1762
Catherine Seizes the Russian Throne
Six months after her husband Peter III alienated his guards by pro-Prussian posturing, Catherine - a minor German princess - led the Preobrazhensky regiment…
British Capture Havana
After a two-month siege in tropical heat, British forces stormed Morro Castle and took Havana - along with a fifth of Spain's entire navy.
British Take Manila
A small British expedition from Madras sailed into the Philippines and, to Spain's astonishment, captured Manila.
Rousseau's Social Contract and Émile
Two books in one year: The Social Contract began 'Man is born free and is everywhere in chains.'
Elizabeth of Russia Dies - Prussia Saved
The Tsarina's death was Frederick's 'miracle of the House of Brandenburg.'
Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice
At Vienna's Burgtheater, Christoph Gluck premiered an opera that abandoned castrati ornament for dramatic truth.
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Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1762?
Saeculum lists 6 events from 1762. The most significant is Catherine Seizes the Russian Throne.
What era was 1762 part of?
1762 falls within the Enlightenment (1651-1800). Reason, revolution, and the first global wars.
Which regions saw notable events in 1762?
The events from 1762 span Europe, North America and Southeast Asia.