1764 - The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole published
1775 - American war of Independence
1787 - Society for the abolition of slavery founded
1789 - Fall of Bastille - the storming of the fortress that represented authority in France; began the French Revolution
1793 - Execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. France declares war against Britain (and then Britain against France)
1795 - William Pitt, a prime minister of Britain, suppressed freedom of speech and assembly
1796 - The Monk, a highly controversial book (pretty obscene and profane for it's time) by Matthew Lewis
1798 - Rebellion in Ireland
1801