1750
Death of Johann Sebastian Bach
Blind from botched eye surgery, the old Leipzig cantor dictated his final chorale and died.
Konbaung Dynasty Stirs in Upper Burma
In the dusty village of Moksobo, a local headman named Alaungpaya refused tribute to the Mon invaders marching up from the south.
Qianlong's Ten Great Campaigns Begin
The Qianlong Emperor, ruling the wealthiest state on earth from the Forbidden City, turned his attention west.
Treaty of Madrid Redraws South America
Spain and Portugal, tired of endlessly arguing over the Tordesillas line, traded colonies on paper - Portugal kept the Amazon interior, Spain gained…
Rousseau's Discourse on the Arts and Sciences
An unknown Genevan watchmaker's son won the Dijon academy prize with a perverse argument - that civilization had corrupted virtue, that progress was a kind…
Prussian Potato Edicts
Frederick the Great ordered his subjects to grow potatoes - a South American tuber the peasantry refused to eat.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1750?
Saeculum lists 6 events from 1750. The most significant is Death of Johann Sebastian Bach: Blind from botched eye surgery, the old Leipzig cantor dictated his final chorale and died. Europe barely noticed.
What era was 1750 part of?
1750 falls within the Enlightenment (1651-1800). Reason, revolution, and the first global wars.
Which regions saw notable events in 1750?
The events from 1750 span Europe, Southeast Asia, East Asia and South America.