Category Archives: 18th Century

Historical Facts from 1701 to 1800 CE

December 3, 1736

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Joel Byers

On December 3, 1736, Anders Celsius, the Swedish astronomer, physicist, mathematician and inventor of the Celsius thermometer, took measurements that confirmed Newton’s theory that the Earth was an ellipsoid instead of the previously accepted sphere and the previously, previously never accepted by any intelligent person or scientist, flat earth theory. Back then the scientists and … Continue reading →

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September 26, 1772

Posted on September 26, 2019 by Joel Byers

On September 26, 1772, the colony of New Jersey passed the first law in the Americas to license medical practitioners. Except those who did not charge for their services or those who only bled people to reduce the amount of hot or poisonous blood in their system or people who only pulled teeth. But if … Continue reading →

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September 15, 1775

Posted on September 15, 2019 by Joel Byers

On September 15, 1775, an early and unofficial American flag was raised by Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Mott after capturing Fort Johnson from the British. The flag was dark blue with the white words “Send Nudez” spelled on it. This was quickly brought down and replaced with one that had “Liberty” spelled on it. Little known, … Continue reading →

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September 1, 1715

Posted on September 1, 2019 by Joel Byers

On September 1, 1715, King Louis XIV of France died, after a reign of 72 years, the longest of any major European monarch. The French people and his successors thought he was never going to die. In fact, he outlived all of his sons and most of his grandsons. When he did finally died, his … Continue reading →

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August 25, 1718

Posted on August 25, 2019 by Joel Byers

On August 25, 1718, France deposited hundreds of colonists in Louisiana. Some even settled in present-day, New Orleans. The colonists in New Orleans immediately began showing their boobs to strangers for beads. This didn’t really catch on with the tourists until the women started doing it.

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August 24, 1751

Posted on August 24, 2019 by Joel Byers

On August 24, 1751, Englishman Thomas Colley was executed for drowning a witch. Colley was one of the leaders of a mob that seized an elderly couple, John and Ruth Osborne, from a workhouse in Tring, Hertfordshire and accused them of witchcraft. The pair of old people were subjected to dunking at a nearby pond … Continue reading →

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August 4, 1735

Posted on August 4, 2019 by Joel Byers

On August 4, 1735, John Peter Zenger was acquitted of seditious libel. The royal governor of New York had brought the charges from an article written by Mr. Zenger in the New York Weekly Journal. His jury stated that “the truth is not libelous” and helped establish the concept of freedom of the press in … Continue reading →

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August 2, 1791

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Joel Byers

On August 2, 1791, Americans Samuel Briggs and his son, Samuel Briggs, Jr., received a joint patent for their nail-making machine. They were the first father-son pair to receive an American patent. They really nailed it for the father-son contribution in 1791, didn’t they? Naaaaiiiiilllllled it. Naaaaiiiillllleeeeeddddd it. I’m going to keep hammering this pun … Continue reading →

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August 1, 1715

Posted on August 1, 2019 by Joel Byers

On August 1, 1715, the First Doggett’s Coat and Badge race was held on the Thames River in London, England. This is the longest continuously run rowing race in the world. The first race was run by the waterman (think river-taxis) and went from London Bridge to the Chelsea bridge. Each river-boat was allowed only … Continue reading →

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July 31, 1703

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Joel Byers

On July 31, 1703, English writer, Daniel DeFoe was placed in a pillory for the crime of publishing a politically satirical pamphlet, ‘The Shortest Way with the Dissenters’. The pamphlet was written as though a rabid, bigoted High Anglican zealot. It drew from many of the words and sermons of the Anglican church and said … Continue reading →

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