1 January – the British Empire (except Scotland, which had changed New Year's Day to 1 January in 1600) adopts today as the first day of the year as part of adoption of the Gregorian calendar, which is completed in September: today is the first day of the New Year under the terms of last year's Calendar Act.[2]
26 February – first performance of Handel's oratorio Jephtha in London.[2]
3–13 September inclusive – these dates are omitted from the calendar in the British Empire as part of the adoption of the Gregorian calendar to correct the discrepancy between the Old Style and New Style dates under the terms of last year's Calendar Act. Claims of riots over the perceived loss of the days[2] are without contemporary authority.[4]
Undated
Henry Pelham, Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, converts all outstanding issues of redeemable government stock into one bond, Consolidated 3.5% Annuities (consols), in order to reduce the coupon (interest rate) paid on the government debt.[5]
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