1742 Facts for Kids

The year 1742 was a time of many important changes and events around the world. From new leaders taking power to big discoveries in science and art, it was a busy year!

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	17th century – 18th century – 19th century
Decades:	1710s 1720s 1730s – 1740s – 1750s 1760s 1770s
Years:	1739 1740 1741 – 1742 – 1743 1744 1745

Key Events of 1742
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Key Events of 1742

New Leaders and Politics

On January 24, Charles VII Albert became the Holy Roman Emperor. This was a very important title in Europe, like being a powerful leader over many lands.
On February 16, Spencer Compton, who was the Earl of Wilmington, became the Prime Minister of Great Britain. This meant he was the main leader of the British government.
A political scandal happened because of how an election was handled in a place called Chippenham.
William Pulteney was given the special title of the 1st Earl of Bath.
Robert Walpole, who had been a very important politician, moved from the House of Commons to the House of Lords. This was a big change in his political career.
John Carteret, 2nd Lord Carteret became the Secretary of State for the Northern Department, a key role in the British government.
In Norway, the town of Molde officially became a city.

Battles and Conflicts

On February 18, British forces attacked a place called La Guayra.
On May 17, the army of Frederick the Great defeated the Austrians in a battle at Chotusitz. After this, Austria gave up a region called Silesia to Prussia.
Another battle was fought at Sahay on May 25.
The Kingdom of Prussia captured the city of Jihlava.
In Peru, a person named Juan Santon called himself Atahualpa II and started a rebellion against the Spanish rulers. This rebellion did not succeed.
In Afghanistan, different tribes came together and formed a monarchy, which means they united under one king.

Science and New Ideas

The famous mathematician Christian Goldbach came up with a puzzle called Goldbach's conjecture. It's a math problem that is still being studied today!
Colin Maclaurin published his book called Treatise on Fluxions, which was an important work in mathematics.
Anders Celsius suggested a new way to measure temperature, which is now known as the Celsius temperature scale. You probably use it in science class!
James Bradley took over from Edmond Halley as the Astronomer Royal. This was a very important job for studying the stars and planets in Britain.

Art, Culture, and Education

On April 13, the very first performance of George Frideric Handel's famous music piece, Messiah, took place in Dublin.
Henry Fielding published his book Joseph Andrews, which was a popular novel at the time.
The University of Erlangen was founded, creating a new place for learning and study.
Construction began on the Foundling Hospital in London. This was a special place built to care for children who needed help.
In Eisenach, a city in Germany, work started on its Stadtschloss, which means "city castle."
The newspaper The Pennsylvania Journal was printed for the first time on December 2.

Other Notable Events

Daniel le Pelley became the new leader, or Seigneur, of Sark, taking over from Nicolas le Pelley.
There was a political event called the Lopukhina Conspiracy at the Russian court, which involved secret plans and disagreements among powerful people.