- Jan 22 Spain cedes Falkland Islands to Britain
Event of Interest
Feb 12 Gustav III becomes the King of Sweden after the death of predecessor Adolf Frederick

Gustav III
Event of Interest
Feb 16 Charles Messier presents his original list of 45 M-objects to French Academy

Charles Messier
- Feb 19 Charles Messier adds M46-M49 to his catalog (galactic clusters in Puppis & Hydra & galaxy in Virgo)
- May 7 Samuel Hearne explores Copper Mine River of Canada
- May 16 The Battle of Alamance, a pre-American Revolutionary War battle between local militia and a group of rebels called "The Regulators", occurs in present-day Alamance County, North Carolina.
Event of Interest
Jun 2 "Armida", an operatic 'dramma per musica' by Antonio Salieri debuts at the Vienna Burgtheater

Antonio Salieri
Event of Interest
Jul 12 James Cook sails Endeavour back to Downs, England

James Cook

Joseph Banks
Event of Interest
Sep 26 Denis Diderot's "Le Fils Naturel" premieres in Paris

Denis Diderot