| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1540 | Giovanni Artusi Was Born |
| 1540 | Giulio Cesare Barbetta Was Born |
| 1540 | Antoine de Bertrand Was Born |
| 1540 | William Byrd Was Born |
| 1540 | Ippolito Chamaterò Was Born |
| 1540 | Giovanni Dragoni Was Born |
| 1540 | Giovanni Ferretti Was Born |
| 1540 | Jhan Gero Was Born |
| 1540 | Claude Gervaise Was Born |
| 1540 | Francesco de Layolle Died |
| 1540 | Firmin Lebel Was Born |
| 1540 | Jacob Regnart Was Born |
| January 06 1540 | King Henry VIII Marries Anne Of Cleves |
| March 23 1540 | Waltham Abbey Is Surrendered To King |
| July 09 1540 | England's King Annuls His Fourth Marriage |
| July 28 1540 | Cromwell Executed For Treason |
| August 15 1540 | Arequipa, Peru, Is Founded |
| September 27 1540 | Jesuits Receive Charter From Pope Paul III |
| October 18 1540 | Spanish Forces Destroy Town Of Mabila |