Publication of Dictionary of the English Language' by Dr Samuel Johnson

Period of canal construction began in Britain (till 1827)

Hardwicke Act (1753): Banns to be called, and Printed Marriage Register forms to be used - Quakers & Jews exempt

In the General Election, the Cow Inn at Haslemere, Surrey caused a national scandal by subdividing the freehold to create eight votes instead of one

First British troops not belonging to the East India Company despatched to India

Publication of ?Species Plantarum' by Linnaeus and the formal start date of plant taxonomy

Private collection of Sir Hans Sloane forms the basis of the British Museum

Julian Calendar dropped and Gregorian Calendar adopted in England and Scotland, making this Sep 14

Benjamin Franklin invents the lightning conductor

Beginning of the year 1752 [Scotland had adopted January as the start of the year in 1600, and some other countries in Europe had adopted the Gregorian calendar as early as 1582]

Chesterfield's Calendar Act passed - royal assent to the bill was given on 22 May 1751 - decision to adopt Gregorian Calendar in 1752: In and throughout all his

Original Westminster Bridge opened (replaced in 1862 due to subsidence)

Series of earthquakes in London and the Home Counties cause panic with predictions of an apocalypse (Feb/Mar)

First performance of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks (in Green Park, London)

Abolition of Heritable Jurisdictions in Scotland

Act for Pacification of the Highlands

Battle of Culloden - last battle fought in Britain - 5,000 Highlanders routed by the Duke of Cumberland and 9,000 loyalists Scots - Young Pretender Charles flees to Continent, ending Jacobite hopes forever - the wearing of the kilt prohibited

Bonnie Prince Charlie (The Young Pretender) lands in the western Highlands - raises support among Episcopalian and Catholic clans - The Pretender's army invades Perth, Edinburgh, and England as far as Derby

Jacobite rebellion in Scotland ('The Forty-five')

Tune 'God Save the King' makes its appearance

(June 27 in Gregorian calendar): Battle of Dettingen - last time a British sovereign (George II) led troops in battle

England goes to war with Spain - incited by William Pitt the Elder (Earl of Chatham) for the sake of trade

Benjamin Ingham founded the Moravian Methodists or Inghamites - Earliest Moravian registers

War of Jenkins' Ear starts: Robert Walpole reluctantly declares war on Spain

Dick Turpin, highwayman, hanged at York

Wesley and Whitefield commence great Methodist revival

John Wesley has his conversion experience

Licensing Act restricts the number of London theatres and subects plays to censorship of the Lord Chamberlain (till 1950s)

Kent's Directory published

Excise crisis: Sir Robert Walpole wanted to add excise tax to tobacco and wine - Pulteney and Bolingbroke oppose the excise tax

Law forbidding the use of Latin in parish registers generally obeyed - some continued in Latin for a few years

John Kay invents the flying shuttle, revolutionised the weaving industry

Covent Garden Opera House opens

Invention of seed drill by Jethro Tull [others say 1701]

Invention of sextant by John Hadley

Irish famine

Treaty of Seville signed between Britain, France and Spain - Britain maintained control of Port Mahon and Gibraltar

George I dies - George II Hanover becomes king

Board of Manufacturers established in Scotland

First circulating library opened in Edinburgh

Invention of the chronometer by John Harrison

Rapid growth of gin drinking in England

Longman's founded (Britain's oldest publishing house)

Excise tax levied for coffee, tea, and chocolate

The Waltham Black Acts add 50 capital offences to the penal code - people could be sentenced to death for theft and poaching - repealed in 1827

The Workhouse Act or Test - to get relief, a poor person has to enter Workhouse

Last trial for witchcraft in Scotland

Knatchbull's Act, poor laws

Robert Walpole (Whig) becomes first Prime Minister (to 1742)

South Sea Bubble, a stock-market crash on Exchange Alley - government assumes control of National Debt

Manufacturing towns start to increase in population - rise of new wealth

Wallpaper becomes fashionable in England

Third abortive Jacobite rising