1703

The year 1703 (MDCCIII) started on a Monday, (or a Thursday by the 11-day slower Julian calendar).
Events
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.
Undated
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.
Births
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 - Francois 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-Francois Seguier, 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 Konscak, a Croatian explorer was (he died in 1759)
Deaths
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-Evremond, 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)