F-YEAH HISTORY

Ceremonies relating to childbirth, 1724, from Juedisches Ceremoniel "Illustration from Juedisches Ceremoniel, a German book published in 1724. The book is a beautifully illustrated description of Jewish religious ceremonies, rites of passage and feast days, which first appeared in 1716, here in its second edition of 1724. The extremely detailed plates, by Georg Puschner, depict priestly robes, the celebrations of the New Year, Passover, the weekly Sabbath, circumcision, presentation of the first born, prayer at the synagogue, a wedding procession and a wedding, purification of the bride, the washing of the brother-in-law's feet, the feast of reconciliation, death rites, burials, as well as the procedures for other Jewish customs."

Source: Center for Jewish History.

A map of Scilly Isles, Cornwall, ‘Shewing all the Rocks And Ledges, with the Soundings & Barings…’, 1707

Source: The National Archives UK. 

Proclamation by Victor Hughes (1770-1826), on the 1st November 1794, a few months after abolition of slavery : "Liberty and republic triumph (...) at last no traces of slavery remain in Guadeloupe"

Oil painting of Martín Miguel de Güemes by Eduardo Schiaffino Martín Miguel de Güemes (8 February 1785 – 17 June 1821) was a military leader and popular caudillo who defended northwestern Argentina from the Spanish during the Argentine War of Independence.

Depiction of the Plague Riot, Moscow, 1771 The Plague Riot was a riot in Moscow in 1771 between September 15 and September 17, caused by an outbreak of bubonic plague.

Coronation procession of Empress Elizabeth, Moscow 1742 Elizaveta Petrovna (Russian: Елизаве́та (Елисаве́т) Петро́вна) (29 December [O.S. 18 December] 1709 – 5 January 1762 [O.S. 25 December 1761]), also known as Yelisavet and Elizabeth, was the Empress of Russia from 1741 until her death. She led the country into the two major European conflicts of her time: the War of Austrian Succession (1740–8) and the Seven Years' War (1756–63).

The National Assembly taking the Tennis Court Oath (by Jacques-Louis David) The Tennis Court Oath (French: Serment du jeu de paume) was a pivotal event during the first days of the French Revolution. The Oath was a pledge signed by 576 of the 577 members from the Third Estate who were locked out of a meeting of the Estates-General on 14 June 1789. The only person who did not sign was Joseph Martin-Dauch, a politician who would not execute decisions not sanctioned by the king. They made a makeshift conference room inside a tennis court located in the Saint-Louis district of the city of Versailles, near the Palace of Versailles.

A View of the Monuments of Easter Island - The first known painting of Easter Island in 1775 by William Hodges (1744–1797)

Battle of Vertières, 1803 The Battle of Vertières (in Haitian Creole Batay Vètyè), the last major battle of the Second War of Haitian Independence, the final part of the Haitian Revolution under François Capois. It was fought between Haitian rebels and French expeditionary forces on 18 November 1803 at Vertières. Vertières is situated in Nord, Haiti. By the end of October 1803, Haitian rebels had already taken over all the territory from France. The only places left to France were Mole St. Nicolas, held by Noailles, and Cap-Français, where, with 5000 troops, Rochambeau was at bay. With 16,000 men in four columns.

Count Fyodor Vasilievich Rostopchin Fyodor Vasilyevich, Count Rostopchin,  (born March 12 [March 23, New Style], 1763, Livny, Russia—died Jan. 18 [Jan. 30], 1826, Moscow), military officer and statesman who was a close associate and adviser to Emperor Paul I of Russia (reigned 1796–1801) and served as military governor of Moscow during Napoleon’s invasion of Russia (1812). Read more here.

Portrait of the Marquis of Pombal D. Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo, 1st Marquis of Pombal, 1st Count of Oeiras (13 May 1699 – 8 May 1782) was an 18th-century Portuguese statesman. He was Secretary of the State of the Kingdom of Portugal and the Algarves (the equivalent to a today's Prime Minister) in the government of Joseph I of Portugal from 1750 to 1777. Undoubtedly the most prominent minister in the government, he is considered today to have been the de facto head of government. Pombal is notable for his swift and competent leadership in the aftermath of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. He implemented sweeping economic policies in Portugal to regulate commercial activity and standardize quality throughout the country. Pombal was instrumental in weakening the grip of the Inquisition. The term Pombaline is used to describe not only his tenure, but also the architectural style which formed after the great earthquake.

Death of Alexander I in Taganrog Alexander I of Russia (Russian: Александр I Павлович, Aleksandr I Pavlovich) (23 December [O.S. 12 December] 1777 – 1 December [O.S. 19 November] 1825), also known as Alexander the Blessed (Russian: Александр Благословенный, Aleksandr Blagoslovennyi), served as Emperor of Russia from 23 March 1801 to 1 December 1825 and the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825. He was also the first Russian Grand Duke of Finland and Lithuania.

Hanging of traitors in effigie during Kościuszko Uprising, painting by Jean Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine c. 1794 The Kościuszko Uprising was an uprising against Imperial Russia and the Kingdom of Prussia led by Tadeusz Kościuszko in the Commonwealth of Poland and the Prussian partition in 1794. It was a failed attempt to liberate Poland and Lithuania from Russian influence after the Second Partition of Poland (1793) and the creation of the Targowica Confederation.

Portrait of Catherine II with the Chesme Column in the background, 1794

Gustav III painted in 1777 by Alexander Roslin Gustav III (24 January [O.S. 13 January] 1746 – 29 March 1792) was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica who was a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia.

Portrait of Ivan VI of Russia Ivan VI Antonovich of Russia (Ivan Antonovich; Russian: Иван VI; Иван Антонович; 23 August [O.S. 12 August] 1740 – 16 July [O.S. 5 July] 1764), was proclaimed Emperor of Russia in 1740, as an infant, although he never actually reigned. Within less than a year, he was overthrown by the Empress Elizabeth of Russia, Peter I's daughter. Ivan spent the rest of his life as a prisoner and was killed by his guards during an attempt made to free him.

Attack and capture of Fort St. Philip on the island of Menorca, 29 June 1756, after the naval battle The Battle of Minorca (20 May 1756) was a naval battle between French and British fleets. It was the opening sea battle of the Seven Years' War in the European theatre. Shortly after the war began British and French squadrons met off the Mediterranean island of Minorca. The French won the battle. The subsequent decision by the British to withdraw to Gibraltar handed France a strategic victory and led directly to the Fall of Minorca.

The British failure to save Minorca led to the controversial court-martial and execution of the British commander, Admiral John Byng, for "failure to do his utmost" to relieve the siege of the British garrison on Minorca.