Cambridge in the Eighteenth Century
Seventeenth Century <- Time Thread -> Nineteenth Century
There was much corruption an d excess in this century - in Cambridge as elsewhere.
University academic standards declined, as did
town concerns such as the annual Stourbridge Fair
1701-1710
Around this time the primary form of shopping in England began to change from markets to fixed shops.
- 1702: Queen Anne
- 1702: Chair in Chemistry endowed by the University
- 1703: Cam Conservators established by statute to improve
navigation between the Great Bridge and Clayhithe
- 1706: first Turnpike Trusts set up in Britain - first significant, quality roadbuilding since the Romans
- 1707: Roger Cotes became the first Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Natural Philosophy, the chair having been endowed by Thomas Plume in 1704
- 1707: Chair in Anatomy endowed by the University
- 1707: Act of Union with Scotland
1711-1720
- 1714: King George I
- 1720: the South Sea Bubble
1721-1730
- 1722: Building of the Senate House began, designed by James Gibbs
- 1724: Regius Professorship in Modern History founded
- 1724: Chair in Arabic endowed by the Lord Almoner
- 1724: Chair in Botany endowed by the University
- 1725: First milestones in Britain since Roman times set up along Trumpington Road
- 1727: King George II
- 1728: Chair in Geology endowed by John Woodward
1731-1740
- 1734: The Senate House opened
1741-1750
- 1740s: The first unseen written examination - the Senate House Examination - was introduced for the BA degree
- 1744: The Cambridge Journal and Weekly Flying Post was founded
- 1748: Pompeii excavations started
- 1749: James Essex built a wooden bridge for Queens' College
(rebuilt in 1909)
- 1749: Chair in Astronomy & Geometry endowed by Thomas Lowndes
- 1750: First regular public coach service to London
1751-1760
- 1752: Britain changed over to the Gregorian calendar from the Julian.
The start of the year moved from 25 March to 1 January and dates were realigned with Europe.
- 1753: British Museum founded
- 1754: The Great Bridge (Magdalene) was rebuilt in stone by James Essex, funded by public subscription
- 1756: The Small Bridges along Silver Street were replaced by a single bridge,
with one branch of the river being diverted through a tunnel to emerge in Queens' Drain
- 1760: King George III
1761-1770
- 1762: The Cambridge Chronicle was founded
- 1762: The University acquired the former garden of the
Austin Friars for a Botanic Garden (now the New Museums Site). Initially the emphasis was on medicinal plants
- 1766: Addenbrooke's Hospital opened
1771-1780
- 1777: Chair in Divinity endowed by John Norris
1781-1790
- 1782: New Guildhall built by James Essex, funded by public subscription and sale of freeman status
- 1783: Chair in Natural Experimental Philosophy (with special reference to the scourge of gout) endowed by Richard Jackson.
Occupants of the Chair variously covered fields such as Physics, Mathematics, Engineering and Architecture
- 1783: Petition to the House of Commons for reform
of the electoral system from a public meeting.
The town's two MPs represented 180 freemen, almost half of whom were landowners living outside the town
- 1784: William Pitt, the new Prime Minister, was elected as one of the University's two MPs
- 1786: the January Minutes of the town Corporation record that the
windmill near Parker's Piece
no longer exists and that the town owns the land.
Leases for successor mills were subsequently granted
(e.g. to George Humfrey in 1803)
- 1788: Act for the better paving, lighting and cleansing of the streets
1791-1800
Seventeenth Century <- Time Thread -> Nineteenth Century
Cambridge
: History