1685 facts for kids

The year 1685 was a regular year that began on a Monday. People used the Gregorian calendar to keep track of the days. This year was full of important events, from changes in kings to new discoveries and famous people being born.

Important Events of 1685

• February 6 – James Stuart, the Duke of York, became the new King. He was known as King James II of England for England and Ireland, and King James VII for Scotland.
• February 18 – A French explorer set up a place called Fort St. Louis at Matagorda Bay. This helped France claim the land that is now Texas.
• February 20 – The explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle landed with about 200 people at Matagorda Bay in Texas. He wanted to start a colony near the Mississippi River, but he landed in the wrong spot.
• March – King Louis XIV of France created a set of rules called the "Code Noir". These rules allowed the use of enslaved people in French colonies.
• June 20 – The Monmouth Rebellion began. James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, who was the son of the previous king, Charles II of England, said he should be the new King. He gathered an army and fought against his uncle, King James II.
• July 6 – The Battle of Sedgemoor happened. This was a big fight between King James II's army and the rebels led by Monmouth. Monmouth's army lost, and he was caught soon after.
• July 15 – The Duke of Monmouth was put to death in London.
• October 18-19 – King Louis XIV announced the Edict of Fontainebleau. This new rule took away the rights of Protestants in France and made their religion illegal.

Other Things That Happened

• The Chinese army of the Qing Dynasty attacked a Russian outpost called Albazin. This event later led to a peace agreement known as the Treaty of Nerchinsk.
• A man named Adam Baldridge started a base for pirates on St Mary Island, which is part of Madagascar.
• During a trip to trade goods on the Mississippi River, explorer Michel Mathieu Brunet dit Lestang found a bay he called La Baie des Puants. Today, this place is known as Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Famous People Born in 1685

Many important people were born in 1685, especially famous musicians and thinkers.

• January 7 – Jonas Alströmer, a Swedish businessman who helped develop industries.
• February 23 – George Frideric Handel, a very famous German composer who wrote many operas and oratorios.
• March 12 – George Berkeley, an English philosopher who had new ideas about how we see the world.
• March 21 – Johann Sebastian Bach, another incredibly famous German composer, known for his beautiful church music and complex pieces.
• June 30 – John Gay, an English writer known for his plays and poems.
• October 1 – Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, an important ruler in Europe.
• October 26 – Domenico Scarlatti, an Italian composer famous for his keyboard music.

Notable People Who Died in 1685

• February 6 – King Charles II of England, the previous king of England, Scotland, and Ireland, passed away.
• March 22 – Emperor Go-Sai of Japan died.
• July 15 – James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, who led the rebellion against King James II, was executed.

Images for kids

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  July 6: The Battle of Sedgemoor was a major event.

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  October 22: The Edict of Fontainebleau was signed, changing religious laws.

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  George Frideric Handel, a famous composer born this year.

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  George Berkeley, an influential philosopher.

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  Johann Sebastian Bach, another great composer born in 1685.

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  Charles VI, a powerful European ruler.

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  King Charles II of England, who died in 1685.

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  Emperor Go-Sai of Japan.

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  James Scott, who led a rebellion.

See also

In Spanish: 1685 para niños