala is virtually destroyed, leading to the decision to move the country's capital to La Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción. The Komisja Edukacji Narodowej (Polish for National Education Committee), formed in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, is considered to be the world's first ministry of education.

In the 1770s, the 18th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • April 27 – The Parliament of Great Britain passes the Tea Act (coming into force on May 10), designed to save the British East India Company by granting it a monopoly on the North American tea trade.source
  • 27 April – Parliament passes the Tea Act 1773 (13 Geo. 3. c. 44), designed to save the British East India Company by granting it a monopoly on the North American tea trade.United Kingdomsource
  • 27 May – Parliament passes the Plate Assay (Sheffield and Birmingham) Act 1772 (13 Geo. 3. c. 52) permitting assay offices in Birmingham and Sheffield.United Kingdomsource
  • 1 June – The Treaty of Tsarskoye Selo is signed by Denmark and Russia.Denmarksource
  • June 10 – The Regulating Act is given royal assent by King George III, creating the office of Governor General, with an advising council, to exercise political authority over the territory under British East India Company rule in India.source
  • 21 June – Parliament passes the Regulating Act 1773 (13 Geo. 3. c. 63) creating the office of governor general, with an advising council, to exercise political authority over the territory under British East India Company rule in India.United Kingdomsource
  • 1 July – Parliament passes the Inclosure Act 1773 (13 Geo. 3. c. 81).United Kingdomsource
  • 7 November - Richard Morris makes his will.Walessource
  • December – Prominent French Canadians petition the King to restore their ancient laws and accord them the rights of British subjects, reminding him that five-sixths of the seigniories belong to Frenchmen. They represent that the Labrador Coast and fisheries, now alienated to Newfoundland, should revert to Canada. They prefer a Legislative Council, nominated by the King, because less expensive than an Elective Assembly.Canadasource
  • Formation of Volunteer corps: the First Magherafelt Volunteers (June); and the Offerlane Blues (10 October).Irelandsource

Conflict & Security

  • May 8 – In Egypt, Ottoman rebels revolt, killing Ali Bey, Mamluk Sultan of Egypt.source
  • October 10 – Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774): Second of the Russian occupations of Beirut begins, following a naval bombardment which began on August 2. The Russians leave Albanian mercenaries as an occupying force.source
  • Emelian Pugachev starts Pugachev's Rebellion in Russia, attacking and occupying Samara.source
  • Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774): Russian forces fail to take Silistria.source
  • Thomas Leland publishes The History of Ireland, from the invasion of Henry II.Irelandsource
  • Mobilization of the army in the province of Finland because of a feared attack from the Empire of Russia.Swedensource

Exploration & Expansion

  • January 17 – Second voyage of James Cook: Captain Cook in HMS Resolution (1771) becomes the first European explorer to cross the Antarctic Circle.source
  • 17 January – second voyage of James Cook: Captain Cook in HMS Resolution becomes the first European explorer to cross the Antarctic Circle.United Kingdomsource
  • March 9–19 – Second voyage of James Cook: Tobias Furneaux in HMS Adventure explores the coast of Van Diemen's Land.source
  • 7 April or 24 May – Freemasonry in France: The 200 masonic lodges are reorganized within the Grand Orient de France in a vast relational system hierarchized by affiliation.Francesource
  • June 4 – 1773 Phipps expedition towards the North Pole sets out from Britain.source
  • 4 June – 1773 Phipps expedition towards the North Pole sets out from the Nore.United Kingdomsource
  • August 11 – Second voyage of James Cook in the Tuamotus: Captain Cook discovers Tekokota, which he names Doubtful Island.source
  • August 12 – Second voyage of James Cook in the Tuamotus: Captain Cook discovers Marutea Nord, which he names Furneaux Island.source
  • November 10 – Four ships – the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, the Beaver and the William – depart Britain for America, carrying the first Indian tea to be subject to the newly enacted taxes. The William is lost in a storm; the Dartmouth is the first ship to reach Boston, docking on November 28.source
  • December 16 – Boston Tea Party: A group of American colonists, dressed as Mohawk Indians, steal aboard ships of the East India Company and dump their cargo of tea into Boston Harbor, in protest against British tax policies.source
  • 16 December – a group of American colonists, dressed as Mohawk Indians, steal aboard ships of the East India Company and dump their cargo of tea into Boston Harbor in a protest against British tax policies that became known as the Boston Tea Party.United Kingdomsource
  • Montreal Ft. La Traite, on Churchill River, by Frobisher to cut into HBC's trade.Canadasource
  • Mid-July – the emigrant ship Hector sets out from Scotland carrying emigrants mainly escaping the Highland Clearances around Loch Broom for Pictou, Nova Scotia, where they arrive on 15 September.Scotlandsource

Religion & Belief

  • January 1 – The hymn that becomes known as Amazing Grace, at this time titled "1 Chronicles 17:16–17", is first used to accompany a sermon led by curate John Newton in the town of Olney, Buckinghamshire, England.source
  • 1 January – the words of the hymn "Amazing Grace" (written by the curate John Newton) are probably first used in a prayer meeting at Olney, Buckinghamshire.United Kingdomsource
  • February 8 – The Grand Council of Poland meets in Warsaw, summoned by a circular letter from King Stanisław August Poniatowski to respond to the Kingdom's threatened partition between three foreign powers.source
  • February 27 – The construction of Christ Church (Alexandria, Virginia), known for being the house of worship for George Washington and the visiting site for subsequent U.S. presidents, is completed.source
  • July 14 – The first annual conference of American Methodists is convened at Philadelphia in St. George's Church.source
  • July 21 – Under pressure from the Bourbon courts, Pope Clement XIV suppresses the Society of Jesus (brief Dominus ac Redemptor). Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, expels the order from his territories.source
  • Lord Dartmouth promises Canadians just and considerate treatment respecting their religion.Canadasource
  • The Printing house on Hrappsey begins printing, notably being the first printing house to print solely secular writings.Icelandsource
  • Evan Evans (Ieuan Fardd) - Rhybudd Cyfr-drist i'r Diofal a DifrawWalessource

Economy & Finance

  • 24 February – Decision of the council reorganizing recovery of the poll tax on the bourgeoisie of Paris. Rents are recorded by Intendant Bertier de Sauvigny and the tax is calculated proportionally; the tax yield increases from 850,000 livres to 1,400,000 livres.Francesource
  • March – The General Turnpike Act 1773 (13 Geo. 3. c. 84) regulates the system of road tolls.United Kingdomsource
  • The Royal Swedish Ballet is founded.Swedensource
  • An informal Stock Exchange opens at Threadneedle Street in London.United Kingdomsource

Technology & Infrastructure

  • 27 May – Major landslip at Buildwas in the valley of the River Severn.United Kingdomsource
  • August – Inauguration of the pleasure gardens Vauxhall (Gotheburg).Swedensource
  • Marsala wine first shipped to England.source
  • A theater designed by Carl Fredrik Adelcrantz is constructed for the royal court at Gripsholm Castle.Swedensource
  • First London catering establishment to offer curry, Norrish Street Coffee House.United Kingdomsource
  • James Rivington settles in New York, where he begins selling musical instruments, including "Welsh harps".Walessource
  • Dolauhirion Bridge is built on the Llandovery to Cilycwm road by William Edwards.Walessource
  • David Williams, having resigned from the ministry, opens a school in Chelsea.Walessource

Science & Discovery

  • June – John Harrison receives the Longitude prize for his invention of the first marine chronometer.United Kingdomsource
  • October 13 – French astronomer Charles Messier discovers the Whirlpool Galaxy, an interacting, grand design spiral galaxy located at a distance of approximately 31 million light-years, in the constellation Canes Venatici.source
  • 13 October – Astronomer Charles Messier discovers the Whirlpool Galaxy, an interacting, grand design spiral galaxy located at a distance of approximately 31 million light-years, in the constellation Canes Venatici.Francesource
  • Hilaire Rouelle discovers urea.source
  • Scottish judge James Burnett, Lord Monboddo, begins publication of Of the Origin and Progress of Language, a contribution to evolutionary ideas of the Enlightenment.source
  • John Harrison wins the Longitude prize, for his invention of the marine chronometer.source
  • Lagrange presents his work on the secular equation of the Moon to the Académie Française, introducing the idea of the potential of a body. He also publishes on the attraction of ellipsoids and other mathematical matters.Francesource
  • David Dalrymple, Lord Hailes, publishes Remarks on the History of Scotland.Scotlandsource

Health & Medicine

  • October 12 – America's first insane asylum opens for Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds in Williamsburg, Virginia.source
  • Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau proposes the use of "muriatic acid gas" (hydrogen chloride) for fumigation of buildings.Francesource
  • Penny Post introduced in Edinburgh.Scotlandsource

Crime & Justice

  • De nymodiga fruntimren by Catharina Ahlgren.Swedensource
  • The Royal Swedish Academy of Arts is formally organized. Fifteen artists are accepted as members the same year, among them being Lorens Pasch the Younger and Ulrika Pasch.Swedensource
  • John Roberts (Siôn Robert Lewis) - Geirlyfr YsgrythurolWalessource

Disasters & Accidents

Climate & Environment

  • 22 April - An earthquake occurs in the Caernarfon area, with an estimated strength of 3.7.Walessource
  • 9 May – Hunger riots in Bordeaux.Francesource
  • May – England and Wales Precipitation totals 151.8 mm, the wettest May on record and the solitary still-standing record wet month from the eighteenth century.United Kingdomsource
  • July 29 (Feast of St Martha) – Guatemala earthquake: The Santa Marta earthquake hits, with an estimated epicentral magnitude of 7.5 M i , striking Guatemala; numerous aftershocks last until December. The city of Antigua Guatemala is virtually destroyed, leading to the decision to move the country's capital to La Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción.source
  • The population death rate doubles and the child mortality rate rose to 49% in of newborns under the age of five, due to famine and dysentery caused by crop failures in the previous years.Swedensource

Culture & Society

  • January 12 – The first museum in the American colonies is established in Charleston, South Carolina; in 1915, it is formally incorporated as the Charleston Museum.source
  • January 18 – The first opera performance in the Swedish language, Thetis and Phelée, performed by Carl Stenborg and Elisabeth Olin in Bollhuset in Stockholm, Sweden, marks the establishment of the Royal Swedish Opera.source
  • January 18 – The first opera performance in the Swedish language, Thetis et Pelée, performed by Carl Stenborg and Elisabeth Olin in Bollhuset, marks the establishment of the Royal Swedish Opera.Swedensource
  • March 15 – The popular (and enduring) comedy She Stoops to Conquer, by Irish playwright Oliver Goldsmith, is performed for the first time, premiering at London's Covent Garden Theatre.source
  • 15 March – first performance of Oliver Goldsmith's comedy She Stoops to Conquer at the Covent Garden Theatre in London.Irelandsource
  • 6 August – Samuel Johnson sets out for Scotland where on 14 August he meets James Boswell in Edinburgh for their tour to the Hebrides. On 12 September they are entertained at Kingsburgh, Skye, by Allan and Flora MacDonald.Scotlandsource
  • September 11 – The Public Advertiser publishes a satirical essay titled Rules By Which A Great Empire May Be Reduced To A Small One, written by Benjamin Franklin.source
  • October 10 – Paul Revere marries Rachel Walker, his second wife.source
  • October 14 – The Komisja Edukacji Narodowej (Polish for National Education Committee), formed in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, is considered to be the world's first ministry of education.source
  • 2 November - The Sunnmøre Practical Agricultural Society was founded.Norwaysource
  • 25 November - Walter Siddons marries Sarah Kemble.Walessource
  • December 23 – Moscow State Academy of Choreography was founded under the reign of Catherine II. It is the second ballet school in Russia after Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.source
  • Istanbul Technical University is established (under the name of Royal School of Naval Engineering) as the world's first comprehensive institution of higher learning dedicated to engineering education.source
  • Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock publishes the last five cantos of his epic poem Der Messias in Hamburg.source
  • In China, written work begins on the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries, the largest literary compilation of books in China's history (surpassing the Yongle Encyclopedia of the 15th Century). Upon completion in 1782, the books are bound in 36,381 volumes (册) with more than 79,000 chapters (卷), comprising about 2.3 million pages, and approximately 800 million Chinese characters.source
  • Antoine Baumé publishes his textbook Chymie expérimentale et raisonnée in Paris.Francesource
  • The Norwegian Mapping Authority, Norway's national mapping agency, was founded.Norwaysource
  • Commission of National EducationPolandsource

Births

  • January 14 – William Amherst, 1st Earl Amherst, diplomat and governor general (d.1857)Canadasource
  • January 27 – Prince Augustus of Great Britain, Duke of Sussex (died 1843)source
  • February 9 – William Henry Harrison, American military leader and ninth President of the United States (died 1841)source
  • March 26 – Nathaniel Bowditch, American mathematician (died 1838)source
  • April 4 – Étienne Maurice Gérard, Prime Minister and Marshal of France (died 1852)source
  • 2 May - Henrik Steffens, philosopher, scientist, and poet (died 1845)Norwaysource
  • May 15 – Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, Austrian statesman (died 1859)source
  • June 13 – Thomas Young, English scientist (died 1829)source
  • July 23 – Thomas Brisbane, Scottish astronomer, Governor of New South Wales (died 1860)source
  • August 22 – Aimé Bonpland, French explorer, botanist (died 1858)source
  • September 17 – Jonathan Alder, American settler (died 1849)source
  • October 6 – Louis Philippe I, King of the French (died 1850)source
  • 14 November - Stapleton Stapleton-Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere, military leader (died 1865)Walessource
  • December 9 – Armand Augustin Louis de Caulaincourt, French general, diplomat (died 1827)source
  • December 17 – Sylvain Charles Valée, Marshal of France (died 1846)source
  • December 21 – Robert Brown, Scottish botanist (died 1858)source
  • December 27 – Sir George Cayley, English aviation pioneer (died 1857)source
  • Vasily Karazin was prominent scholar, enlightener, founder of Kharkiv University.Russiasource

Deaths

  • January 12 – Jacob von Eggers, Military engineer (born 1704)source
  • January 23 – Manuel Pinto da Fonseca, 68th Grandmaster of the Knights Hospitaller (born 1681)source
  • January 23 – Pieter van Reede van Oudtshoorn, Dutch administrator of the Cape Colony (born 1714)source
  • January 31 – Sebastian Zouberbuhler, merchant and politician in Nova ScotiaCanadasource
  • February 20 – King Charles Emmanuel III of Sardinia (born 1701)source
  • March 1 – Luigi Vanvitelli, Italian architect (born 1700)source
  • March 24 – Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, English statesman and man of letters (born 1694)source
  • May 8 – Ali Bey Al-Kabir, Mamluk Sultan of Egypt (born 1728)source
  • May 28 – John Wayles, American lawyer and planter (born 1715)source
  • June 21 – Jorge Juan y Santacilia, Spanish geodesist (born 1713)source
  • July 12 – Johann Joachim Quantz, German flutist, composer (born 1697)source
  • 21 July - Howell Harris, Methodist leader, 59Walessource
  • July 23 – George Edwards, English ornithologist and naturalist (born 1694)source
  • 23 September - Johan Ernst Gunnerus, bishop and botanist (born 1718)Norwaysource
  • October 10 – Daniel Boone leads the first attempt by British colonists to establish a settlement in Kentucky, but is turned back in an attack by Native Americans, in which his son is killed.source
  • November 2 – John Glas, Scottish minister (born 1695)source
  • November 8 – Friedrich Wilhelm von Seydlitz, Prussian general (born 1721)source
  • Bjarni Halldórsson, theologian.Icelandsource