Centuries: 17th century - 18th century - 19th century
Decades: 1700s 1710s 1720s 1730s 1740s - 1750s - 1760s 1770s 1780s 1790s 1800s
Years: 1745 1746 1747 1748 1749 - 1750 - 1751 1752 1753 1754 1755
Events
- José Manuel takes over the throne of Portugal from his deceased father, João V. King José Manuel appoints the Marques de Pombal as his Chief Minister, who then strips the Inquisition of its power.
- John Cleland publishes Fanny Hill, or The Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure
- January 1 - Frederick Muhlenberg, first speaker of the United States House of Representatives (+1801)
- July 28 - Johann Sebastian Bach, aged 65, German composer
- July 31 - João V of Portugal, aged 61
- Emperor Sakuramachi of Japan
- Ludovico Antonio Muratori - Italian historian and scholar
- China - Qianlong Emperor of China, Qing Dynasty (reigned from October 18, 1735 to February 9, 1796)
- France - Louis XV King of France (reigned from 1715 to 1774)
- Great Britain - George II King of Great Britain (reigned from June 11, 1727 to October 25, 1760)
- Prussia - Frederick II King of Prussia (reigned from 1740 to 1786)
- Russia - Elizabeth Empress of Russia (reigned from 1741 to January 5, 1762)
- Saxony - Frederick Augustus II Elector of Saxony (from 1733 to 1763) (also King of Poland)\n