Great Frost of 1709
Jan 5 The Great Frost begins during the night, a sudden cold snap that remains Europe's coldest ever winter. Thousands are killed across the continent and crops fail in France.
Theater Premiere
Jan 11 Colley Cibber's play "Rival Fools" premieres in London
Inspiration for Robinson Crusoe
Feb 1 British sailor Alexander Selkirk is rescued by William Dampier after being marooned alone on an island in the South Pacific for 4 years, inspiring Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe"
- Mar 27 Dike at Hardinxveld breaks (Alblasserwaard flooded)
The Tatler
Apr 12 Richard Steele's British literary and society journal "The Tatler" is first published establishing a new type of journalism featuring essays on contemporary manners
- May 1 Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe first opens its doors in Mexico City on the site of two apparitions of the Virgin - now a basilica and the holiest church in Mexico
Battle of Poltava
Jun 27 Great Northern War: Peter the Great of Russia defeats Charles XII of Sweden at the Battle of Poltava; Charles goes into exile in Bender, Ottoman Empire
- Jul 8 Battle of Poltava; Russians defeat Swedes, end of Swedish empire as a major power
- Aug 8 1st known ascent in hot-air balloon, Bartolomeu de Gusmao (indoors)
- Sep 3 1st major group of Swiss German colonists reaches North and South Carolina
- Sep 11 Battle at Malplaquet during War of the Spanish Succession: English, Austrian and Dutch Great Alliance defeat France
- Oct 29 England & Netherlands sign anti-French "Barrieretraktaat"
Authors
Dictators
Explorers
Outlaws
Queens
Spies