A Year In History: 1742

Form will auto submit and a new page will load when this value changes.

This Year in History:

1742

Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

April 13

Handel’s “Messiah” premieres in Dublin

Nowadays, the performance of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah oratorio at Christmas time is a tradition almost as deeply entrenched as decorating trees and hanging stockings. In churches and concert halls around the world, the most famous piece of sacred music in the English language is performed both full and abridged, both with and without audience participation, […]