From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1703
(
MDCCIII
)
was a
common year
starting on Monday
of the
Gregorian calendar
and a
common year starting on Friday
of the
Julian calendar
, the 1703rd year of the
Common Era
(CE) and
Anno Domini
(AD) designations, the 703rd year of the
2nd millennium
, the 3rd year of the
18th century
, and the 4th year of the
1700s
decade. As of the start of 1703, the Gregorian calendar was
11 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which remained in localized use until 1923.
- St. Petersburg becomes the capital of Russia
- February 2
? an
earthquake
hit the town of
L'Aquila
,
Italy
.
- February 4
? in
Japan
, the
47 samurai
(
47 Ronin
) commit
seppuku
, a ritual suicide.
- February 14
? an
earthquake
hits the city of
Norcia
,
Italy
.
- February
? soldiers at
Fort Louis de la Mobile
celebrate
Mardi Gras in Mobile
, starting the tradition for
Mobile, Alabama
.
- April 21
? the
Company of Quenching of Fire
(i.e., a
fire brigade
) was started in
Edinburgh
,
Scotland
.
- May 27
? the founding of
St Petersburg
in
Russia
.
- May 26
?
Portugal
joins the
Grand Alliance
.
- July 29
to
31
?
Daniel Defoe
is placed in a
pillory
then imprisoned 4 months for the crime of
libel
, after publishing a
satirical
pamphlet
(his release is granted mid-November).
- September 12
? the
War of the Spanish Succession
started in
Habsburg
, when Archduke Charles was proclaimed King of
Spain
.
- October
? a whirlwind blows down the tower of the
Gan Takal
in
Gondar
, the capital of
Ethiopia
, killing 30 people.
- November 19
? an
Unknown masked prisoner
dies in
Bastille
.
- November 24
to
December 2
? the
Great Storm of 1703
, an Atlantic
hurricane
, blowes through southern
England
and the
English Channel
, killing nearly 8000, mostly at sea.
- December 27
?
Portugal
and
England
sign the
Methuen Treaty
which gives preference to Portuguese imported
wines
into England.
- February 5
?
Gilbert Tennent
, Irish-born religious leader, was born (he died in
1764
)
- March 5
? (N. S.)
Vasily Kirillovich Trediakovsky
, a Russian poet, was born (he died in
1768
)
- May 14
?
David Brearly
, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, was born (he died in
1785
)
- June 17
?
John Wesley
, the English founder of Methodism, was born (he died in
1791
)
- June 26
?
Thomas Clap
, the first president of Yale University was born (he died in
1767
)
- August 2
?
Lorenzo Ricci
, the Italian Jesuit leader was born (he died in
1775
)
- September 29
?
Francois Boucher
, a French painter was born (he died in
1770
)
- October 5
?
Jonathan Edwards
, an American preacher was born (he died in
1758
)
- October 28
?
Antoine Deparcieux
, a French mathematician was born (he died in
1768
)
- November 25
?
Jean-Francois Seguier
, a French astronomer and botanist was born (he died in
1784
)
- November 26
?
Theophilus Cibber
, an English actor and writer was born (he died in
1758
)
- December 2
?
Ferdinand Kon??ak
, a Croatian explorer was (he died in
1759
)
- January 11
?
Johann Georg Graevius
, German classical scholar and critic died (born
1632
)
- March 3
?
Robert Hooke
, a very important English scientist died (born
1635
)
- March 31
?
Johann Christoph Bach
, German composer died (born
1642
)
- April 20
?
Lancelot Addison
, English royal chaplain died (born
1632
)
- May 16
?
Charles Perrault
, French writer died (born
1628
)
- May 26
?
Samuel Pepys
, English civil servant and diarist died (born
1633
)
- June 14
?
Jean Herauld Gourville
, French adventurer died(born
1625
)
- July 17
?
Roemer Vlack
, Dutch naval commander died (birthdate unknown)
- September 22
?
Vincenzo Viviani
, Italian mathematician and scientist died (born
1622
)
- September 25
?
Archibald Campbell, 1st Duke of Argyll
, Scottish privy councillor died (born
1658
)
- September 29
?
Charles de Saint-Evremond
, French soldier died (born
1610
)
- October 28
?
John Wallis
, English mathematician died (born
1616
)
- November 19
?
The Man in the Iron Mask
died
- November 30
?
Nicolas de Grigny
, French organist and composer died (born
1672
)
- December 28
?
Mustafa II
,
Ottoman Sultan
(born
1664
) died
- date unknown
Phetracha
, king of
Ayutthaya
died (born
1632
)
