25th June » Republic of Venice called Venetian Elena Cornaro Piscopia is the first woman awarded a Doctor of Philosophy known as doctorate of philosophy when she graduates from the University of Padua.
3rd August » René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle e.g Robert LaSalle builds the 'Le Griffon', the first known ship built on the Great Lakes.
Famous Birthdays in 1678
3rd March » Madeleine de Verchères, Canadian rebel leader (d. 1747)
4th March » Antonio Vivaldi, Italian violinist and composer (d. 1741)
7th March » Filippo Juvarra, Italian architect, designed the Basilica of Superga (d. 1736)
14th April » Abraham Darby I, English iron master (d. 1717)
22nd May » Alexander Forbes, 4th Lord Forbes of Pitsligo, Scottish author (d. 1762)
6th July » Nicola Francesco Haym, Italian cellist and composer (d. 1729)
26th July » Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor (d. 1711)
16th September » Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, English philosopher and politician, Secretary of State for the Southern Department (d. 1751)
29th September » Adrien Maurice de Noailles, French soldier and politician, Minister of Foreign Affairs (France) named Minister of Foreign Affairs for France (d. 1766)
10th October » John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, Scottish colonel (d. 1743)
8th December » Horatio Walpole, 1st Baron Walpole, English politician and diplomat, British Ambassador to France (d. 1757)
13th December » Yongzheng Emperor of China (d. 1735)
14th December » Daniel Neal, English historian and author (d. 1743)
30th December » William Croft, English organist and composer (d. 1727)
Famous Deaths in History for 1678
29th January » Jerónimo Lobo, Portuguese missionary (b. 1593)
5th August » Juan García de Zéspedes, Mexican tenor and composer (b. 1619)
16th August » Andrew Marvell, English poet and author (b. 1621)
28th August » John Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley of Stratton, English soldier and politician, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (b. 1602)
1st September » Jan Brueghel the Younger, Flemish painter (b. 1601)
12th October » Edmund Berry Godfrey, English judge (b. 1621)
18th October » Jacob Jordaens, Flemish painter (b. 1593)
1st November » William Coddington, American judge and politician, 1st Governor of Rhode Island (b. 1601)