Great Frost of 1709
Jan 5 The Great Frost begins during the night, a sudden cold snap that remains Europe's coldest ever winter. Thousands are killed across the continent and crops fail in France.
- Jan 11 Colley Cibber's play "Rival Fools" premieres in London
Event of Interest
Feb 2 British sailor Alexander Selkirk is rescued by William Dampier after being marooned on a desert island for 5 years, his story inspires "Robinson Crusoe
- Mar 27 Dike at Hardinxveld breaks (Alblasserwaard flooded)
The Tatler
Apr 12 Richard Steele's British literary and society journal "The Tatler" is first published establishing a new type of journalism featuring essays on contemporary manners
Battle of Poltava
Jun 27 Great Northern War: Peter the Great of Russia defeats Charles XII of Sweden at the Battle of Poltava; Charles goes into exile in Bender, Ottoman Empire
- Jul 8 Battle of Poltava; Russians defeat Swedes, end of Swedish empire as a major power
- Aug 8 1st known ascent in hot-air balloon, Bartolomeu de Gusmao (indoors)
- Sep 3 1st major group of Swiss German colonists reaches North and South Carolina
- Sep 11 Battle at Malplaquet during War of the Spanish Succession: English, Austrian and Dutch Great Alliance defeat France
- Oct 29 England & Netherlands sign anti-French "Barrieretraktaat"
Abolitionists
Dictators
Explorers
Outlaws
Queens
Spies