February 28 Tsarina Anna Ivanovna leads autocracy March 16 Willem Charles Henry Friso installed as viceroy of Drenthe April 8 1st Jewish congregation in U.S. forms synagogue, "Shearith Israel, New York City" May 15 Robert Walpole becomes England 1st prime minister (was: chief min) July 12 Lorenzo Corsini chosen as Pope Clemens XII July 21 States of Holland put death penalty on "sodomy" August 4 Crown prince Frederik of Prussia escapes to England September 1 Benjamin Franklin marries Miss Read September 17 Turkish coup under Mahmud I; Sultan Ahmed III flees September 30 Duke Victor Amadeus XI of Savoye resigns October 12 Christian VI succeeds Frederik IV as king of Denmark December 11 Voltaire's "Brutus," premieres in Paris
