See also: 1660 in literature, other events of 1661, 1662 in literature, list of years in literature.

Events

• The Book of Kells is presented to Trinity College, Dublin.
• Controversial author James Harrington is arrested on a charge of conspiracy.
• John Gauden claims authorship of Eikon Basilike.
• Third edition of Izaak Walton's Compleat Angler.

New Books

• Dom Garcie de Navarre, ou le Prince jaloux (play) - Molière
• Tyrannus, or The Mode - John Evelyn

Births

• January 30 - Charles Rollin
• April 16 - Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax
• May 25 - Claude Buffier
• November 1 - Florent Carton Dancourt
• November 15 - Christoph von Graffenried
• exact date unknown - William Cleland
• exact date unknown - Thomas Knaggs

Deaths

• March 30 - François le Métel de Boisrobert
• October 4 - Jacqueline Pascal
• November 29 - Brian Walton
• exact date unknown - Jin Shengtan