- Richard Cromwell resigns his position of Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, and the monarchy was restored.
- The Netherlands, England and France sign the Treaty of The Hague.
- Central England Temperature records began (the longest instrumental temperature record in the world).
- Robinson Crusoe is shipwrecked (according to Daniel Defoe).
- The composer Henry Purcell was born in Westminster, London.
- Sir Isaac Newton was still at school.
- Six years before the bubonic plague swept through London.
- Seven years before the Great Fire of London.
- 16th February 1659 - the date of the earliest example of a handwritten cheque, known to be in existence in the UK. It was drawn on Messrs Morris and Clayton, scriveners and bankers based in the City of London, for £400 (about £43,000 today) made payable to a Mr Delboe and signed by Nicholas Vanacker.