AIUI, 1700 was leap in English-speaking parts, but not so in Sweden and very much not so in Denmark; see The Calendar FAQ. Sweden switched to Gregorian calendar in 1753. Yes, Sweden switched in 1753, but 1700 was not a leap year in Sweden, and from 1700-03-01 until 1712-02-30 (sic) Sweden's calendar was ten days behind the Gregorian calendar, but one day ahead of the Julian.

  Columbus thought he had reached the Indies when he discovered America, probably because his clock was wrong. Columbus had a relatively accurate idea of how far west of Europe he was.  Columbus (claimed he) believed the Indies was so close, _base_d on maps where the polar circumfrence of the Earth was about 25,000 miles (as Archimedes calculated), but the equatorial circumfrence was only 12,500 miles.  If Columbus had made a globe, it would have been football shaped. (Rugby ball shaped?) IMHO, Columbus was pulling a fraud.  He had heard reports of land about 2000 miles west of Africa, and was just sure he would find something. He brought out the bogus maps to con the Queen into financing the voyage.  It sure looked logical: 12,500 miles from North to South, so it must be 12,500 miles East to West.

Sweden switched to Gregorian calendar in 1753. Yes, Sweden switched in 1753, but 1700 was not a leap year in Sweden, and from 1700-03-01 until 1712-02-30 (sic) Sweden's calendar was ten days behind the Gregorian calendar, but one day ahead of the Julian. True, I fount that just out.  People had gotten used to the 10 day difference. The year 1700 was the first when the calendars differed so some protestant countries (protestant Germany and Denmark fro example) switched partially to Gregorian system and Sweden decided to keep the 10 day difference. This later caused problems with counting Easter so they switched back to Julian by having two leap days in 1712. Sweden did not really switch to Gregorian calendar in 1753. They just adopted the date and leap year rule but they, like other protestant countries at the time, rejected the way easter was calculated. (Remember that the position of easter was what triggered the whole change so that difference was not trivial though the Protestant rules in 18th century always (almost?) gave same result as the Gregorian ones.) Germany and Denmark switched to fully Gregorian calendar in 1775. Sweden switched fully to Gregorian calendar only in 1823 and Finland (which had been separated from Sweden in 1809) in 1869. (On that year it would have happened the second time that Finland would have had easter at different day than all other Christians) Osmo

At least here leap day is the 24th February. Huh?  I don't know why on earth you insist on this. Because it is true. Check any calendar. (of a leap year)                            ^^^ Come come - **any** calendar?  That's too strong; my HMSO 1996 one does not give such detail.  Precision! What significant historical events occurred at such a time and place that the local calendar, if any, would have indicated 1700/02/29?  I believe that it was a Thursday.