1679

Events 
 January 24 – King Charles II of England disbands Parliament
 June 22 – the Duke of Monmouth subdues an insurrection of Scottish Covenanters at Birthwell Bridge
 August 7 – The brigantine Le Griffon, which was commissioned by René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, is towed to the southern end of the Niagara River, to become the first ship to sail the upper Great Lakes.
 December 24 – Domenico Sarro, a composer from Italy, was born. 
 Battle of Bothwell Bridge
 Habeas Corpus Act 1679 passed in England.
 European explorers discover Niagara Falls.