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| 1738, May 24 |
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| John Wesley, founder of Methodism, converted. His conversion led Methodists to emphasize personal experience and training over corporate expressions of belief. | 1 |
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| 1739, Jan |
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| Methodists met at conference that marked beginning of move to formalize Methodism. | 2 |
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| 1739–48 |
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| WAR WITH SPAIN (War of Jenkins' Ear) (See 1739–48). The name is colorfully derived from the fate of Captain Robert Jenkins, who lost his ear in a fracas with Spaniards. He produced the preserved ear in the House of Commons during the war. | 3 |
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| 1740–48 |
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| WAR OF AUSTRIAN SUCCESSION (See 1740–48). | 4 |
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| 1740s |
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| Hospitals founded, including the first lying-in hospital, which sparked great controversy. | 5 |
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| 1742, April 13 |
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| Handel's Messiah performed for the first time, in Dublin. | 6 |
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| 1745 |
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| London College of Surgeons established. | 7 |
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| 1745–46 |
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| SECOND JACOBITE REBELLION. The Young Pretender, Charles Edward, landed in Scotland (July 25) and proclaimed his father as James VIII of Scotland and III of England. The Jacobites won some victories but were beaten decisively at Culloden (April 16, 1746). The Pretender escaped to France. This was the last Stuart effort to reclaim the throne. | 8 |
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| 1750 Ff |
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| Enclosure increased substantially. Because rights on all common lands were guaranteed by common law, individual owners could not enclose their lands without parliamentary consent. Wasteland and commons were extensively enclosed during the second half of the 18th century. While the actual land in agricultural production during this period remained the same, enclosure marked a significant increase in pasturage. | 9 |
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| 1751 |
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| Ruth Osborne, a suspected witch, was tried by the swimming test and died as a result. Thomas Colley, a chimney sweep who participated in the test, was tried and sentenced for Osborne's murder. | 10 |
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| 1752, Sept. 3 |
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| Gregorian Calendar introduced (Jan.) with a loss of 11 days (between Sept. 3 and Sept. 14). | 11 |
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| 1753 |
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| Irregular Marriages Act prohibited marriages without proper licenses. | 12 |
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