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In their lifetime
Born in the reign of George III
  • Birth
    1766
    Born
  • Age c. 2
    26 Aug 1768
    Captain Cook sets sail on his first voyage
  • Age c. 3
    5 Jan 1769
    James Watt patents his improved steam engine
  • Age c. 9
    1775–1783
    American War of Independence begins
  • Age c. 14
    4 May 1780
    First Epsom Derby run
    On Epsom Downs, Surrey.
  • Age c. 23
    1789
    Son John born
  • Age c. 23
    14 Jul 1789
    French Revolution begins
  • Age c. 26
    1792
    Son William born
  • Age c. 26
    12 Jan 1792
    Daughter Mary born
  • Age c. 27
    1 Feb 1793
    Britain goes to war with revolutionary France
  • Age c. 30
    14 May 1796
    Edward Jenner carries out the first smallpox vaccination
  • Age c. 35
    1 Jan 1801
    Union with Ireland creates the United Kingdom
  • Age c. 36
    1802
    Son Edward born
  • Age c. 37
    1803–1815
    Napoleonic Wars resume
  • Age c. 38
    21 Feb 1804
    Trevithick's steam locomotive makes the first railway journey
  • Age c. 39
    1805
    Son James born
  • Age c. 39
    21 Oct 1805
    Battle of Trafalgar
    Nelson killed.
  • Age c. 41
    25 Mar 1807
    Slave Trade Act abolishes the British slave trade
  • Age c. 42
    1808
    Son Robert born
  • Age c. 49
    Apr 1815
    Mount Tambora erupts
    Led to the cold "Year Without a Summer" in 1816.
  • Age c. 49
    18 Jun 1815
    Battle of Waterloo
  • Age c. 53
    16 Aug 1819
    Peterloo Massacre
  • Age c. 54
    29 Jan 1820
    Accession of George IV
    Reigned 1820–1830
  • Age c. 59
    27 Sep 1825
    Stockton and Darlington Railway opens
    The first public steam railway.
  • Age c. 63
    13 Apr 1829
    Catholic Emancipation Act
  • Age c. 63
    29 Sep 1829
    Metropolitan Police begin patrolling London
  • Age c. 63
    Oct 1829
    Stephenson's Rocket wins the Rainhill Trials
  • Age c. 64
    26 Jun 1830
    Accession of William IV
    Reigned 1830–1837
  • Age c. 64
    15 Sep 1830
    Liverpool and Manchester Railway opens
  • Age c. 65
    1831–1832
    First cholera epidemic reaches Britain
  • Age c. 66
    7 Jun 1832
    Great Reform Act
  • Age c. 67
    28 Aug 1833
    Slavery Abolition Act
  • Age c. 68
    14 Aug 1834
    New Poor Law introduces workhouses
  • Age c. 71
    20 Jun 1837
    Accession of Queen Victoria
    Reigned 1837–1901
  • Age c. 71
    1 Jul 1837
    Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths begins in England and Wales
  • Age c. 74
    6 May 1840
    The Penny Black, the first postage stamp, goes into use
  • Age c. 75
    6 Jun 1841
    First detailed national census
  • Age c. 79
    1845–1852
    Irish Potato Famine
  • Age c. 80
    26 Jun 1846
    Corn Laws repealed