1640

Years:
1637 1638 1639 - 1640 - 1641 1642 1643

Decades:
1610s 1620s 1630s - 1640s - 1650s 1660s 1670s

Centuries:
16th century - 17th century - 18th century

1640 by topic:
Science - State leaders - Literature - Music

Events

Charles I summons and rapidly dismisses the Short Parliament in an attempt to fund the second of the Bishops Wars.
October 26 - The Treaty of Ripon is signed, restoring peace between Scotland and Charles I of England.
November: The English Long Parliament is summoned.
December 1 - Portugal regains its independence from Spain and João IV of Portugal becomes king. Spain does not recognize the Independence before 1668.
Change of Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from Murat IV (1623-1640) to Ibrahim I (1640-1648).
First book printed in North America, the Bay Psalm Book.
First known European coffee house opens in Venice.
Henry Glapthorne flourishes.

January 14 - Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry, English lawyer and judge (b. 1578)
January 25 - Robert Burton, English scholar (b. 1577)
February 9 - Murad IV, Ottoman Sultan (b. 1612)
March 17 - Philip Massinger, English dramatist (b. 1583)
April 10 - Agostino Agazzari, Italian composer (b. 1578)
May 30 - Peter Paul Rubens, German painter (b. 1577)
June 3 - John Aylmer, English politicial theorist (b. 1521)
June 3 - Theophilus Howard, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, English politician (b. 1584)
October 20 - John Ball, English Puritan clergyman (b. 1585)
December 30 - John Regis, French saint (b. 1597)
Uriel Acosta, Portuguese philosopher (suicide) (b. 1585)