Our Family History

The Genealogy of Robert and Christina Barritt

1707 - 1717 (9 years)

	Date	Event(s)
1	1707	1707: Great Britain - The Act of Union unites the kingdoms of England and Scotland and transfers the seat of Scottish Government to London
2	1708	11 Jul 1708: England - The Duke of Marlborough defeats the French at the Battle of Oudenarde. The French incur heavy losses. Queen Anne vetoes a parliamentary bill to recognise the Scottish militia. This is the last time a bill is vetoed by the sovereign
3	1709	1709: England - Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit constructed an alcohol thermometer 1709: Great Britain - Quaker Abraham Darby discovers coal-smelting technique for producing pig-iron, replaces charcoal method 1709: England - Bartolomeo Cristofori invents the piano. 11 Sep 1709: England - Duke of Marlborough defeats the French at the Battle of Malplaquet
4	1710	1710: Great Britain - A Tory ministry is formed, under Harley, with the impeachment of Dr. Sacheverell and the fall of the Whig government 1710: Great Britain - Wooden panelling replaces tapestry as wall covering
5	1711	1711: Great Britain - Englishman John Shore invents the tuning fork.
6	1712	1712: Great Britain - Thomas Newcomen patents the atmospheric steam engine.
7	1713	1713: Europe - The Treaty of Utrecht is signed by Britain and France, thus concluding the War of the Spanish Succession
8	1714	1714: Great Britain - Death of Queen Anne at Kensington Palace. A new parliament is elected with a strong Whig majority, led by Charles Townshend and Robert Walpole 1714: Great Britain - Quaker John Belles urges founding of hospitals as training grounds for medical students; Board of Longitude created, 1714: Great Britain - George I,ruler of England to 1727. House of Hanover: Son of Elector of Hanover, by Sophia, grand-daughter of James I. Proclaimed King under Act of Settlement. 1714: Great Britain - Rioting by Tory and Jacobite mobs commonplace in London (unemployed soldiers, craftsmen), passage of Riot Act, giving increased power to Justices of the Peace through to 1715 1714: Great Britain - During period to 1742 there are no big increases from population of about 5.5 million but the distribution changes: East Anglia loses; West Country, South and East Midlands, East Riding and North (except Tyneside) fairly static; West Riding and South Lancashire increase; West Midlands, Surrey and Middlesex grow rapidly with London (London 500,000, Bristol 50,000; Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds, Halifax, Birmingham and Coventry, no longer sprawling villages, but still under 50,000); cause is immigration from cities and (in NW) from Ireland
9	1715	1715: Great Britain - Thomas Fairchild produced the first artificial hybrid plant 1715: Scotland - The Jacobite Rebellion begins in Scotland with the aim of overthrowing the Hanovarian succession and placing the 'Old Pretender' - James II's son - on the throne. The rebellion is easily defeated 1715: Great Britain - The Septennial Act sets General Elections to be held every seven years
10	1716	1716: Italy - John Lombe steals plans for silk manufacture, returning to England he and brother Thomas build vast factory on island at Derby 1716: Scotland - James Lind was born. Lind was a Scottish physician who recommended that fresh citrus fruit and lemon juice be included in the seamen's diet to eliminate scurvy. The Dutch had been doing this for almost two hundred years.
11	1717	1717: Great Britain - Townshend is dismissed from government by George I, causing Walpole to resign. The Whig party is split. Convocation is suspended 1717: Europe - England allies with French and Dutch against Spanish, Spanish brought to heel in 1718 1717: Great Britain - Edmond Halley invents the diving bell. 1717: Great Britain - John Lombe in England invents a machine for 'throwing' silk which produces a strong twisted thread