- Jan 1 French explorers Louis-Joseph and François de La Vérendrye are the first Europeans to reach the foot of the Rocky Mountains at the Yellow River, having crossed the Great Plains [1]
- Feb 3 Philadelphia establishes a "pesthouse" to quarantine immigrants
- Feb 8 Comet C/1743 C1 approaches within 0.0390 AUs of Earth
1st Lord of Treasury
Feb 14 Henry Pelham becomes Britain's First Lord of Treasury
Messiah Premieres
Mar 23 George Frideric Handel's oratorio "Messiah" premieres at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London
Battle of Dettingen
Jun 27 War of the Austrian Succession: Battle of Dettingen: in Bavaria, King George II of Britain personally leads troops into battle. The last time a British monarch commanded troops in the field.
- Jul 18 1st half-page newspaper ad is published (NY Weekly Journal)
- Aug 10 Earliest recorded prize fighting rules formulated
- Aug 14 Prussian army occupies Saksen, beginning 2nd Silezian War
- Aug 16 Champion of England titleholder Jack Broughton publishes 'Rules of the Ring' - earliest boxing code
- Aug 17 Treaty of Åbo signed in Turku by Sweden and Russian Empire, ending the Russo-Swedish War (1741-1743)
- Sep 13 Great Britain, Austria and Savoye-Sardinia sign Treaty of Worms
- Nov 5 Coordinated scientific observations of the transit of Mercury were organized by Joseph-Nicolas Delisle
Authors
Civil Rights Activists
Inventors
Kings
Revolutionaries
Scientists