The song "Rule, Britannia!" was originally written in 1740. The poem was written by the Scottish poet James Thomson and set to music by Thomas Arne in the same year. It was first performed on August 1, 1740, as the final musical number in the masque "Alfred," which was about Alfred the Great, at Cliveden, the country home of Frederick, Prince of Wales.
Thus, "Rule Britannia" was written and first performed in the year 1740.
