Timeline

18th century

1. 1793 – 1794★★★★★

   Reign of Terror

   The revolutionary government dominated by the Committee of Public Safety carries out mass repression, with tens of thousands executed; it ends with the fall of Robespierre.

   RevolutionPolitics· France
2. January 21, 1793★★★★★

   Execution of Louis XVI

   Condemned by the National Convention, the former king Louis XVI is guillotined at the Place de la Révolution in Paris.

   RevolutionDeathPolitics· France
3. May 14, 1796★★★★★

   Jenner's smallpox vaccination

   Edward Jenner inoculates the boy James Phipps with cowpox material, pioneering vaccination against smallpox.

   ScienceDisease· United Kingdom
4. 1798 – 1801★★★★★

   Napoleon's campaign in Egypt and Syria

   French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte occupy Egypt but are eventually forced out; the expedition sparks European Egyptology.

   War· Egypt, Syria, Israel
5. 1799 – 1849★★★★★

   Ranjit Singh takes Lahore, founding the Sikh Empire

   Ranjit Singh captures Lahore and unites the Sikh confederacies into an empire in the Punjab.

   PoliticsDynasty· Pakistan, India
6. November 9, 1799★★★★★

   Coup of 18 Brumaire

   Napoleon Bonaparte overthrows the Directory and establishes the Consulate, holding supreme power as First Consul.

   PoliticsRevolution· France
7. December 14, 1799★★★★★

   Death of George Washington

   Former President George Washington dies at his Mount Vernon estate in Virginia.

   Death· United States
8. 1800★★★★★

   Volta invents the electric battery

   Alessandro Volta announces the voltaic pile, the first source of continuous electric current.

   ScienceTechnology· Italy