Events

• George Friderich Handel becomes a British subject.
• Jonathan Swift publishes Gulliver's Travels.
• The city of Montevideo was established.
• Mary Toft allegedly gives birth to 16 rabbits in England, later revealed to be a hoax.
• The Gujin tushu jicheng, an immense Chinese encyclopedia, is printed using movable copper type.

Births

• Jacques-Donatien Le Ray -- a "Father of the American Revolution" (died 1803)
• April 5 - Benjamin Harrison V - Signer of the American Declaration of Independence (died 1791)
• May 12 - Alexander Hood - British naval officer (died 1814)
• June 3 - James Hutton, Scottish geologist (died 1797)
• June 14 - Thomas Pennant, Welsh naturalist (died 1798)
• September 1 - François-André Danican Philidor, French composer and chess player (died 1795)
• John Anderson, Scottish scientist (died 1796)

Deaths

• February 26 - Maximilian II Emanuel, elector of Bavaria (born 1662)
• March 26 - John Vanbrugh, English architect and dramatist (born 1664)
• July 8 - John Ker, Scottish spy (born 1673)
• November 23 - Sophia, Princess of Zelle , wife of George I of the United Kingdom (born 1666)
• December 2 - Samuel Penhallow, American colonist and historian (born 1665)
• Mother Clap, molly house proprietor