In the Gregorian calendar, the year 1745 was a common year beginning on Friday.
Overview
1745 fell in the middle of a period of widespread military and dynastic conflict in Europe and North America. Several campaigns and uprisings that year had consequences beyond their immediate theatres, contributing to shifting alliances and colonial tensions that continued through the 1740s.
Notable events
- Jacobite rising of 1745 — Often called the "Forty-Five", this rebellion began when Charles Edward Stuart landed in Scotland and sought to restore his family to the British throne. He raised support among Highland clans and advanced into Lowland Scotland, achieving an early victory at the Battle of Prestonpans.
- Battle of Prestonpans (21 September) — A rapid Jacobite victory near Edinburgh that boosted rebel morale and recruiting.
- North American operations — During the ongoing War of the Austrian Succession (known in North America as King George's War), colonial forces from New England captured the French fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island in the summer of 1745, with naval assistance from the Royal Navy.
- Continental conflict — Fighting associated with the broader War of the Austrian Succession continued across central and western Europe, affecting political and military alignments among the great powers of the day.
Context and significance
The events of 1745, particularly the Jacobite uprising and the capture of Louisbourg, influenced subsequent military and diplomatic developments later in the decade. The year is often noted by historians for how local actions—whether in the Scottish Highlands or colonial North America—interacted with larger international wars and rivalries.