A Year In History: 1683

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This Year in History:

1683

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

May 21

World’s first university museum opens in Oxford, England

The Ashmolean, the world’s first university museum, opens in Oxford, England. At the time of the English Restoration, Oxford was the center of scientific activity in England. In 1677, English archaeologist Elias Ashmole donated his collection of curiosities to Oxford University, and the school’s directors planned the construction of a building to display the items […]