The 17th-century was a tumultuous century in British history. Here, we highlight the key dates, from the Gunpowder Plot to the Great Fire of London, via the English Civil War and the Great Plague
1600 |
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1603Accession of King James I (James VI of Scotland), the first Stuart monarch of England |
1605The Gunpowder Plot
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1607Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America, is established |
1611Publication of Authorised Version of the King James Bible |
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1616
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1625Accession of King Charles I |
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1642-46English Civil War begins |
1649
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1652-54First Dutch War |
1653Oliver Cromwell becomes Lord Protector |
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1658Death of Oliver Cromwell. His son Richard becomes Lord Protector |
1660Parliament invites Charles II to return to England. He is restored to the throne |
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1660Samuel Pepys begins his diary (to 1669) |
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1666
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1666France declares war on England (concluded 1667) |
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166716 March – Samuel Pepys sees some cellars that are still smoking, six months after the Great Fire |
1668An Act of Parliament establishes new fire prevention regulations for the City of London |
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16681,450 houses are built in London by year end. Halls for the Butchers, Cutlers and Inn-holders are completed |
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1675Foundation stone for St Paul’s Cathedral is laid. St Christopher-le-Stocks church is completed
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1677The Monument is completed |
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1681A plaque is set up on the site of the bakery where the fire began in Pudding Lane, blaming Catholics for starting the fire |
1685Death of Charles and accession of King James II. 24 churches are completed (1685-1689) |
Trial and execution of 
1665
1671
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