January 9 France declares war on Spain January 17 Avalanche destroys every building in Leukerbad, Switzerland; kills 53 May 15 James Puckle, a London lawyer, patents world's 1st machine gun July 31 Battle at Cape Passaro: English fleet destroys Spanish August 2 Austrian joins Triple Alliance August 11 Battle at Cape Passaro: English fleet destroys Spanish August 21 Emperor Karel VI, Turkey and Venice sign peace treaty August 25 Hundreds of French colonists arrive in Louisiana; New Orleans, found November 18 Voltaires "Oedipe," premieres in Paris December 11 Battle at Frederikshall Norway December 17 England declares war on Spain
