16th century - 17th century - 18th century
Decades:1600s,1610s,1620s,1630s,1640s,1650s,1660s,1670s,1680s,1690s
1637 1638 1639 1640 1641 1642 1643 1644 1645 1646 1647
1642 - decade 1640s - 17th century
Events
- January 4: Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. Beginning of the English Civil War.
- The Dutch drive Spain from Taiwan.
- The first recorded sighting of New Zealand and Tasmania by Abel Tasman.
- Blaise Pascal produces a mechanical adding machine.
- Claudio Monteverdi's opera l'Incoronazione di Poppeia is first performed.
- First Battle of Lostwithiel
Births
- December 25: Isaac Newton, English scientist.
Deaths