1642
English Civil War Begins
Charles I raised the royal standard at Nottingham and declared parliament rebels.
Abel Tasman Sights New Zealand
The Dutch navigator Abel Tasman, having already sighted the island he named for Van Diemen (now Tasmania), reached the west coast of what he called Staten…
Isaac Newton Born
A premature, sickly baby, small enough to fit in a quart mug, was born on Christmas Day at Woolsthorpe Manor in Lincolnshire, a few months after his father's…
Charles I Tries to Arrest Five Members
Charles I marched into the House of Commons with a guard of soldiers to arrest five parliamentary leaders for treason.
Galileo Dies at Arcetri
Still under house arrest near Florence, blind, and bearded like a patriarch, Galileo Galilei died at seventy-seven, dictating notes to a young assistant named…
Rembrandt Paints The Night Watch
Commissioned by a company of Amsterdam civic militia, Rembrandt painted an enormous canvas bristling with movement, partial faces, and dramatic chiaroscuro.
Westminster Assembly Convenes
English parliament summoned a conference of divines to Westminster to reform the Church of England along Presbyterian lines.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1642?
Saeculum lists 7 events from 1642. The most significant is English Civil War Begins: Charles I raised the royal standard at Nottingham and declared parliament rebels.
What era was 1642 part of?
1642 falls within the Renaissance (1501-1650). Reformation, conquest, and the world drawn whole.
Which regions saw notable events in 1642?
The events from 1642 span Europe and Oceania.