• February 5 - Roger Williams emigrates to Boston
• May 10 - During the Thirty Years' War imperial troops storm the German city of Magdeburg and commit a massacre. About 20,000 inhabitants are killed.
• May 18 - In Dorchester, Massachusetts[?], John Winthrop takes the oath of office and becomes the first Governor of Massachusetts.
• Moses Amyraut's Traite des Religions is published.
• Algerine pirates sack Baltimore, Ireland[?]

Births:

Deaths:

• John Donne, English poet and writer.
• Isaac du Ryer[?], French poet (date approximate).