1660

Foundation of the Royal Society to promote what was then called natural knowledge or natural philosophy or what we call science. Its members met weekly to conduct experiments and discuss scientific topics. It became a learned society including those who were making steps forward in knowledge and wealthy amateurs with an interest in science. Several members of the Lunar Society became fellows.

1665

Publication of Dud Dudley's Metallum Martis; or Iron made with pit-coale, sea-coale etc. The book was the first published attempt to indicate that coal could be used to smelt iron.

1689

The government awarded its first contract for snapchance muskets giving a major boost to the gun industry in Birmingham and the Black Country.

The Toleration Act enabled Quakers, Presbyterians, Baptists and Congregationalists to register their places of worship, thus enabling them to practice their religion openly.

1698

The Quaker Sampson Lloyd I moved from Wales to Birmingham and established an iron manufactory.

Thomas Savery developed a steam pump for draining mines.