| 1762 – |
12 August The birth of Prince George (future Prince Regent subsequently George IV) |
| 1769 – |
Duke of Wellington born in Ireland |
| 1771 – |
Sir Walter Scott born in Edinburgh, August 15 |
| 1778 – |
7 June the birth of 'Beau' George Bryan Brummell |
| 1783 – |
American independence is finally recognised by Britain at the treaty of Paris |
| 1785 – |
15 December – Prince George marries Mrs Fitzherbert in an illegal ceremony at her house |
| 1788 – |
Jan 26: First convicts (and free settlers) arrive in New South Wales - the 'First Fleet'; George III's first attack of madness – Edmund Burke and Charles James Fox attack ministry of William Pitt – trying to obtain full regal powers for the Prince of Wales. The King recovers before either side is victorious.First slave carrying act, the Dolben Act of 1788, regulates the slave trade – stipulates more humane conditions on slave ships. |
| 1788 – |
11 November: Morning Chronicle prints a denial that George III is dead, while on the 12th Doctor Warren told Lady Spencer that the "insanity is now fixed". |
| 1789 – |
Jul 14: The French Revolution begins – storming of the Bastille. Signifies the beginning of the Regency period. |
| 1789 – |
George Washington is Recognised as the first President of the United States. |
| 1791 – |
Sugar prices rise steeply John Bell, printer, abandons the "long s" (the "s" that looks like an "f") Establishment of the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain Dec 4: First publication of The Observer – oldest Sunday newspaper. |
| 1792 – |
France is declared a republic. Repression in Britain (restrictions on freedom of the press) – Fox gets Libel Act through Parliament, requiring a jury and not a judge to determine libel. Oct 1: Introduction of Money Orders in Britain. Coal-gas lighting invented by William Murdock, an Ayrshire Scot. Dec 1: King's Proclamation drawing out the British militia. |
| 1793 – |
Feb 11: England declares war on France (1793-1802) Execution of Louis XVI – Reign of Terror starts in France Apr 15: £5 notes first issued by the Bank of England Oct – execution of Louis XVI. |
| 1794 – |
Battle of Glorious First of June Whitney patents the cotton gin Oct 6: The prosecutor for Britain, Lord Justice Eyre, charges reformers with High Treason - he argued that, since reform of parliament would lead to revolution and revolution to executing the King, the desire for reform endangered the King's life and was therefore treasonous Lindley Murray English Grammar Execution of Robespierre ends the Reign of Terror. |
| 1795 – |
April 8: George marries Princess Caroline of Brunswick in St James's Palace. |
| 1795 – |
June 8: Louis XVII dies in the Temple Prison in Paris. |
| 1795 – |
The Famine Year Foundation of the Orange Order Speenhamland Act proclaims that the Parish is responsible for bringing up the labourer's wage to subsistence level – towards the end of the eighteenth century, the number of poor and unemployed increased dramatically – price increases during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (1793-1815) far outstripped wage rises – many small farmers were bankrupted by the move towards enclosures and became landless labourers – their wages were often pitifully low.Pitt and Grenville introduce "The Gagging Acts" or "Two Bills" (the Seditious Meetings and Treasonable Practices Bills) – outlawed the mass meeting and the political lecture Consumption of lime juice made compulsory in Royal Navy France adopts the metric system. |
| 1796 – |
May 14: Dr Edward Jenner gave first vaccination for smallpox in England. Holden's Triennial Directory published Pitt's "Reign of Terror": More treason trials - leading radicals emigrate. Possible threat from French invasion of Britain |
| 1796 – |
Princes Charlotte (George and Caroline's only child) was born January 7, 1796 |
| 1797 – |
England in Crisis, Bank of England suspends cash payments (this meant that notes were usually of high denomination, suspension meant that on Feb 26: First 1 pound note issued by Bank of England Apr-Jun: Mutinies in the British Navy at Spithead and Tax on newspapers (including cheap, topical journals) increased to repress radical publications. |
| 1797 – 99 – |
First drafts of Pride and Prejudice, Northanger Abbey and Sense and Sensibility are written but refused publication. |
| 1798 – |
Feb-Oct: The Irish Rebellion; 100,000 peasants revolt; approximately 25,000 die – Irish Parliament abolished First planned human experiment with vaccination, to test theories of Edward Jenner Malthus Essay on Population. |
| 1799 – |
Jan 9: Pitt brings in 10% income tax, as a wartime financial measure. Jul 12: 'Combination Laws' in Britain against political associations and combinations. Foundation of Royal Military College Sandhurst by the Duke of York. Foundation of the Royal Institution of Great Britain. Post Office New Annual Directory. Rosetta Stone discovered in Egypt, made possible the deciphering of Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. |
| 1799 – |
Napoleon seizes power in Paris on 9-10 November in a coup d'état. |
| 1799 – |
Constable moves to London |
| 1800 – |
Jul 2: Parliamentary union of Great Britain and Ireland. Electric light first produced by Sir Humphrey Davy. Use of high pressure steam pioneered by Richard Trevithick. Earliest Bible Christian registers. Royal College of Surgeons founded. Herschel discovers infra-red light. Volta makes first electrical battery. |
| 1800 – 15 – |
Continuation of the French revolutionary wars in Europe led by Napoleon Bonaparte |
| 1800 – 15 – |
British trade accounts for about 27% of world trade |
| 1800 – 15 – |
Chinese Imperial government bans the import of foreign Opium, heralding a period of conflict between Britain and China. |
| 1801 – 03 – |
Chiniose interiors completed at the Royal Pavilion. |
| 1801 – |
Union Jack official British flag Jun 29: First census puts the population of England and Wales at 9,168,000 - population of Britain nearly 11 million (75% rural). Grand Union Canal opens in England. Surrey iron railway, on which horse-drawn trucks carry coal and farm produce. Elgin Marbles brought from Athens to London. |
| 1801 – |
The Act of Union creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland comes into force. |
| 1802 – |
Mar 25: Treaty of Amiens signed by Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands - the "Peace of Amiens," as it was known, brought a temporary peace of 14 months during the Napoleonic Wars - one of its most important cultural effects was that travel and correspondence across the English Channel became possible again. Charlotte Dundas on Clyde, first practical steamship, built by William Symington. First British Factory Act. William Cobbett begins his weekly Political Register. Regular mail service started between England and India. |
| 1803 – |
Peace of Amiens ends on 12 May – resumption of war with France – The Napoleonic Wars (1803-18l5). William Cobbett began unofficial publication of Parliamentary reports (taken over by Hansard report in 1811). First publication of Debrett's Peerage by John Debrett. Poaching made a Capital offence in England if capture resisted. Early locomotive constructed by Richard Trevithick and First public railway opens (Wandsworth to Croydon). Semaphore signalling perfected by Admiral Popham in response to the coastal threat posed by Napoleon. Commissioners for Highland Roads and Bridges created in Scotland, Thomas Telford begins construction. Louisiana Purchase: Napoleon sells French possessions in America to United States. |
| 1804 – |
Richard Trevithick runs his railway engine on the Penydarren Railway in Wales. Code Napoleon adopted in France Dec 12: Spain declares war on Britain. Blake's Jerusalem (later set to music by Parry). |
| 1805 – |
Oct 21: Nelson, although killed in the action defeats a combined French and Spanish fleet at the battle of Trafalgar. London docks opened. |
| 1806 – |
Napoleon attempts European economic blockade of Britain. Dartmoor Prison opened (built by French prisoners). |
| 1807 – |
Dean Mahomet opens the first Indian owned curry house in the country in London (Writer of the first book published in English written by an Indian 1794). |
| 1807 – |
Mar 25: Parliament passes Act prohibiting slavery and the importation of slaves from 1808 – but does not prohibit colonial slavery. Jul 13: 'Hot Wednesday' – temperature of 101°F in the shade recorded in London Gas lighting in London streets Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. |
| 1808 – |
Beginning of 'Luddite' troubles in England. |
| 1808 – 14 – |
Peninsular War in Spain between France and Britain. |
| 1809 – |
Napoleon captures Vienna. |
| 1810 – |
Amelia, George III favourite and youngest daughters dies of 'consumption'. It was suggested at the time that the enormous stress this caused was to bring on his final porphyritic attack from which he did not recover. |
| 1810 – |
In October, Wellington prevents France from capturing Lisbon by staging a successful rearguard action at Torres Vedras. British navy captures Guadeloupe, the last French colony in the West Indies. |
| 1811 – |
January 11: Lord Alvanley bet Sir Joseph Coley twenty guineas that a certain person would outlive another certain person (Prince of Pleasure - Priestley) |
| 1811 – |
Second census puts the population of London at 1 million |
| 1811 – |
Glasgow weavers riots |
| 1811 – |
Wellington plays a waiting game, building up his forces. He holds off the French at Fuentes d'Onoro and Albuhera in the Peninsular War. |
| 1811 – |
On 19 June 1811, the Prince Regent gave a fete ostensibly in honour of the exiled royal family of France, but really in celebration of his assumption of the Regency. With King George III so very ill, decorum called for no outward celebration on the Prince's part, so the magnificent entertainment celebrating the Regent's rise to power was politely named a fete for the French Royal Family. Two thousand invitations were dispatched announcing a fete at nine p.m. June 19, 1811 at Carlton House. |
| 1811 – |
Nov: Luddite uprisings (machine breaking) in the Midlands against weaving frames started - went on until 1815 - groups of workmen rebelled against the increased mechanisation of textile production by destroying the new machinery - government fears revolutionary conspiracy - damaging property or taking Luddite oaths become capital offences |
| 1811 – |
King George suffers his final attack, from which he never recovers |
| 1811 – |
Sense and Sensibility published |
| 1811 – |
Prague Conservatoire is opened |
| 1811 – |
Pop. of England and Wales from the census is over 10 million |
| 1811 – |
Begins building Solus Lodge at Twickenham, completed in 1813. It was later called Sandycombe Lodge.Turner gives his first lecture as professor at Royal Academy. His lectures style was ridiculed, but his accompanying diagrams and watercolours were admired. |
| 1811 – |
Before Michaelmas (i.e. Sept. 29, one of the four `quarter days' according to which houses etc. were rented): Bingley takes possession of Netherfield. Tues 15 Oct. Mr. Collins's letter sent to Mr. Bennet, who does not tell his family. About this time, the Meryton assembly is held, and Darcy's snub takes place. A day later, the Lucas-Bennet confabulation. [Not dated.] Bingley and Jane become mutually attracted. Charlotte gives advice to Elizabeth. Darcy begins to find Elizabeth attractive. Evening at Sir William Lucas's. Lydia and Kitty frequently visiting Meryton, on account of the officers of the recently arrived militia regiment quartered there. Tues 12 Nov. Jane is invited to dine at Netherfield. Wed 13 Nov. News of Jane's illness; Elizabeth goes to Netherfield. Thurs 14 Nov. Mrs. Bennet at Netherfield. Elizabeth remains. Fri 15 Nov. Elizabeth examines Darcy's temperament. Darcy begins to feel his danger. Sat 16 Nov. Darcy adheres to his book. Sun 17 Nov. The Bennet sisters leave Netherfield. Mon 18 Nov. Arrival of Mr. Collins. Tues 19 Nov. First appearance of Wickham. Wed 20 Nov. Supper with the Philipses. Elizabeth's conversation with Wickham. Thurs 21 Nov. The Bingleys visit Longbourn. Elizabeth suspects that Mr. Collins intends to propose to her. Fri 22 Nov.-Mon 25 Nov. A succession of rain. Tues 26 Nov. The ball at Netherfield. Elizabeth and Darcy dance. Elizabeth's relations "expose themselves" in front of Darcy Wed 27 Nov. Mr. Collins proposes Bingley goes to London. Thurs 28 Nov. Elizabeth talks with Wickham. The Bingleys leave Netherfield. Fri 29 Nov. Mr. Collins at Lucas Lodge. Sat 30 Nov. Mr. Collins returns to Hunsford. Charlotte Lucas breaks the news of her engagement to Elizabeth. Tues 3 Dec. Mr. Collins promised letter of thanks arrives. Mon 16 Dec. His return to Longbourn. ? Dec. Letter from Caroline Bingley to Jane. Sat 21 Dec. Mr. Collins's departure. Mon 23 Dec. The Gardiners come for Christmas. Mon 30 Dec. They leave, taking Jane. |
| 1812 – |
February 2: The US suspends trading with Great Britain April 4: American trade embargoed by GB |
| 1812 – |
May 11: PM Spencer Percival is assassinated in the House of Commons - shot as he entered the House of Commons by a bankrupt Liverpool broker, John Bellingham, who was subsequently hanged |
| 1812 – |
On 15 May at the Old Bailey John Bellingham was condemned to death: he was executed on 18 May 1812. |
| 1812 – |
Jun 18: Start of American "War of 1812" (to 1814) against England and Canada In August, Wellington enters Madrid after victories at Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz and Salamanca. Then he is forced back to the Portuguese border. In September, Napoleon enters Moscow, but is forced to retreat about a month later.Comet steamship launched in Scotland, operated on the River Clyde. |
| 1812 – |
The Luddite riots spread throughout the midlands and the north of England. |
| 1812 – |
Anonymous death threats sent to the Prince signed 'Vox Populi' and 'An enemy of the damned Royal Family'. In the North walls and doors were placarded with posters offering 100 guineas as a reward for the Regents head. |
| 1812 – |
The final shipment of the Elgin Marbles arrives in England. The transfer from Greece of the group of ancient sculptures and architectural details has caused much controversy in England. |
| 1812 – |
Areas around the west end and especially Covent Garden are lit by high power coal-gas lighting |
| 1812 – |
Turner paints the Snow Storm: Hannibal and his army crossing the Alps |
| 1813 – |
'Policy for the Improvement of the Highlands' approved by British Parliament Ireland: First recorded "12th of July" sectarian riots in Belfast Rose's Act (1812) established a printed format for baptism & burial registers Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice published |
| 1813 – |
Turner paints 'Frosty Morning' and 'Distant view of Plymouth' |
| 1814 – |
Mansfield Park Published |
| 1814 – |
On the 3rd of May Louis XVIII entered Paris to claim the French throne. |
| 1814 – |
"Year of the Burning" in Sutherland and Ross Act of Burial in Woollen repealed First Pigot's Commercial Directory printed Jan 1: Invasion of France by Allies Apr 6: Napoleon abdicates and is exiled to Elba Nov 29: The Times first printed by a 'mechanical apparatus' (at 1,100 sheets per hour) Sugar prices reach record heights |
| 1814 – |
April 20, Triumphal procession for Louis XVII from Hyde Park to Grillon's Hotel June 7, Arrival of Alexander I, King William III of Prussia, Marshal Blucher, Prince Metternich, Prince of Liechtenstein, and Prince Leopold in London June 11, Prince Regent and other Allied Leaders attend opera at Covent Garden June 16, Prince Regent and Allied Leaders are guests at Celebratory diner held by the merchants and bankers of London. June 18, Prince Regent, Marquis of Wellesly, Lord Liverpool, Marshal Blucher, Prince Metternich, Tsar Alexander I, and Catherine Grand Duchess of Oldenburg are guests of honour at a dinner given by the Corporation of London June 20, Prince Regent, Duke of York, King of Prussia, Tsar Alexander I, General Blucher, General Lord Beresford and General Hill review 12,000 troops in Hyde Park. Trafalgar re-enactment takes place. June 28, Official welcome of Wellington on his triumphal return to England by the Queen at Buckingham House July 1, White's Ball in honour of Duke of Wellington given at Burlington House. 1700 persons attend. July 7, Service of General Thanksgiving for the Allied Victory held in St Paul's Cathedral. Prince Regent and Wellington enter together; the Duke bearing the sword of state. July 21, Fete held in the temporary rooms in the garden at Carlton House to honour the Duke of Wellington August 1, Anniversary of Hanoverian rule. Re-enactment of the Battle of the Nile in St James Park. Transformation and illumination of the Temple of Concorde in Green Park. |
| 1814 – |
British forces burn down the White House |
| 1814 – |
Marquis de Sade dies in Prison aged 74 |
| 1815 – |
Napoleon escapes from Elba to March on Paris where he is proclaimed Emperor again - signals the beginning of the "100 days war", only to be defeated at the battle of Waterloo by Wellington |
| 1815 – |
Jun 18: The Battle of Waterloo: Napoleon defeated and exiled to St. Helena Corn Bill passed with enormous benefit to landlords Trial by Jury established in Scotland Davy develops the safety lamp for miners |
| 1815 – |
Turner refuses to sell Dido Building Carthage for five thousand guineas (an enormous amount of money at the time). The painting was bequeathed to the 'British Nation' on his death. |
| 1815 – |
The tax on newspapers reaches a record 4 d on retail price of 6 - 7 d |
| 1815 - 23 – |
Nash builds the exteriors of the Brighton Pavilion at the Request of the Prince Regent. |
| 1816 – |
Emma published |
| 1816 – |
Princess Charlotte marries Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg on May 2, 1816 |
| 1816 – |
Economic depression - rise in wheat prices Income tax abolished, due to the end of wars with France.Excise tax payable on paper production (start of papermaking Mill numbers) - until 1861 Climate: the 'year without a summer' - followed a volcanic eruption in Indonesia Cobbett's Register selling 40-60,000 copies per week Large scale emigration to North America Trans-Atlantic packet service begins |
| 1816 – |
A series of riots across the country in reaction to the unstable and rising price of wheat and beef |
| 1816 – |
Mary Shelley, her stepsister, Percy Bysshe Shelley and his wife go abroad, this time spending time with Byron and his friend Polidori in Geneva. There Byron suggests that they should all write a ghost story. Mary writes Frankenstein, the only story of the four that was ever to be published as a novel. Later that same year, Percy's wife drowns herself: Percy and Mary marry in December 1816. |
| 1816 – |
William Cobbett publishes his newspaper as a pamphlet thereby exempt from the duty on newspapers at 2d, soon he has increased his circulation by 40 times to a circulation 40,000 and becomes the main newspaper read by the working classes. |
| 1816 – |
During the Christmas season , Quaker prison- reformer Elizabeth Fry started her ministry at Newgate Prison. |
| 1817 – |
On the 15th January Carême creates a massive feast at the Pavilion (we have the menu) during his 8 months in residence there after which he returns to France due to homesickness. |
| 1817 – |
Jane Austen dies at Winchester |
| 1817 – |
June 18th Waterloo Bridge opens |
| 1817 – |
Johnstone's London Directory printed March of the Manchester Blanketeers; Habeas Corpus suspended Constable Flatford Mill |
| 1817 – |
Princess Charlotte tragically died in childbirth of a stillborn son on November 6, 1817. Eventually resulting in the succession of Victoria, George's niece to the British Throne. Extended period of mourning lasts well into the new year as commented upon by Richard Rush "In the dresses of both Black predominates". |
| 1817 – |
Between Christmas and New Year the eccentric history painter B R Haydon holds the Immortal Dinner with John Keats, William Wordsworth and Charles Lamb. |
| 1817 – |
William Cobbett, Editor of the Political Register evades imprisonment by escaping to the States, From where he continues to publish the Political Register from exile. |
| 1818 – |
13th February - While attending a similar case as the late Princess Charlotte, Sir Richard Croft [her doctor] took a pistol from the wall and shot himself in the woman's house. |
| 1818 – |
14th June - Mary Shelley writes to Sir Walter Scott informing him that she, and not her husband was the authoress of Frankenstein. |
| 1818 – |
Queen Charlotte dies in Kew with the Regent, 17th November |
| 1818 – |
Persuation and Northanger Abbey are published posthumously |
| 1818 – |
Manchester cotton spinners' strike |
| 1818 – |
In autumn Turner visits Edinburgh in connection with Sir Walter Scott's The Provincial Antiquities of Scotland. |
| 1819 – |
May: Savannah first steamship to cross Atlantic, reaching Liverpool 20 June 1819 (26 days) Aug 16: Peterloo Massacre at Manchester - a large, orderly group of 60,000 meets at St. Peter's Fields, Manchester - demand Parliamentary Reform - mounted troops charge on the meeting, killing and maiming many people Dec: Six Acts passed against radical political Unions - prohibits assemblies similar to St. Peter's Fields and imposes press censorship Britain returns to gold standard Singapore founded by Sir Stamford Raffles Keats Ode on a Grecian Urn. |
| 1819 – |
Princess Victoria (Future Queen) is christened in Kensington Palace |
| 1819 – |
Most towns of 10,000+ people have coal-gas lighting in England |
| 1820 – |
"his Majesty [King George III] expired at 32 minutes past 8 o'clock p.m., 29th January 1820" It is now believed that he was suffering from a severe form of the disease Porphyria (A disease caused by a genetic mistake in the metabolic process involved in the breakdown of the pigment in red blood cells) The Prince Regent may also have had a less severe form, as also may have Princess Charlotte, it has been suggested since that this was the cause of her stillborn son and subsequent death. |
| 1820 – |
John Contsable begins work on the Hay Wain |
| 1820 – |
In February 1820 (only eight years after the shooting of Prime Minister, Spencer Perceval), a Jacobite plot was discovered to assassinate the entire cabinet. The leader, Arthur Thistlewood, was betrayed and arrested at a house in Cato Street. He, and other conspirators, were hung from the gallows. |
| 1821 – |
July Coronation of King George IV |
| 1821 – |
Napoleon dies |
| 1822 – |
8 July 1822, Shelley drowns on a fishing trip with a friend |
| 1822 – |
Goes to Edinburgh in August for the State Visit of George IV. |
| 1824 – |
Constable is awarded a gold medal by the king of France for The Hay Wain. The Lock bought for the asking price from the Royal Academy exhibition. |
| 1830 – |
26 June 1830 after a series of strokes George IV dies; his brother William IV succeeds. Manchester - Liverpool Railway (first in England). |
| 1840 – |
30th March Beau Brummell dies insane, incontinent and impoverished at a home in Normandy. |
