1662

1662 was a year marked by significant developments in religion, governance, and science, particularly within the English-speaking world and its colonies.

In England, Parliament passed the Act of Uniformity, enforcing the use of the Book of Common Prayer in the Church of England. This legislation was part of the Restoration settlement and led to the Great Ejection, in which roughly two thousand nonconforming ministers were removed from their pulpits.

In North America, King Charles II issued a Royal Charter for the Colony of Connecticut in 1662. The charter reaffirmed local self-government under the colonial constitution, laid out the framework for elections and governance, and defined colonial borders and privileges.

In the scientific sphere, the Royal Society of London received its royal charter from Charles II in 1662, formally establishing the society as a body dedicated to the advancement of experimental learning and the sharing of scientific knowledge.

Overall, 1662 is often seen as a year when the English monarchy and its religious establishment solidified procedures and authority, while simultaneously enabling greater institutional support for science and colonial governance.