Events

• The third French and Indian War, known as "King George's War," breaks out at Port Royal, Nova Scotia

Ongoing events

• War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748)

Births

• May 19 - Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen-Consort of King George III of Great Britain
• July 17 -Elbridge Gerry, American politician, for whom gerrymander was named
• August 1 - Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, French naturalist
• September 25 - King Frederick William II of Prussia
• November 11 -Abigail Adams, wife of American President John Adams

Deaths

• April 25 - Anders Celsius, Swedish astronomer and thermometrician (b. 1701)
• May 30 - Alexander Pope, English satirist (b. 1688)
• Andre Campra, French composer (b. 1660)