1730-1749 Bonnie Prince Charlie & George II

This twenty year period covers the reign of George II. The longest period of relative world peace and safety was at the end of the 1743–1747 Turco–Persian War - 2 years.

This period saw the start of the first 1730–1736 Turco-Persian War, and then there was the 1733–1738 War of the Polish Succession, the 1736–1739 Russo-Turkish War, the 1737–1739 Austro-Turkish War, the 1740–1748 War of the Austrian Succession, the 1739–1748 War of Jenkins' Ear, the 1740–1742 1st Silesian War, the 1741–1743 Hats' Russian War, the 1744–1748 King George's War in North America, the 1744–1745 2nd Silesian War. the 1744–1748 First Carnatic War, the 1745–1746 Jacobite Rising and the 1743–1747 Turco–Persian War.

During this period there was only one invention and one discovery. In 1735 John Harrison invented the chronometer and in 1748 platinum was discovered by Ulloa.

It might have been a grim and boring time were it not for the exploits of Charles Edward Stuart, Bonnie Prince Charlie, son of the deposed James II, who was born in Rome in 1720.

In 1744 Bonnie Prince Charlie -- without the French backing of a Stuart restoration from Louis XV that had been promised to him -- pawned his jewels and borrowed money to buy arms. He landed in Scotland -- where he roused the Scottish chieftains to entered Edinburgh in triumph -- then crossed into England where he found no Catholic rising to join him.

At Derby, Charles was advised to turn back, which he did with the English forces, led by the king's son, the Duke of Cumberland, in pursuit. The final confrontation took place at Culloden Moor, Charles fled, disguising himself as a serving wench to a Highland girl, Flora MacDonald -- one of many who helped the fugitive prince -- and finally arrived back in France where he lived off his legendary youth till his death in 1788.