1756
Britain Declares War on France
The colonial brushfires in America and India finally reached the palaces of Europe.
Black Hole of Calcutta
The nawab of Bengal, furious at Company fortification, stormed Fort William and locked captured Britons in a tiny airless cell for a June night.
Mozart Born in Salzburg
Leopold Mozart, a provincial court musician, welcomed a son on January 27 and baptized him Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus.
Frederick Invades Saxony
Rather than wait to be encircled, Frederick of Prussia struck first - marching into neutral Saxony, seizing its army, and opening the continental phase…
Want 1756 in context? Print the whole 18th century as a one-sheet timeline chart.
Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1756?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1756. The most significant is Britain Declares War on France: The colonial brushfires in America and India finally reached the palaces of Europe. Britain declared war; France's new ally, Austria, declared back.
What era was 1756 part of?
1756 falls within the Enlightenment (1651-1800). Reason, revolution, and the first global wars.
Which regions saw notable events in 1756?
The events from 1756 span Europe and South Asia.