| January 7 | Francis Bacon becomes English lord chancellor |
| May 15 | Johannes Kepler discovers harmonics law |
| May 23 | 2nd Defenestration of Prague; beginning of 30 Years War |
| May 23 | Imperial civil servants thrown out a window of Prague Castle |
| July 16 | Captain John Gilbert patents 1st dredger in Britain |
| July 30 | Prince Maurits' troops pull into Utrecht |
| September 4 | "Rodi" avalanche destroys Plurs Switzerland, 1,500 killed |
| December 11 | Russia and Poland signs Peace treaty of Dailino |