Farthest South
Reaches about 71 degrees 10 minutes south, farther south than any recorded navigator before him, but finds only ice and no temperate southern continent
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1774 in Great Britain
Explore 37 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1774.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1774
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 37 of 37 unique records.
37Unique records
1 of 1Page
28Named events on this page
15Named people on this page
11Places on this page
January
March
Closes Boston harbour until the East India Company is reimbursed for lost
Closes Boston harbour until the East India Company is reimbursed for lost tea
Sanctions
Closes Boston harbour until the East India Company is reimbursed for lost tea
April
Battle of Lexington
Sends soldiers to capture a military store, they are intercepted by "minute men"
Battle of Lexington
The first shots of the American war of Independence are fired
May
Closes the port of Boston & reduces the power of the Massachusetts
Closes the port of Boston & reduces the power of the Massachusetts legislature
Parliament punishes the American colonists for the anti-British behaviour
Parliament punishes the American colonists for the anti-British behaviour
June
Requires colonists to house British troops where barracks are not available
Requires colonists to house British troops where barracks are not available
September
Powder Alarm
Although it proved to be a false alarm, the Powder Alarm caused all concerned to proceed more carefully in the days ahead, and essentially provided a "dress rehearsal" for the Battle of Lexington and Concord seven months later.
Powder Alarm
British soldiers confiscate gunpowder and other military supplies in a surprise raid near Boston.
Powder Alarm
In response to the raid, amid rumors that blood had been shed, alarm spread through the countryside, and American Patriots sprang into action, fearing that war was at hand.
November
Elected for Bristol
Burke is elected Member of Parliament for Bristol.
Death of Robert Clive
Death of Clive Plessey, commits suicide in London after his trial for corruption
Suicide
Death of Clive Plessey, commits suicide in London after his trial for corruption
Other events (month unknown)
Arrival in Philadelphia
Paine arrived in Philadelphia, where his political journalism soon became part of the colonial debate.
Closes Boston harbour until the East India Company is reimbursed for lost
Closes Boston harbour until the East India Company is reimbursed for lost tea
Election as Member for Bristol
Burke was elected member of Parliament for Bristol, a major commercial constituency.
Essay on the
Publication of "Essay on the First Principles of Government",
Essay on the First Principles of Government
Publication of "Essay on the First Principles of Government",
Governor
Appointed Governor General of Bengal
Intolerable Acts
Thomas Cage tries to enforce the Intolerable Acts, which are designed to remove power from the towns, Samuel Adams presses for County Conventions to strengthen the revolutionary resistance
Intolerable Acts
Gage tries to seat his own court in Worcester, but the townspeople blocked the court from sitting, 2000 militiamen march to intimidate the judges and get them to leave, 1st time the militia is used to block the King.
Intolerable Acts
Worcester comes up with a new militia plan in their County Convention, the Convention requires that all militia officers resign, Officers are then elected by their regiments & in turn.
Intolerable Acts
the officers then appoint 1/3 of their militia regiment as Minutemen.
Meeting with Benjamin Franklin
Paine met Benjamin Franklin in London and obtained assistance that facilitated his emigration to North America.
Member of Parliament
Elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
Elected Member of Parliament for Midlothian
Minutemen
Worcester comes up with a new militia plan in their County Convention, the Convention requires that all militia officers resign, Officers are then elected by their regiments & in turn, the officers then appoint 1/3 of their militia regiment as Minutemen. Other counties follow Worcesters lead, electing new militia officers and appointing Minutemen
Move to Birmingham
Watt moves to Birmingham to develop his steam engine with Matthew Boulton.
Powder Alarm
The Powder Alarm is a massive popular reaction to a raid by British soldiers under the command of General Thomas Gage, royal governor of Massachusetts, soon before the American Revolutionary War
Rebellion of Rebels in Boston
Closes Boston harbour until the East India Company is reimbursed for lost tea
Silver Legal Tender
Parliament limits the legal-tender use of silver, reinforcing gold as Britain's principal monetary standard.
Speech on American Taxation
Burke delivered his Speech on American Taxation, urging Parliament to reconsider coercive fiscal policies toward the colonies.
Speech to the Electors of Bristol
Burke argued that a parliamentary representative owes constituents independent judgment rather than unqualified obedience.
Telescope
Herschel constructs his first large telescope
Trade Relations at Newfoundland
Forbids trade between New England colonies & British Dominions. Forbids American access to Newfoundland fisheries
Whip
Leaves the court Party to join the Whigs
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.