1771

1771 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar).

Discovery of Oxygen as a chemical element.
The territory of Baden-Baden is inherited by the Margrave of Baden-Durlach, forming Baden.
Emperor Go-Momozono ascends to the throne of Japan
Plague in Moscow - 57,000 dead
The trade monopoly with Iceland is transferred to the Danish crown.
Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774: Russian forced under Prince Vasily Dolgorukov occupy the Crimea.
The North Carolina General Assembly passes an act establishing the town of Martinsborough, named for Royal Governor Josiah Martin, on the land of Richard Evans to serve as the county seat of Pitt County.

January 17 - Johann Friedrich Struensee and Queen Caroline Matilda are arrested, leading to his execution and her banishment from Denmark

March - War of the Regulation: North Carolina Governor William Tryon raises a militia to put down the long running uprising of backcountry militias against North Carolina's colonial government.
March 12 - The North Carolina General Assembly establishes Wake County (named for Margaret Wake, the wife of North Carolina Royal Governor William Tryon) from portions of Cumberland, Johnston and Orange counties. Bloomsbury (later known as Wake Courthouse) is made the informal county seat.

May 11 - War of the Regulation: North Carolina Governor William Tryon marches his militia out of Hillsborough to come to the aid of General Hugh Waddell's beleaguered forces. Tryon's army stops at Alamance Creek, five miles away from the Regulator army.
May 16 - War of the Regulation: The Battle of Alamance commences after Regulators reject an appeal by Governor Tryon to peacefully disperse. Governor Tryon's forces crush the rebellion, causing many Regulators to move to frontier areas outside of North Carolina.

July 17 - Massacre at Bloody Falls: Chipewyan chief Matonabbee traveling as the guide to Samuel Hearne on his arctic overland journey, massacre a group of unsuspecting Inuit.

October 9 - The Dutch merchant ship Vrouw Maria sinks near the coast of Finland. Captain Raymund Lourens and his crew escape unharmed.

November 16 - During the night the Tyne floods, destroying many bridges and killing several people; the main bridge at Newcastle upon Tyne is not completed until 1781