1666

Centuries: 16th century - 17th century - 18th century

Decades: 1610s 1620s 1630s 1640s 1650s - 1660s - 1670s 1680s 1690s 1700s 1710s

Years: 1661 1662 1663 1664 1665 - 1666 - 1667 1668 1669 1670 1671

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Events

• Sir Isaac Newton used a prism to split sunlight into its component colours, which helped us understand the nature of light more comprehensively. (See optical spectrum).
• The Great Fire of London started in Pudding Lane, destroying much of London including the old St. Paul's Cathedral.
• Lund University founded in Lund, Sweden
• Newark, New Jersey founded

Births

• September 6 - Tsar Ivan V of Russia

Deaths

• January 22 - Shah Jahan, Mogul Emperor of India
• Frans Hals, Dutch painter