What happened in 1640

4 entries recorded for 1640, listed by date. That was 386 years ago.

1640 at a glance

Years ago
386 (as of 2026)
Century
17th century
Decade
1640s
Generation born
Before the named generations
Entries here
4
Breakdown
4 historical events

July

  • July 9

    Virginia Governor's Council

    Historical event

    The Virginia Governor's Council made John Punch the first legally recognized slave in England's North American colonies.

August

  • August 28

    Bishops' Wars

    Historical event

    Bishops' Wars: Scottish Covenanter forces led by Alexander Leslie defeated the English army near Newburn, England.

October

  • October 28

    Treaty of Ripon

    Historical event

    The Treaty of Ripon was agreed, ending the Second Bishops' War and forcing Charles I to summon the Long Parliament, ultimately leading to the First English Civil War.

December

  • December 11

    Root and Branch petition

    Historical event

    A crowd of 1,500 people presented the Root and Branch petition to the Long Parliament, calling for abolishing the episcopacy of the Church of England.

Questions about 1640

What happened in 1640?

This site records 4 entries for 1640, including Virginia Governor's Council on July 9. They are listed below by date.

How long ago was 1640?

386 years ago, counting from 2026. Anyone born in 1640 turns 386 this year.

Which century is 1640 in?

1640 falls in the 17th century, in the 1640s.

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