1673 in England

Incumbents

• Monarch – Charles II
• Parliament – Cavalier

  Events

• 22 January – impostor Mary Carleton is hanged in Newgate Prison in London for multiple thefts and returning from penal transportation.
• 8 March – under pressure from Parliament, King Charles II withdraws the Royal Declaration of Indulgence.
• 29 March – the Test Act is passed, preventing Roman Catholics from holding public office.
• 28 May – Third Anglo-Dutch War: first Battle of Schooneveld: The Dutch Republic fleet commanded by Michiel de Ruyter defeats the allied Anglo-French fleet commanded by Prince Rupert of the Rhine.
• 4 June – second Battle of Schooneveld: The Dutch fleet again defeats the Anglo-French.
• 12 June – James, Duke of York, is forced to resign the office of Lord High Admiral because of the Test Act.
• 19 June – Thomas Osborne becomes Lord High Treasurer.
• 3 July – Elkanah Settle's play The Empress of Morocco first publicly performed at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London by the Duke's Company and published with illustrations.
• 30 July – Third Anglo-Dutch War: a Dutch fleet retakes New York, renaming it New Orange.
• 11 August – Battle of Texel : The Dutch fleet again defeats the Anglo-French.
• 9 November – the King removes Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, from his position as Lord Chancellor.
• 14 November – architect Christopher Wren is knighted.
• 23 November – James, Duke of York, marries Mary of Modena; they meet for the first time immediately before the ceremony in Dover.

  Undated

• Chelsea Physic Garden established as the Apothecaries’ Garden in London.

  Births

• 6 January – James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos, Member of Parliament
• 3 February – Philip Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Chesterfield,
• 21 July – John Weaver, dancer and choreographer
• August – Henry FitzJames, illegitimate son of James II
• 11 August – Richard Mead, physician
• Sir James Lowther, 4th Baronet, Member of Parliament
• John Oldmixon, historian
• James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope, statesman and soldier
• Spencer Compton, 1st Earl of Wilmington, Prime Minister of Great Britain

  Deaths

• 22 January – Mary Carleton, imposter
• 20 May – Sir Edward Bagot, 2nd Baronet, Member of Parliament
• 12 July – Sir William Strickland, 1st Baronet, Member of Parliament
• 13 July – Sir Robert Long, 1st Baronet, politician
• 21 August – Henry Grey, 1st Earl of Stamford, soldier
• 10 October – Thomas Bradley, priest
• 17 October – Thomas Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford of Chudleigh, statesman
• 15 December – Margaret Cavendish, writer
• 31 December – Oliver St John, statesman and judge
• Henry Herbert, Master of the Revels
• William Rainborowe, Leveller