View source for 1696

=== Date unknown ===
* The [[Great Famine of 1695–1697]] wipes out almost a third of the population of [[Finland]], while the [[Great Famine of Estonia (1695–97)]] takes out a fifth of the population of [[Estonia]]; and the "[[seven ill years]]" of famine in [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]] are ongoing.
* [[Polish language|Polish]] replaces [[Ruthenian language|Ruthenian]] as an [[official language]] of the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]].
* [[Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania|Abington, Pennsylvania]], is settled.
* [[William Penn]] offers an elaborate plan for intercolonial cooperation largely in trade, defense, and criminal matters.
* [[Edward Lloyd (coffee house owner)|Edward Lloyd]] probably begins publication of ''Lloyd's News'', a predecessor of ''[[Lloyd's List]]'', in London.
* [[Window tax]] was introduced in England and Wales and remained in force until 1851.
* ''[[A New Theory of the Earth]]'', a book by [[William Whiston]], is published and is well received by intellectuals of the day.
* The [[Bank of Scotland]] becomes the first bank in Europe to successfully issue paper currency.<ref name="bankofscotland">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bankofscotland.co.uk/helpcentre/our-heritage.html|title=Bank of Scotland {{pipe}} Our heritage {{pipe}} Help centre|website=bankofscotland.co.uk|access-date=September 27, 2022}}</ref></onlyinclude>