WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 18. CENTURY
Find out what all happened in the first half of the 18. century

The first venereal diseases clinic opens at London Lock Hospital. (31. January 1747)

The Kalabalik or Tumult in Bendery results from the Ottoman sultan's order that his unwelcome guest, King Charles XII of Sweden, be seized. (1. February 1713)

Alexander Selkirk is rescued after being shipwrecked on a desert island, inspiring the book Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. (2. February 1709)

During the Battle of Fraustadt Swedish forces defeat a superior Saxon-Polish-Russian force by deploying a double envelopment. (3. February 1706)

In Edo (now Tokyo), 46 of the Forty-seven Ronin commit seppuku (ritual suicide) as recompense for avenging their master's death. (4. February 1703)

The Supreme Privy Council is established in Russia. (8. February 1726)

Englishman James Oglethorpe founds Georgia, the 13th colony of the Thirteen Colonies, and its first city at Savannah (known as Georgia Day). (12. February 1733)

Battle of Karnal: The army of Iranian ruler Nadir Shah defeats the forces of the Mughal emperor of India, Muhammad Shah. (13. February 1739)

Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, becomes British Prime Minister. (16. February 1742)

The city of Surakarta, Central Java is founded on the banks of Bengawan Solo River, and becomes the capital of the Kingdom of Surakarta. (18. February 1745)

War of the Austrian Succession: The Battle of Toulon begins. (22. February 1744)

Richard Palmer is identified at York Castle, by his former schoolteacher, as the outlaw Dick Turpin. (23. February 1739)

The London première of Rinaldo by George Frideric Handel, the first Italian opera written for the London stage. (24. February 1711)

In the Battle of Helsingborg, 14,000 Danish invaders under Jørgen Rantzau are decisively defeated by an equally sized Swedish force under Magnus Stenbock. This is the last time Swedish and Danish troops meet on Swedish soil. (28. February 1710)

Queen Anne's War: French forces and Native Americans stage a raid on Deerfield, Massachusetts, killing 56 villagers and taking more than 100 captive. (29. February 1704)

February 29 is followed by February 30 in Sweden, in a move to abolish the Swedish calendar for a return to the Old style. (29. February 1712)

Queen Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden abdicates in favour of her husband, who becomes King Frederick I on 24 March. (29. February 1720)

The Loves of Mars and Venus is the first ballet performed in England. (2. March 1717)

Anne Stuart, sister of Mary II, becomes Queen regnant of England, Scotland, and Ireland. (8. March 1702)

The Safavid Empire of Iran is defeated by an army from Afghanistan at The Battle of Gulnabad, pushing Iran into anarchy. (8. March 1722)