1706 in literature

• April 8 – George Farquhar's Restoration comedy The Recruiting Officer is performed for the first time, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London. • April/May – Philosopher Samuel Clarke attacks the views of Henry Dodwell on the immortality of the soul. • September 13 – Daniel Defoe leaves England for Edinburgh, Scotland, where he acts as a government agent to promote ratification of the Treaty of Union. • unknown date – The first translation of the New Testament into the Upper Sorbian language, made by pastor Michał Frencel who dies this year, is published by his son Abraham in Zittau. ==New books==

Prose • Anonymous – ''The Arabian Nights' Entertainments (serial, the first English translation of One Thousand and One Nights'', taken from the first French translation) • Samuel Clarke – A Discourse Concerning the Unchangeable Obligations of Natural Religion • Stephen Clay – An Epistle from the Elector of Bavaria to the French King • Daniel Defoe • An Essay at Removing National Prejudices Against a Union with Scotland • A True Relation of the Apparition of one Mrs. Veal (attrib) • John Dennis – Essay on the Operas after the Italian Manner • White Kennett – The History of England from the Commencement of the Reign of Charles I to the End of William III • John Locke – Posthumous Works of Mr John Locke • Simon Ockley – Introductio ad linguas orientates • Jonathan Swift – Baucis and Philemon • Matthew Tindal – The Rights of the Christian Church Asserted • Ned Ward – The London Spy Drama • Thomas Betterton – The Amorous Widow • Susanna Centlivre – • Love at a Venture • The Platonick Lady • Colley Cibber – Perolla and Izadora • Catherine Trotter Cockburn – The Revolution of Sweden • Antoine Danchet – Cyrus • Thomas D'Urfey – Wonders in the Sun (opera) • George Farquhar – The Recruiting Officer • George Granville – The British Enchanters, or No Magic Like Love • Delarivière Manley – Almyna, or The Arabian Vow • Mary Pix (attr.) – Adventures in Madrid • Jean-François Regnard – Le Légataire universel (The Residuary Legatee) • John Vanbrugh – The Mistake • José de Cañizares – El pastelero de Madrigal Poetry • Richard Blackmore – ''An Advice to the Poets: a poem occasioned by the wonderful success of Her Majesty's arms, under the conduct of the Duke of Marlborough in Flanders'' • William Congreve – A Pindarique Ode.... The Conduct of the Duke of Marlborough • Daniel Defoe • Caledonia • A Hymn to Peace • Jure Divino (on divine right) • The Vision (on national union) • John Dennis – The Battle of Ramillia • Mihai Iștvanovici – Stihuri politice (Political Verse) • John Philips – Cerealia: An imitation of Milton • Matthew Prior – The Squirrel • Thomas Tickell – Oxford • Isaac Watts – Horae Lyricae ==Births==

• January 17 – Benjamin Franklin, American polymath and politician (died 1790) • February 10 – Benjamin Hoadly, English physician and dramatist (died 1757) • November 8 – Johann Ulrich von Cramer, German philosopher and jurist (died 1772) • December 17 – Émilie du Châtelet, French writer and translator (died 1749) ==Deaths==

• January 21 – Adrien Baillet, French critic (born 1649) • February 27 – John Evelyn, English diarist (born 1620) • August 6 – Jean-Baptiste du Hamel, French natural philosopher (born 1624) • December 8 – Abraham Nicolas Amelot de la Houssaye, French historian (born 1634) • December 28 – Pierre Bayle, French encyclopedist and philosopher (born 1647) • unknown dates • John Phillips, English satirist (born 1631) • Rahman Baba, Indian Pashto poet (born 1632) • Guillaume Vandive, French printer and bookseller (born 1680) ==References==