1700 In the aftermath of the Williamite wars, the Government held a substantial amount of confiscated land.   1702 William of Orange died. His successor, Queen Anne, was a strict Anglican.   1704 Yet more Penal Laws were imposed – Catholic ownership and tenancy of land was further restricted and Dissenters and Catholics were excluded from public office. Following the plantations and confiscations during the previous century only 18% of Irish land remained in Catholic ownership. The Bible was printed in Ireland for the first time by James Blow of Belfast.   1705 British colonies in America were opened to direct trade in linen with Ireland.   1711 An era of recurrent warfare between tenants and landlords commenced which lasted nearly two centuries. The Linen Board was established to help promote the linen industry.   1714 George I, the first Hanoverian king acceded to the throne. He promised better treatment for dissenting Protestants.   1716 A series of bad harvests resulted in great distress in rural areas.   1718 Ulster Scots emigrated in large numbers to the American colonies.   1719 The Toleration Act exempted Dissenting Protestants from the penalties imposed on Roman Catholics.   1720 The Declaratory Act laid down the supremacy of the English Parliament over the Irish Parliament.   1726 The Presbytery of Antrim was established by non-subscribing Presbyterians.   1727 The death of Samuel-Louis Crommellin, the Hugenot refugee who pioneered the Ulster linen industry.   1728 A new Act removed the franchise from Catholics. Catholics were forbidden to practice as solicitors.   1737 The first issue of Ireland’s oldest surviving newspaper was published – the Belfast Newsletter.   c1739 The first steam engines were introduced into the country.   1740 There was a severe famine after a particularly harsh winter killed off livestock and destroyed crops.   1741 The famine worsened after a second bad winter. Newry was joined to Lough Neagh by Ireland’s first canal.   1746 The Irish Parliament banned marriage between Catholics and Protestants.   1747 John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, visited Ireland.   1748 France harboured a large number of clergy fleeing the Penal Laws.   1752 The Gregorian Calendar replaced the Julian Calendar. A regular coach service between Dublin and Belfast commenced.   1754 The Brown Linen Hall was opened in Belfast.   1755 The population of Belfast was about 7500.   1758 Restrictions on the importation of Irish cattle and beef into England and Scotland were lifted. This encouraged landlords to take over common land and increase pasturage.   1760 The French raided Belfast Lough and occupied Carrickfergus Castle for several days.   1763 Deep unrest amongst the peasantry led to the Whiteboy Agrarian Movement becoming active in Ulster.   1769 Steelboy or the Hearts of Steel Movement became active in Ulster.   1770 There were agrarian riots – 5 farmers were killed when the army opened fire on Steelboy protestors in Belfast.   1772 The Steelboys Act gave emergency powers to the authorities in Ulster. Catholics were permitted to lease bogland.   1774 The White Linen Hall was opened in Donegall Square, Belfast.   1778 The threat of foreign invasion encouraged Protestants to form Volunteer Companies in Belfast and Dublin. By the end of the year 40,000 Volunteers were enlisted. The American privateer, John Paul Jones, raided Belfast Lough. Gardiner’s Catholic Relief Act restored the right to take long term leases and inherit land.   1781 Volunteers met in Armagh to demand the reform of the administration and independence for the Irish Parliament.   1782 The Ulster Volunteers Convention in Dungannon called for legislative independence and the repeal of all the Penal Laws. The British Parliament repealed the Declaratory Act, conceding the independence of the Irish Parliament and Forbe’s Act established the independence of the Irish Judiciary. Gardiner’s Catholic Relief Acts restored property rights and permitted Catholic schools.   1783 The Renunciation Act recognised the right of the Irish Parliament to legislate independently.   1784 The Belfast Volunteers invited Catholics to join their ranks and helped fund the erection of St. Mary’s Chapel.   1785 Ulster Catholics formed a new agrarian secret society called the Defenders.   1789 John Wesley visited Ireland for the twentieth and last time. Armagh Observatory was founded.   1791 Samuel McTier and Robert Simms founded the Society of United Irishmen in Belfast. William Ritchie built Belfast’s first major shipyard. The population of Belfast was now over 18,000.   1792 The Belfast Volunteers Convention voted for Catholic emancipation. Langrishe’s Catholic Relief Act allowed the practise of law and removed the ban on inter-marriage. A harp festival took place in Belfast, inspiring Edward Bunting to begin collecting Irish Airs.   1793 The Militia Act provided for local militias to be raised throughout Ireland. Castlecoole House, Co. Fermanagh was completed.   1795 The Orange Order was established in Loughgall, Co. Armagh after Presbyterians routed Catholic Defenders in a riot known as the ‘Battle of the Diamond’. The United Irishmen turned themselves into a secret society dedicated to the military overthrow of English power and Wolfe Tone left for America.   1796 The leaders of the Belfast United Irishmen were arrested. Wolfe Tone arrived in France to seek aid for a rising. Landlords were encouraged to raise a corps of armed Protestant Yeomen. The Orange Order held its first Twelfth of July march in Lurgan.   1797 Catholic areas were suppressed by General Lake. William Orr, United Irishman, was executed in Carrickfergus.   1798 A rising of United Irishmen was planned for 23rd May. The Ulster Rising, predominantly Presbyterian, was confined to Counties Down and Antrim. The United Irishmen of Antrim were routed on 7th June by Government troops and their leader, Henry Joy McCracken, was executed in July. The 7000 strong Down United Irishmen army, which included several thousand Catholics, was defeated at the Battle of Ballynahinch on 13th June. The French fleet was defeated off the Donegal coast. Wolfe Tone was captured in Lough Foyle and cut his throat when told he would be hung rather than shot as a soldier, and he died a week later. The Irish Parliament was suspended in the aftermath of the Rebellion and Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, was appointed Chief Secretary.   1799 Prime Minister Pitt proposed the Parliamentary Union of Ireland and Great Britain. Castlereagh launched a campaign of bribery and persuasion to secure the Union in the Irish Parliament. [Home] [What's New] [Quick Guide] [Admin Divisions] [Civil Registration] [Census] [Church Records] [Wills] [Emigrants] [Land and Property] [Other Sources] [Chronology] [Contacts] [Other Links]