Battle of Cartagena
Passes a resolution to defeat & destroy the Spanish treasure fleet at Cartagena
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1708 in Great Britain
Explore 29 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1708.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1708
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 29 of 29 unique records.
29Unique records
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27Named events on this page
12Named people on this page
12Places on this page
May
June
Allied Camp at Bethlem
Commands English and Dutch forces assembled in order of battle at the Allied camp near Bethlem before the Oudenaarde campaign.
July
Battle of Oudenaarde
Marlborough and Eugene defeat the French army at Oudenaarde.
Battle of Oudenaarde
Fights at the Battle of Oudenaarde
Forced March to Oudenaarde
Moves quickly to bring the French army to battle.
Oudenaarde Battle Won by Allied Army
Marlborough defeats the French at Oudenaarde and restores Allied strategic initiative in Flanders.
Oudenaarde Envelopment
Uses Allied cavalry to envelop the French right at Oudenaarde, helping force Vendome's army into retreat.
Oudenaarde Victory Report
Writes from the camp at Oudenaarde to report the Allied victory won on the previous day.
Loss of Bruges
Bruges returns to French allegiance during the 1708 campaign, increasing pressure on Marlborough in Flanders.
August
Siege of Lille
The Allied siege operations against Lille begin after the victory at Oudenaarde.
Lille Siege Supported after Oudenaarde
Marlborough supports the siege of Lille to weaken the principal French fortress system in Flanders.
December
Surrender of Lille Citadel
The citadel of Lille surrenders after the prolonged Allied siege.
Capture of Ghent
Ghent surrenders to the Allies at the end of Marlborough's 1708 campaign.
Other events (month unknown)
Birth of William Pitt
Birth of William Pitt
Bristol Corporation Politics
Bristol civic politics continue under Queen Anne's government.
Churchill Covers Siege Of Lille
Marlborough helped protect the besieging Allied force while Eugene directed the prolonged operations against Lille.
Churchill Defeats Vendome At Oudenaarde
Marlborough and Eugene defeated the French army commanded by Vendome and the Duke of Burgundy at Oudenaarde.
Churchill Recovers Ghent For Allies
Ghent surrendered to the Allies at the end of the campaign after the loss of French momentum in Flanders.
College of Electors
Appointed Member of College of Electors of the Empire
College of Electors
Appointed Member of College of Electors
Painted Hall Decoration Begins
James Thornhill began painting the extensive allegorical ceiling and wall compositions that made Greenwich's Painted Hall a major Baroque interior.
Privy Council
Appointed Privy Councillor
Reports Scottish Public Affairs
Defoe continued reporting and arguing about government and public opinion in Scotland through political journalism.
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
Appointed Secretary of State for War, a close adviser of the Duke of Marlborough, commander of the War of the Spanish Succession
Stanhope Commands British Forces In Spain
Stanhope assumed leadership of British land forces engaged in the Spanish theatre of war.
Stanhope Organises Minorca Expedition
Stanhope led the land forces in the successful Allied campaign to capture Minorca.
Stanhope Secures Port Mahon
The conquest of Minorca brought Port Mahon under Allied control, improving British maritime access to the Mediterranean.
Walpole Appointed Secretary at War
Walpole became Secretary at War and worked closely with the military administration supporting Marlborough.
Wren Advances Saint Paul Dome Work
The cathedral's great dome approached completion as the long rebuilding project entered its final years.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.