1796
Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia
- Robert Honyman elected as MP for Orkney & Shetland.
- Henry Leask's family are the last family to leave St Ninian's Isle.
- The Curlew, an eighteen gun British revenue cutter, in passage for Lerwick, foundered with the loss of all onboard in either July of September.
May
- 29th
A James Robertson left Orkney heading towards Shetland on his tour through Scotland; in his account about Shetland published the same year he reports amongst others some "curious" details like that the Shetlanders live long — one, Lawrence by name, living to 140 and marrying at 100, and one Tanville to 180 and his sons still longer.
November
- 9th
John Bruce (2), forth Laird Bruce of Symbister, died, leaving no male issue. He was succeeded by his brother William Bruce.
December
- An unidentified vessel, laden with a cargo of tallow, wool and stockings, registered in Denmark, in passage from Iceland to Denmark. Is recorded as having wrecked at an unidentified location on the north coast of Harold's Wick, Unst.
- 6th
Andrew Stewart, author and father of George Stewart, born in Lerwick. - 30th
The Thomas, a sail brig laden with gin and spirits with known smugglers on board, of Föhr, Denmark (now Germany), from Flushing (Vlissingen), The Netherlands, for Faroe wrecked at Isbister, Whalsay. Some of the crew were saved.
