On This Day

October 1781 in History

Events in History


Victory in BattleSurrender at Yorktown

Oct 9 Americans under George Washington and the French under comte de Rochambeau begin bombardment of Yorktown, the last battle of American Revolutionary War

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'Surrender of Lord Cornwallis' by John Trumbull depicting the British surrender which ended the American Revolutionary War
'Surrender of Lord Cornwallis' by John Trumbull depicting the British surrender which ended the American Revolutionary War
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Event of interestEvent of Interest

Oct 19 British forces under General Charles Cornwallis sign terms of surrender to George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau at Yorktown at 2 pm, ending the US Revolutionary War

General and Colonial Administrator Charles Cornwallis
General and Colonial Administrator
Charles Cornwallis
Financier Haym Salomon
Financier
Haym Salomon
Military Leader Comte de Rochambeau
Military Leader
Comte de Rochambeau
  • Oct 19 Edit of Toleration issued by Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, providing limited freedom of worship for non-Roman Catholic Christians

Birthdays in History

  • Oct 1 James Lawrence, American naval hero (War of 1812-"Don't give up the ship!"), born in Burlington, New Jersey (d. 1813)
  • Oct 5 Bernard Bolzano, Czech mathematician and philosopher, born in Prague, Bohemia (d. 1848)

Deaths in History

  • Oct 16 Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, British naval officer (b. 1705)