A Year In History: 1755

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This Year in History:

1755

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

November 1

Earthquake takes heavy toll on Lisbon

A devastating earthquake hits Lisbon, Portugal, killing as many as 50,000 people, on November 1, 1755. The city was virtually rebuilt from scratch following the widespread destruction. Lisbon was Portugal’s capital and largest city during the prosperous 18th century, when diamonds and gold from the Portuguese colony in Brazil made many in the country wealthy. […]