- Jan 11 Ching-Thang Khomba is crowned King of Manipur.
Historic Event
Jan 17 Captain James Cook's last notation in Discovery's ship's log
Appointment of Interest
Jan 18 John Dickinson is appointed a delegate for Delaware to the Continental Congress
Historic Event
Jan 23 Charles Messier catalogs M56 (globular cluster in Lyra)
- Jan 31 Charles Messier adds M57 (Ring Nebula in Lyra) to his catalog
- Feb 24 George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes (Ind) from British
- Mar 11 US Army Corps of Engineers established (1st time)
- May 13 War of Bavarian Succession ends
Historic Event
Jun 8 Admiral Horatio Nelson and Captain Thomas Hardy on HMS Foudroyant set sail against Spanish fleet
Victory in Battle
Jun 16 US General Anthony Wayne captures Stony Point, New York, inflicting heavy losses on the British
- Jun 16 Spain declares war on Great Britain in support of France and the USA, starting the Great Siege of Gibraltar which goes on to last 3 years, 7 months and 2 weeks
- Jun 18 French fleet occupies St Vincent, West Indies
- Jun 20 Battle of Stono Ferry fought near Charleston, South Carolina (American Revolutionary War)
- Jul 4 French fleet occupies Grenada
- Jul 15 American troops under General A Wayne conquer Fort Stony Point, NY
- Sep 3 Earl d'Orvilliers (French/Spanish Armada) sails back to Brest
'I Have Not Yet Begun To Fight'
Sep 23 John Paul Jones aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard defeats the British frigate HMS Serepis and becomes the United States first well-known naval hero
Historic Event
Sep 27 John Adams negotiates Revolutionary War peace terms with Great Britain
- Oct 4 Fort Wilson Riot takes place
Historic Event
Oct 8 English engraver and poet William Blake begins study at the Royal Academy, Old Somerset House, London
Historic Siege
Oct 9 Siege of Savannah (Georgia) during American Revolutionary War: Continental Army General Casimir Pulaski is wounded by grapeshot (a type of cluster munition), dies two days later
Historic Event
Dec 23 Benedict Arnold court-martialed for improper conduct
- Dec 31 British fleet beat Dutch Merchant vessels