1703

1703 (MDCCIII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar, the 1703rd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 703rd year of the 2nd millennium, the 3rd year of the 18th century, and the 4th year of the 1700s decade. As of the start of 1703, the Gregorian calendar was 11 days ahead of the Julian calendar, which remained in localized use until 1923.

• St. Petersburg becomes the capital of Russia

• February 2 – an earthquake hit the town of L'Aquila, Italy.
• February 4 – in Japan, the 47 samurai (47 Ronin) commit seppuku, a ritual suicide.
• February 14 – an earthquake hits the city of Norcia, Italy.
• February – soldiers at Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrate Mardi Gras in Mobile, starting the tradition for Mobile, Alabama.
• April 21 – the Company of Quenching of Fire (i.e., a fire brigade) was started in Edinburgh, Scotland.
• May 27 – the founding of St Petersburg in Russia.
• May 26 – Portugal joins the Grand Alliance.
• July 29 to 31 – Daniel Defoe is placed in a pillory then imprisoned 4 months for the crime of libel, after publishing a satirical pamphlet (his release is granted mid-November).
• September 12 – the War of the Spanish Succession started in Habsburg, when Archduke Charles was proclaimed King of Spain.
• October – a whirlwind blows down the tower of the Gan Takal in Gondar, the capital of Ethiopia, killing 30 people.
• November 19 – an Unknown masked prisoner dies in Bastille.
• November 24 to December 2 – the Great Storm of 1703, an Atlantic hurricane, blowes through southern England and the English Channel, killing nearly 8000, mostly at sea.
• December 27 – Portugal and England sign the Methuen Treaty which gives preference to Portuguese imported wines into England.

• A Tale of a Tub, first major satire by Jonathan Swift, is published.
• George Psalmanazar arrives in London.
• Isaac Newton becomes the chairman of the Royal Society.
• Ahmed III (1703-1730) succeeds Mustafa II (1695-1703) as emperor of the Ottoman Empire.

• February 5 – Gilbert Tennent, Irish-born religious leader, was born (he died in 1764)
• March 5 – (N. S.) Vasily Kirillovich Trediakovsky, a Russian poet, was born (he died in 1768)
• May 14 – David Brearly, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention, was born (he died in 1785)
• June 17 – John Wesley, the English founder of Methodism, was born (he died in 1791)
• June 26 – Thomas Clap, the first president of Yale University was born (he died in 1767)
• August 2 – Lorenzo Ricci, the Italian Jesuit leader was born (he died in 1775)
• September 29 – François Boucher, a French painter was born (he died in 1770)
• October 5 – Jonathan Edwards, an American preacher was born (he died in 1758)
• October 28 – Antoine Deparcieux, a French mathematician was born (he died in 1768)
• November 25 – Jean-François Séguier, a French astronomer and botanist was born (he died in 1784)
• November 26 – Theophilus Cibber, an English actor and writer was born (he died in 1758)
• December 2 – Ferdinand Konščak, a Croatian explorer was (he died in 1759)

• January 11 – Johann Georg Graevius, German classical scholar and critic died (born 1632)
• March 3 – Robert Hooke, a very important English scientist died (born 1635)
• March 31 – Johann Christoph Bach, German composer died (born 1642)
• April 20 – Lancelot Addison, English royal chaplain died (born 1632)
• May 16 – Charles Perrault, French writer died (born 1628)
• May 26 – Samuel Pepys, English civil servant and diarist died (born 1633)
• June 14 – Jean Herauld Gourville, French adventurer died(born 1625)
• July 17 – Roemer Vlack, Dutch naval commander died (birthdate unknown)
• September 22 – Vincenzo Viviani, Italian mathematician and scientist died (born 1622)
• September 25 – Archibald Campbell, 1st Duke of Argyll, Scottish privy councillor died (born 1658)
• September 29 – Charles de Saint-Évremond, French soldier died (born 1610)
• October 28 – John Wallis, English mathematician died (born 1616)
• November 19 – The Man in the Iron Mask died
• November 30 – Nicolas de Grigny, French organist and composer died (born 1672)
• December 28 – Mustafa II, Ottoman Sultan (born 1664) died
• date unknown Phetracha, king of Ayutthaya died (born 1632)