The era of
Subscribe1750s
8 recaps across 7 years of the decade. Reconstructed from contemporary coverage, archives, and the public record.
1752Discovery of Electricity
Franklin's kite experiment proved lightning's electrical nature, unlocking understanding of a force that would power modern civilization.
1753British Museum Founded
The world's first major public museum established the institutional model for democratic access to cultural patrimony.
1754Hammurabi's Code Festivals Established
Codified religious and commercial festivals reveal structured public assemblies with ceremonial governance procedures in ancient Babylon.
1755Lisbon Earthquake Destroys City
A magnitude 8.5 earthquake levels Lisbon and triggers tsunamis across the Atlantic, becoming the deadliest European disaster on record and reshaping philosophical thought on suffering.
1757Battle of Plassey
Robert Clive's victory over the Nawab of Bengal established British dominance in India and marked the foundation of British colonial rule on the subcontinent.
1757Battle of Kolin
Russian-Austrian forces halted Frederick the Great's invasion, reversed Prussian military momentum in Seven Years' War.
1758Halley's Comet Observed
Edmond Halley's prediction of the comet's return confirmed orbital mechanics and became a landmark moment in the history of astronomy.
1759Battle of the Plains of Abraham
This pivotal battle in Quebec determined British control of North America and reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the continent.
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After
The 1760s →