1732
George Washington born 22 February 1732.
1736
The first successful operation for appendicitis performed.
1737
Earthquake in Calcutta, India kills about 300,000 people.
1739
England declares war on Spain.
1740
Faneuil Hall in Boston was built by John Smibert.
1741
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi died 28 July 1741.
1742
Celcius invents new temperature scale.
1743
Thomas Jefferson born 13 April 1743.
1745
By 1745 there were 22 newspapers being published throughout the colonies.
1746
Jacobite rising of 1745 defeated at the Battle of Culloden, Scotland.
1747
The New York Bar Association is founded in New York City.
1748
Lost city of Pompeii, Italy, rediscovered.
1750
Johann Sebastian Bach died 28 July 1750.
1751
The College of Philadelphia opens with Benjamin Franklin as president.
1752
The Gregorian calendar was adopted on 1 January.
1753
The Marriage Act 1753 was introduced in England and Wales.
1754
The Seven Years' War begins...
1755
April 1755 Samuel Johnson published his dictionary of the English language.
1756
American artist John Trumbull born 6 June.
1759
Robert Burns, the Scottish poet born. George Frideric Handel dies.
1760
George II dies and George III becomes the new King of England.
1762
Catherine, the Great, comes to power in Russia.
1763
England wins the Seven Year's War ends with the Treaty of Paris.
1764
James Watt invents the steam condenser,leading to the steam engine.
1765
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (d 1791) writes his first symphony at the age of 9.
1766
British Parliament repeals the Colonial Stamp Act and modifies the Sugar Act.
1767
The Nautical Almanac allowed the determination of longitude whilst at sea.
1768
Captain James Cook sets sail on his expedition to explore the Pacific.
1769
Napolean Bonaparte born on the Mediterranean Island of Corsica.
1770
Rise in tensions between British and colonials with the 'Boston Massacre'.
1772
Royal Navy Sloop “Gaspee” attacked and burned by Rhode Islanders.
1773
'Boston Tea Party' led by Samuel Adams.
1774
The First Continental Congress, met on 5 September in Philadelphia.
1775
Oxygen as an element was first discovered.
1776
The United States issues its Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776.
1777
American inventor, David Bushnell, invents the torpedo.
1778
Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet) dies May 30, 1778.
1779
Spain declares war on Britain independent of the French and American alliance.
1780
Oct 19. British forces surrender to George Washington at Yorktown.
1782
June 20, Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States of America.
1783
The first succesful hot air baloon flight and parachute jump in France
1785
Horatio Nelson, Britain’s Greatest Admiral was born (d1805).
1786
USA adopts coins based on Spanish dollar.
1787
George Washington unanimously elected the 1st President of the USA.
1788
The American Constitution comes into effect.
1789
The French Revolution starts with riots in Paris (ends1799).
1790
'Founding Father' of the USA, Benjamin Franklin dies 17 April.
1799
George Washington dies. Napolean Bonaparte seizes power in France.
1800
The Library of Congress is established in Washington.