1769 in Great Britain

Events from the year 1769 in the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Incumbents

*Monarch - George III of the United Kingdom
*Prime Minister - Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, Whig

Events

* January - First Letters of Junius, criticising the government, appear in the "Public Advertiser".cite book |last=Palmer |first=Alan & Veronica |year=1992 |title= The Chronology of British History|publisher= Century Ltd|location=London|pages= 224-225|isbn= 0-7126-5616-2]
* 13 April - First voyage of James Cook: James Cook arrives in Tahiti on the ship HM Bark "Endeavour", preparing to observe the solar eclipse of the planet Venus, which took place on 3 June. [cite web|url=http://southseas.nla.gov.au/journals/cook/17690413.html|title=Cook's Journal: Daily Entries, 13 April 1769|accessdate=2007-08-10] After the voyage, the data was found to be inaccurate in determining the distance between the Sun and Earth.
* 7 October - James Cook reaches New Zealand.
* 19 November - Blackfriars Bridge across the River Thames in London opens to the public.cite book|title=Penguin Pocket On This Day|publisher=Penguin Reference Library|isbn=0-141-02715-0|year=2006]

Undated

* Industrial Revolution: Richard Arkwright patents a spinning frame able to mechanically weave fabric.cite book|last=Williams|first=Hywel|title=Cassell's Chronology of World History|publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson|year=2005|isbn=0-304-35730-8|pages=325]
* James Watt patents an improved steam engine.
* Actor David Garrick arranges the first of the annual Shakespeare festivals to be held in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Publications

* "Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage" first published.

Births

* 6 January - Lord Charles Townshend, Member of Parliament (died 1796)
* 2 March - Walter Fawkes, writer and Member of Parliament (died 1825)
* 23 March - William Smith, geologist and cartographer (died 1839)
* 3 April - Josiah Wedgwood II, Member of Parliament (died 1843)
* 5 April - Sir Thomas Hardy, 1st Baronet, naval officer (died 1839)
* 13 April - Thomas Lawrence, painter (died 1830)
* 1 May - Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, general and Prime Minister (died 1852)
* 2 May - John Malcolm, soldier, statesman and historian (died 1833)
* 21 May - John Hookham Frere, diplomat and author (died 1846)
* 18 June - Viscount Castlereagh, statesman, diplomat, and soldier (died 1822)
* 14 August - Richard Barry, 7th Earl of Barrymore, noble (died 1793)
* 10 September - Charles Bullen, admiral (died 1853)
* 19 September - George Raper, naval officer and illustrator (died 1797)
* 28 September - John Jackson, boxer (died 1845)
* 6 October - Isaac Brock, general and administrator (died 1812)
* 23 October - James Ward, painter and engraver (died 1859)
* 7 November - William Sturges Bourne, politician (died 1845)
* 12 November - Amelia Opie, author (died 1853)
* 13 December - James Scarlett Abinger, judge (died 1844)
* 23 December
** William Henry Clinton, general (died 1846)
** Martin Archer Shee, portrait painter (died 1850)
* "date unknown"
** 1838)
** Elizabeth Conyngham, Marchioness Conyngham, mistress of George IV (died 1861)
** James Dadford, English canal engineer (year of death unknown)
** Charles Ewart, soldier (died 1846)
** Francis Gore, officer and colonial administrator (died 1852)
** Robert Hetrick, poet (died 1849)
** William Rae, Member of Parliamenr (died 1842)
** Ellen Sharples, painter (died 1849)

Deaths

* 25 February - Henry Flitcroft, architecht (born 1697)
* 2 August - Daniel Finch, 8th Earl of Winchilsea, politician (born 1689)
* 29 August - Edmond Hoyle, game expert (born 1672)
* "date unknown"
** Matthew Brettingham, architecht (born 1699)
** William Falconer, poet (born 1732)

References

ee also