1730s

The 1730s refers to the decade spanning 1730 through 1739, a period within the broader Enlightenment era marked by ongoing European geopolitical rivalries, colonial expansion, and advances in science and exploration. The decade saw a mix of diplomatic realignment, legislative attempts to regulate trade and social life, and notable events in North America and Russia.

Politically and militarily, the War of the Polish Succession (1733–1738) reshaped Central European alliances and ended with the Treaty of Vienna (1738), confirming Augustus III as king of Poland. In North Asia and the Arctic, the Great Northern Expedition (1733–1743) began under the Russian Empire to map and explore Siberia, the Arctic, and distant territories, expanding geographic knowledge and imperial claims. The War of Jenkins’ Ear between Britain and Spain would begin in 1739, reflecting intensified Atlantic rivalry.

In the American colonies, notable developments included the founding of the colony of Georgia in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, with Savannah established as its first city. The same decade featured important legal and economic measures in Britain and its colonies, such as the Molasses Act of 1733, which sought to constrain colonial trade with non-British dependencies, and the Gin Act of 1736, aimed at reducing gin consumption at home.

The decade also included important cultural and legal milestones. In 1735, John Peter Zenger’s New York libel trial reinforced principles of freedom of the press and truthful reporting. In science and navigation, progress continued toward more accurate timekeeping and global exploration, with continued work by practitioners such as clockmakers and explorers contributing to maritime capabilities. George Washington was born in 1732, a notable birth in the 1730s.