- Feb 16 1st publication of Thomas Gray's poem "Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard"
- Feb 25 1st performing monkey exhibited in America, NYC (admission 1 cent)
- Apr 5 Adolf Frederik of Holstein-Gottorp crowns himself King of Sweden
- Apr 29 The New York Gazette and Post Boy carries first public report of a cricket match played in America; New York XI v London XI on the site of what is today the Fulton Fish Market in Manhattan, NYC
Pennsylvania Hospital Founded
May 11 Pennsylvania Hospital founded by Dr. Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin, in Philadelphia
Jephtha
Aug 30 George Frideric Handel completes oratorio "Jephtha"
- Aug 31 British troops under Sir Robert Clive occupy Arcot, India
- Sep 12 Amsterdam refuses establishment of Jewish ghetto
- Sep 13 Britain signs Austrian & Russian alliance
- Oct 20 Royal ship Duc de Bourgogne launched at Rochefort
- Dec 14 The first military academy in the world, the Theresian Military Academy, is founded in Austria
- Dec 23 France sets plan to tax clergymen