Sir William Petty
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Sir William Petty
by Edwin Sandys
line engraving, 1683
Given by Henry Witte Martin, 1861
Reference Collection
NPG D5517
Events of 1683back to top
Current affairs
Rye House Plot, a conspiracy to murder the king and his heir, James, Duke of York, is leaked to the government by minor conspirator, Josiah Keeling. Arrests follow; some conspirators are executed, others pardoned while several flee the country.Worst ever recorded frost in England freezes the Thames.
Art and science
England's first public museum, the Ashmolean Museum, is opened by Oxford University to house a substantial collection donated by the Antiquary, Elias Ashmole.International
Financial constraints forces Charles II to decide to relinquish Tangiers, an English possession since 1661, unable to continue its defence against the Moors. Admiral, George Legge, Baron Dartmouth, is commissioned to oversee the port's demolition. Diarist, Samuel Pepys accompanies Dartmouth as his secretary during the expedition.Comments back to top
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