Events
- 23 February – Isaac Newton writes his first description of his new invention, the reflecting telescope.[1]
- 19 March – Christopher Wren appointed Surveyor of the King's Works.
- 31 May – Samuel Pepys records the last entry in his diary, citing poor eyesight.
- June – Queen Catherine miscarries.[2]
- 9 October – English ship Nonsuch returns to London with the first products acquired from trade around Canada's Hudson Bay, a cargo of fine furs; the bounty attracts investors for the soon-to-be-chartered Hudson's Bay Company.
- 29 October – Isaac Newton appointed Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge.[3]
- 26 November – navigator John Narborough sets sail from Deptford to conduct a voyage of exploration in the South Seas.[4]
- 18 December – the Battle of Cádiz begins off of the coast of the Spanish city as English warship HMS Mary Rose encounters seven pirate ships from Algeria. Although none of the ships on either side are sunk, the Algerines are forced to retreat with an unknown number of casualties, and the Mary Rose loses 12 dead and 18 wounded. See also Action of 28–29 December 1669.
- Undated – Count Cosimo, grand duke of Tuscany, visits the Tower of London and gives the Yeomen Warders the nickname "Beefeaters".[4]