1740
Death of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor.
1740
Carlo Goldoni has success reviving the tradition of commedia dell'arte. The tradition which began in 16th century Italy used dance, music and buffoonery and is the basis of modern pantomime.
1740
Successive years of rain and cold weather lead to the Irish Famine, killing an estimated 38% of the 1,740 population.
1741
Debut of Garrick at Ipswich in Oroonoko, or The Royal Slave, and then at Goodman's Fields.
1741
New scene-changing technology introduced in Venetian theatre Teatro Novissimo.
1741
The Little Theatre Haymarket reopens with the arrival of classical actor Charles Macklin.
1741
David Garrick makes his debut stage appearance anonymously, performing the masked part of Harlequin at an unlicensed theatre in Goodman’s Field.
1741
David Garrick takes on the part of Richard III at Goodman's Field, playing the character in a more naturalistic style, achieving overnight success.
1742
David Garrick joins the Drury Lane Theatre company.
1742
Resignation of Prime Minister Robert Walpole following a motion of no confidence.
1742
Gifford's Company moves to Lincoln's Inn Fields.
1744
France declares war on England as part of the War of Austrian Succession. An invasion is planned and launched only to be partly wrecked and driven back by violent storms.
1744
Garrick Publishes his Essay on Acting, sharing his thoughts on staging adaptations of Shakespeare.
1745 - 1746
The third Jacobite Rising, also known as 'the forty-five', begins in Great Britain. Charles Edward Stuart, more commonly known as 'Bonnie Prince Charlie', leads the Scots in a revolt against the Hanoverian monarchy.
1746 - 1747
David Garrick makes his only appearances at Covent Garden.
1746
Samuel Foote secures a lease on the Haymarket Theatre.
1747
An agreement dated 9 April 1747 established the partnership of David Garrick and James Lacey at Drury Lane. After purchasing the patent renewal to become joint paintees and co-managers, this management partnership would last until Lacy's death in 1774.
1747
The newly redecorated Drury Lane Theatre opens with a production of The Merchant of Venice, with actor Charles Macklin taking the role of Shylock.
1749
David Garrick marries Viennese opera dancer Eva Maria Veigal.
1749
Little Haymarket Theatre is gutted by a riot after a hoaxer 'The Bottle Conjurer' claimed he could fit his whole body inside a wine bottle but failed to appear on stage.
1750
Spranger Barry leaves Drury Lane for Covent Garden after rivalry developed between himself and David Garrick. The two were being alternated for the part of Romeo. Barry left and subsequently Drury Lane and Covent Garden ran the rival Romeo and Juliets head to head.
1751
Birth of playwright and novelist Richard Brinsley Sheridan in Dublin, Ireland. Sheridan went on to write the successful plays The Rivals, The School for Scandal, The Duenna and A Trip to Scarborough.
1752
The Disorderly Houses Act passes meaning that London magistrates have the power to regulate theatres.
1752
One of the earliest theatres in New York, Nassau Street Playhouse, opens its doors.
1752
Gregorian calendar adopted in Great Britain and its colonies under the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750.
1753
The Marriage Act is passed, requiring a formal ceremony of marriage for the first time.
1753
Birth of English novelist and actress Elizabeth Inchbald.
1753
Jewish Naturalization Act is passed allowing Jews to become naturalised by application to Parliament.
1753
The British Museum is established. Following the death of naturalist Sir Hans Sloane, his collection of around 71,000 objects were bequeathed to the nation. The British Museum Act 1753 added the Cottonian and the Harleian Libraries to the Sloane collection.
1754
Outbreak of the French and Indian War in North America.
1755
Growing hostilities between the English and the French lead to anti-French riots at Drury Lane. The riots were a reaction to Frenchman Jean-Georges Nouverre's ballet The Chinese Festival and its largely French cast.
1755
Birth of Sarah Siddons, eldest child of Roger Kemble and sister to John Phillip, Charles and Stephen. She went on to become one of the most famous actresses of the 18th century, most well known for her portrayal of Lady Macbeth.
1755
On the 15 April 1755 Samuel Johnson publishes A Dictionary of the English Language, now one of the most famous dictionaries in history.
1756 - 1763
The great powers of Europe descend into war, with France, Austria and Sweden becoming allies against Great Britain, Hanover and Prussia. One of the main causal factors of the war concerned the colonial disputes between Great Britain and France in regard to North America.
1757
John Phillip Kemble is born.
1757
Death of Colley Cibber, actor, manager and playwright.
1757
William Cavendish, 4th Duke of Devonshire, enters the office of Lord Chamberlain, taking on the responsibility of play censorship.
1758
The New Theatre Norwich opens with a performance of The Way of the World by William Congreve.
1759
Composer George Frederic Handel dies at his home on Brook Street, London, at age 74.
1759
Actor Charles Macklin, champion of naturalistic acting, makes his return to Drury Lane.
1760
King George II dies at the age of 77 and is succeeded by his son George III.
1760
Robert Lloyd publishes The Actor, highly praising David Garrick.
1761
Coronation of King George III, aged 22.
1761
Death of theatre manager John Rich.
1762
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, becomes Prime Minister.
1762
Outbreak of the Anglo-Spanish war, part of the Seven Years War, after Spain signs a family compact with France.
1762
George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough, enters the office of Lord Chamberlain, taking on the responsibility of play censorship.
1762
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, just six years old, performs for the Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa.
1762
Birth of George Colman the Younger, son of George Colman the Elder.
1763
Covent Garden and Drury Lane theatres both suffer the Half Price Riots, when managers refuse to admit half price tickets.
1764
Opening of The Alston Street Theatre, the first permanent theatre in Glasgow.
1764
Britain introduces the Sugar Act, imposing a levy on sugar, wine and textiles imported into America.
1764
Horace Walpole publishes The Castle of Otranto, the first Gothic novel.
1765 - 1783
American Revolution.
1765
The Stamp Act is passed directing that all printed material in the British colonies be produced on stamped paper produced in London. The tax was intended to pay for British troops stationed in North America after the Seven Year War.
1765
The publication of Johnson's long awaited edition of Shakespeare. The proposal for the edition had been printed in 1756.
1765
William Henry Cavendish-Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland, enters the office of Lord Chamberlain.
1766
The Stamp Act is repealed.
1766
The patent for Little Haymarket Theatre is obtained by Samuel Foote.
1766
Francis Seymor-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford, enters the office of Lord Chamberlain.
1767
Edinburgh Theatre Royal is granted a patent, with the Theatre Royal on Shakespeare Square opening in 1769. Edinburgh has since had four theatres named the Theatre Royal, the last three all standing on the same site.
1767
The Little Theatre Haymarket reopens after refurbishment as the Theatre Royal Haymarket, having secured a patent for the summer months.
1768
A personal act of King George III founds The Royal Academy of Arts.
1768
Theatres in Bath and Norwich are granted patents.
1769
The Shakespeare Jubilee organised by David Garrick takes place in Stratford-upon-Avon to celebrate the life of William Shakespeare.
1769
York Theatre is granted a patent.
1770
William Wordsworth, English romantic poet, is born.
1771
Liverpool Theatre obtains a patent.
1771
Dramatist Thomas Dibdin is born to theatre manager Charles Dibdin and actress Harriet Pit.
1772
Somerset v. Stewart. The English Court of Kings Bench ruled that a slave could not be forcibly removed from the country.
1773
On 10th February, David Garrick's controversial rewrite of Hamlet is performed at Drury Lane in London, where Garrick is manager.
1773
The Boston Tea Party. The Sons of Liberty hold a political protest and destroy a shipment of tea brought in by the East India Company in reaction to the Tea Act passed on the 10th May.
1773
Charles Macklin appears at Covent Garden as Macbeth wearing traditional Scottish dress.
1774
The First Continental Congress is held in America. They pass the Articles of Association which, while mainly concerned with the banning of all trade with Britain, also banned all theatrical performances, putting them in the same undesirable class as gaming and cock-fighting.
1774
Perpetual copyright is abolished.
1775 - 1783
American War of Independence between Great Britain and thirteen of its North American colonies.
1775
Unsuccessful debut of Sarah Siddons at Drury Lane.
1775
Charles Kemble is born.
1775
The first Theatre Royal in Manchester opens its doors.
1776
David Garrick appears as Hamlet at Drury Lane, "being the last time of his performing that character", on 30th May 1776.
1776
American Declaration of Independence.
1776
Richard Brinsley Sheridan becomes manager of Drury Lane following David Garrick's resignation
1776
Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations.
1777
George Colman the Elder purchases the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
1778
Death of John Kelly and Samuel Foote.
1778
Catholic Relief Act.
1778
Bristol Theatre obtains patent.
1778
Joseph Grimaldi is born.
1778
John Larpent appointed Examiner of Plays by the Marquis of Hertford. He serves until 1824.
1779
War with Spain.
1779
David Garrick dies on the 20th January 1779 and is buried in Poet's Corner, Westminster Abbey.
1780
The Gordon Riots. Anti-Catholic violence rips through London in protest of the Papists Act of 1778.
1781
The American War of Independence comes to an end.
1782
Covent Garden is enlarged to a capacity of 2,170.
1782
Sarah Siddons makes her return to Drury Lane.
1782
Treaty of Versailles.
1782
George Montagu, 4th Duke of Manchester, enters the office of Lord Chamberlain.
1783
Stephen Kemble marries Elizabeth Satchell.
1783
James Cecil, 1st Marquess of Salisbury, enters the office of Lord Chamberlain.
1784
Mary Ann Davenport first appears on stage at Bath.
1785
Sarah Siddons appears as Lady Macbeth for the first time.
1786
John Phillip Kemble publishes Macbeth Reconsidered.
1787
British actor Edmund Kean is born in London.
1787
Mozart's Don Giovanni debuts in Prague.
1787
Smock Alley in Dublin closes.
1787
The Society for the Abolition of Slavery is founded.
1788
William Chetwynd appointed Examiner of Plays on the 10 March 1788.
1788
George III suffers with extreme mental health issues.
1788
John Phillip Kemble becomes manager at Drury Lane.
1788
Opening of Astley's Amphitheatre.
1788
Lord Byron is born in Dover, England.
1788
The Times, Britain's oldest surviving newspaper, is founded.
1789 - 1799
The French Revolution begins bringing social and political upheaval to France.
1789
George Washington becomes the first President of the United States.
1789
Declaration of the Rights of Man.
1789
Colman the Younger takes charge at Haymarket after Charles Macklin retires.