1663 in England

Events from the year 1663 in England.

Incumbents

• Monarch – Charles II

Events

• 10 January – the Royal African Company is granted a Royal Charter.
• February – Parliament pressures King Charles into withdrawing a proposed Declaration of Indulgence for Catholics and nonconformists.
• 24 March – the colony of Province of Carolina is established in North America.
• 27 March – the gold guinea coin worth one pound sterling (introduced 6 February) is proclaimed legal tender.
• 7 May – opening of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London.
• 8 July – King Charles grants a Royal Charter to the North American Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
• 27 July – Parliament passes the second Navigation Act, requiring all goods bound for the American colonies to be sent in English ships from English ports.
• 21 August – concerned about the wintry weather, Parliament holds an intercessory fast.
• 28 August – severe frost.
• 31 August – Gilbert Sheldon enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbury.
• October – The Farnley Wood Plot to overthrow the monarchy.
• Undated – Roger L'Estrange is appointed Surveyor of the Imprimery and Printing Presses and licenser of the press.

Births

• 25 February – Pierre Antoine Motteux, translator and dramatist (died 1718)
• 6 March – Francis Atterbury, bishop and man of letters (died 1732)
• 17 May – Sir William Glynne, 2nd Baronet, Member of Parliament (died 1721)
• 12 July – James Stuart, Duke of Cambridge, son of King James II (died 1667)
• 28 September – Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton, illegitimate son of King Charles II, military commander (died of wounds 1690)
• John Berkeley, 3rd Baron Berkeley of Stratton, admiral (died 1697)
• William Bowyer, printer (died 1737)
• Thomas Emlyn, clergyman (died 1741)
• William King, poet (died 1712)
• George Stepney, poet and diplomat (died 1707)

Deaths

• 6 January – George Goring, 1st Earl of Norwich, soldier (born 1585)
• 29 January – Robert Sanderson, Bishop of Lincoln (born 1587)
• April – George Fane, Member of Parliament (born c. 1616)
• 2 April – Henry Cary, 4th Viscount Falkland, Member of Parliament (born 1634)
• 4 June – William Juxon, Archbishop of Canterbury (born 1582)
• 25 June – John Bramhall, Archbishop (born 1594)
• 5 July – Samuel Newman, clergy (born 1602)
• 26 August – Sir John Yonge, 1st Baronet, Member of Parliament (born 1603)
• Edward Burrough, Quaker (born 1634)
• Cheney Culpeper, alchemist (born 1601)
• Balthazar Gerbier, artist (born 1592, Netherlands)

References