Media History Project
mediahst@umn.edu

1700-1799

  • 1700: Protestant German nations adopt the Gregorian calendar promulgated in 1582.
  • 1700: Japan’s Chikamatsu Monzaemon writes first tragedies about common people.
  • 1702: Engraving made with three primary colors and black.
  • 1702: In U.S., slaves turn Old Testament stories into spirituals.
  • 1702: The first daily newspaper in the English language, the Daily Courant.
  • 1703: Antonio Vivaldi begins composing sonatas, 550 concertos, more than 20 operas.
  • 1703: A newspaper starts publication in Peter the Great’s Russia.
  • 1704: Isaac Newton writes on Opticks.
  • 1704: Daniel Defoe publishes critical periodical Review; foes try to shut him up.
  • 1704: John Harris’ Lexicon technicum, the first modern encyclopedia.
  • 1704: In the American colonial city of Boston, a newspaper prints advertising.
  • 1705: French horns make their appearance in an opera, Octavia.
  • 1709: In London, The Tatler, first major magazine.
  • 1709: In Holland, German physicist Gabriel Fahrenheit designs a thermometer.
  • 1709: George Berkeley argues that material objects exist only in our minds.
  • 1710: Berkeley’s Principles of Human Knowledge explains his "idealism."
  • 1710: German engraver Le Blon develops three-color printing.
  • 1710: England’s copyright act is the basis for protection of intellectual property.
  • 1710: Florence harpsichord maker Bartolommeo Cristofori invents the piano.
  • 1711: Joseph Addison and Richard Steele’s The Spectator replaces The Tatler.
  • 1711: The tuning fork.
  • 1711: Alexander Pope’s Essay on Criticism.
  • 1712: Invention of steam engine sets the basis for the Industrial Revolution.
  • 1713: François Couperin publishes the first of his harpsichord suites.
  • 1714: Pope’s mock-epic poem, The Rape of the Lock.
  • 1714: A stamp tax forces the closure of many newspapers in England.
  • 1714: Henry Mill receives patent in England for a typewriter; does not build it.
  • 1716: Italy gets a newspaper, Diario di Roma.
  • 1717: George Friederic Handel’s Water Music.
  • 1719: French scientist Rene de Réaumur proposes using wood to make paper.
  • 1719: Jakob Le Blon produces color printing.
  • 1719: Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.
  • 1720: Johann Sebastian Bach composes the Brandenburg Concertos.
  • 1721: James Franklin jailed for publishing New England Courant; brother Ben takes over.
  • 1722: Defoe’s Moll Flanders.
  • 1722: British journalists are forbidden to publish Parliamentary debates.
  • 1722: Jean-Philippe Rameau, Treatise of Harmony, lays modern music foundation.
  • 1725: Scottish printer develops stereotyping system.
  • 1725: Vivaldi composes The Four Seasons.
  • 1725: In London, a circulating library.
  • 1726: Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels satirizes aspects of life in England.
  • 1726: Benjamin Franklin starts The Pennsylvania Gazette.
  • 1726: Istanbul gets a printing press.
  • 1727: Johann Schulze sees silver nitrate darken, begins science of photochemistry.
  • 1728: An epic poem is written in Swahili.
  • 1728: John Gay’s The Beggar’s Opera is staged.
  • 1729: Swift’s sarcastic A Modest Proposal suggests eating Irish babies.
  • 1729: J.S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion is performed in Leipzig.
  • 1730: John Peter Zenger prints first arithmetic text in American colonies.
  • 1731: In England, Gentleman’s Magazine calls itself a "magazine."
  • 1732: In Philadelphia, Ben Franklin starts a circulating library.
  • 1732: Franklin begins publication of Poor Richard’s Almanack. It will run until 1758.
  • 1733: In Madrid, Domenico Scarlatti, son of Allesandro, writes keyboard sonatas.
  • 1733: In Paris, Jean-Philippe Rameau’s opera Hippolyte et Aricie draws praise, contempt.
  • 1734: Age of Enlightenment begins with Voltaire’s Lettres philosophiques.
  • 1734: Alexander Pope’s Essay on Man.
  • 1735: Viennese musicians begin development of the symphonic form.
  • 1735: Artist William Hogarth completes scenes of The Rake’s Progress.
  • 1735: John Peter Zenger acquitted of seditious libel.
  • 1735: In Charleston, the start of American musical theater, the ballad opera Flora.
  • 1737: The Biblical Concordance.
  • 1737: In London, the Licensing Act; the Lord Chamberlain must approve plays.
  • 1739: David Hume expresses empirical philosophy in Treatise of Human Nature.
  • 1740: Samuel Richardson’s novel, Pamela, follows the trials of a virtuous servant girl.
  • 1741: Jonathan Edwards’ fiery sermon: "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."
  • 1741: Ben Franklin and William Bradford publish first American magazines.
  • 1742: Hume writes Essays Moral and Political.
  • 1742: In Sweden, astronomer Anders Celsius also designs a thermometer.
  • 1742: In Dublin, the premiere of Handel’s Messiah.
  • 1742: Henry Fielding’s novel, Joseph Andrews.
  • 1742: John Wesley, Character of a Methodist.
  • 1748: Hume’s An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding challenges faith.
  • 1748: French philosopher Montesquieu will influence American founding fathers.
  • 1749: Henry Fielding’s comic masterpiece, Tom Jones.
  • 1749: Encyclopedist George Leclerc suggests Earth is older than the Bible indicates.
  • 1750: Russia gets a professional theater.
  • 1750: J.S. Bach dies, signals end of music’s Baroque period.
  • 1750: European aristocracy dance to the minuet.
  • 1750: Start of Classic music era, referring to music without folk or popular origins.
  • 1751: Thomas Gray’s, Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard.
  • 1751: In France, Denis Diderot produces first volume of an encyclopedia.
  • 1751: Hogarth’s engraving, Gin Lane, lampoons the drunkenness of London’s poor.
  • 1751: Benjamin Franklin’s Experiments and Observations on Electricity.
  • 1752: Canada gets its first newspaper, the Halifax Gazette.
  • 1752: Handel composes his final oratorio, Jephtha.
  • 1752: Britain, colonies finally adopt Gregorian calendar.
  • 1754: Ben Franklin creates first American cartoon, the "Join, or Die" snake.
  • 1755: Regular mail ship runs between England and the colonies.
  • 1755: Moscow State University is the first institute of higher education in Russia.
  • 1755: Samuel Johnson publishes the great Dictionary of the English Language.
  • 1756: In Austria, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is born. He will die in poverty in 1791.
  • 1758: Dutch-Japanese dictionary makes Japan more accessible.
  • 1759: Voltaire’s Candide laughs at the philosophical optimism of Leibniz.
  • 1761: The "father" of symphony, Franz Joseph Haydn, begins career.
  • 1762: Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Emile argues for a "natural" education of children.
  • 1762: Rousseau’s The Social Contract identifies "compact" between men, government.
  • 1762: Christoph Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice transforms opera by emphasizing drama.
  • 1763: English printer John Baskerville publishes a Bible.
  • 1764: Literary salons founded in Paris, London.
  • 1764: Horace Walpole creates the gothic novel with The Castle of Otranto.
  • 1764: In Italy, Cesare Beccaria publishes first argument for rehabilitating criminals.
  • 1765: First volume of William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England.
  • 1765: The British Stamp Act taxes newspapers, documents angers American colonists.
  • 1765: English publisher John Newbery brings out a book of Mother Goose rhymes.
  • 1766: Rousseau’s quoted "Let them eat cake" is ascribed to Marie-Antoinette, age 11.
  • 1766: Oliver Goldsmith’s novel, The Vicar of Wakefield.
  • 1766: In England, Nevil Maskelyne publishes Nautical Almanac, calculates longitude.
  • 1766: Swedish parliament adopts freedom of the press.
  • 1766: One year after passage, British Parliament repeals unpopular Stamp Act.
  • 1767: Laurence Sterne’s, Tristram Shandy, gives expanded structure to the novel.
  • 1768: The first of three volumes of the first edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.
  • 1769: Blackstone completes the Commentaries on the Laws of England, four volumes.
  • 1769: Watt patents steam engine that will change everything, including communication.
  • 1770: The eraser.
  • 1770: Artist Thomas Gainsborough paints The Blue Boy.
  • 1770: In Germany, Ludwig von Beethoven is born.
  • 1770: Goldsmith’s poem The Deserted Village mourns places ruined by enclosures.
  • 1771: Tobias Smollett’s novel, The Expedition of Humphrey Clinker.
  • 1772: In France, final volume (28th) of Encyclopédie, by Denis Diderot, others.
  • 1773: Goldsmith’s witty play, She Stoops to Conquer.
  • 1774: Chlorine is discovered; will be used to bleach paper.
  • 1774: Hansard reports of the British House of Commons begin.
  • 1775: Continental Congress authorizes Post Office.
  • 1775: British soldiers’ mocking Yankee Doodle Dandy adopted by colonial soldiers.
  • 1776: Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.
  • 1776: German writers develop "sturm und drang" (storm and stress) movement.
  • 1776: Thomas Jefferson drafts a Declaration of Independence.
  • 1776: Thomas Paine stirs the colonists with his pamphlet Common Sense.
  • 1777: Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s comedy of manners, School for Scandal.
  • 1777: Capt. James Cook, Voyage towards the South Pole in 1772-5.
  • 1777: Ammonia is used to block the darkening of silver salts.
  • 1778: Mozart composes the Paris Symphony. He is 22.
  • 1778: In Milan, one of the world’s great opera houses, La Scala, is built.
  • 1779: In Germany, Gotthold Lessing’s drama Nathan the Wise is a plea for tolerance.
  • 1779: In Vienna, Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride continues to emphasize drama in opera.
  • 1779: Thomas Jefferson argues unsuccessfully for tax-funded education.
  • 1780: Steel pen points begin to replace quill feathers.
  • 1780: Richard Challoner’s translation of Douay Bible, standard for English Catholics.
  • 1781: Immanuel Kant, Critique of Pure Reason, will influence future philosophers.
  • 1782: Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, Liaisons dangereuses.
  • 1782: Spanish king grants tolerance to gypsies; their music and flamenco come out..
  • 1782: Noah Webster publishes an American speller.
  • 1783: Under Catherine the Great, Russia allows private printing presses.
  • 1783: Pensylvania Evening Post, the first daily newspaper in America.
  • 1783: Heinrich Grellman’s Die Zigeuner is a rare sympathetic report on Gypsy life.
  • 1784: French book paper is made from vegetation without rags.
  • 1784: Artist Joshua Reynolds, Mrs. Siddons as the Tragic Muse.
  • 1784: Capt. James Cook, Voyage to the Pacific Ocean in 1776-80.
  • 1784: William Wordsworth starts writing poetry.
  • 1784: Benjamin Franklin invents bifocals.
  • 1784: First mail delivery by coaches, between London and Bristol.
  • 1785: Stagecoaches carry the mail between towns in the United States.
  • 1785: Panorama art reportedly invented in debtor’s jail by Robert Barker.
  • 1786: Robert Burns’ Poems include: "The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men…"
  • 1786: Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro.
  • 1787: Mozart, Don Giovanni, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
  • 1787: In the new United States, the Constitution.
  • 1787: Antonio Salieri’s best known composition, the opera Tarare.
  • 1788: In three months Mozart composes three symphonies, including the Jupiter.
  • 1788: In London, The Times.
  • 1788: Kant, Critique of Practical Reason, explores the "categorical imperative."
  • 1788: Edward Gibbon completes The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.
  • 1789: Jeremy Bentham’s Principles: the greatest good for the greatest number.
  • 1789: The French National Assembly votes the Declaration of the Rights of Man.
  • 1789: A chemistry textbook is written by Antoine Lavoisier, inventor of periodic table.
  • 1789: New United States proposes Bill of Rights, with freedom of faith, speech, press.
  • 1789: In England, the narrative of a former slave is published.
  • 1789: William Blake’s Songs of Innocence.
  • 1789: Abingdon Press is founded.
  • 1789: French Revolution calls for press freedom, but road will be bumpy.
  • 1790: In England, the hydraulic press is invented.
  • 1790: British adopt secret ship-to-ship code using 10 colored flags, code book.
  • 1790: Mozart, Così fan tutte.
  • 1790: The first U.S. copyright law, protection for 14 years.
  • 1790: Edmund Burke writes conservative Reflections on the Revolution in France.
  • 1791: James Boswell’s The Life of Samuel Johnson.
  • 1791: Mozart, The Magic Flute.
  • 1791: The Marquis de Sade shocks France with Justine.
  • 1791: England gets a new newspaper, the Observer.
  • 1791: Thomas Paine defends the French Revolution in The Rights Of Man.
  • 1791: The Surprise Symphony, one of more than 100 symphonies by Haydn.
  • 1791: Congress passes the First Amendment.
  • 1791: Philadelphia to N.Y. coded light messages of financial news outraces horses.
  • 1792: In Britain, postal money orders.
  • 1792: J.B. Lippincott begins to publish books.
  • 1792: Mary Wollstonecraft’s feminist treatise, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.
  • 1792: The Farmer’s Almanac begins more than 200 years of annual publication.
  • 1792: French revolutionary government establishes a ministry of propaganda.
  • 1792: Postal Act promises mail regularity throughout U.S.
  • 1792: Alien and Sedition Acts limit freedom to publish in recently born U.S.
  • 1793: In Germany, business schools for young women.
  • 1793: Johann Schiller’s On Grace and Dignity criticizes Kant’s ethical theories.
  • 1793: The Louvre palace becomes a museum.
  • 1793: Jacques-Louis David paints The Death of Marat.
  • 1794: William Blake’s Songs of Experience.
  • 1794: First letter carriers appear on American city streets.
  • 1794: In Revolutionary France, Claude Chappe sets up semaphore signaling system.
  • 1794: Opening of the first Panorama, forerunner of movie theaters.
  • 1794: Nearly flat rate U.S. postal law mails most newspapers for a penny stamp.
  • 1795: Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason.
  • 1796: Madame de Staël’s essays inform French nation about the Enlightenment.
  • 1796: American Cookery, the first cookbook by an American, Amelia Simmons.
  • 1796: Burns’ Auld Lang Syne is published; sung on New Year’s Eve.
  • 1797: Paine’s Essays on Religion see deism as alternative to traditional religion.
  • 1797: In England, a heavy tax is levied on newspapers to limit the radical press.
  • 1798: Aloys Senefelder in Munich invents lithography. He will write about it in 1818.
  • 1798: In England, Thomas Malthus writes his Essay on the Principles of Population.
  • 1798: Samuel Johnson’s great nephew publishes the first American dictionary.
  • 1798: Nickolas Robert in France invents the "Fourdrinier" paper-making machine.
  • 1798: Coleridge and Wordsworth jointly publish book containing now famous poetry.
  • 1799: From the French Academy of Science, the metric system.