Historic Invention
Feb 23 Engineer James Watt's patent for a rotary motion for the steam engine (his sun-and-planet gear) is granted
- Mar 8 Gnadenhutten Massacre - Ohio militia kills 90 Native American
- Mar 23 Novel "Les Liaisons dangereuses" (Dangerous Liaisons) by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos is published by Durand Neveu
Election of Interest
Mar 27 Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain
- Apr 6 Rama I succeeds King Taksin of Siam (modern day Thailand), who is overthrown in a coup d'état
Battle of the Saintes
Apr 12 Battle at Les Saintes: British fleet under Admiral George Rodney defeats the French fleet under Comte de Grasse off Dominica in the West Indies. Prevents a planned French and Spanish invasion of Jamaica.
Historic Event
Apr 19 John Adams secures Dutch Republic's recognition of the United States as an independent government and house he purchased in The Hague, Netherlands became first American embassy.
Election of Interest
Jul 4 William Petty becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain following the death of Charles Watson-Wentworth
- Jul 6 British-French sea battle at Negapatam (off India)
Historic Event
Aug 2 George Washington creates Honorary Badge of Distinction
- Aug 7 George Washington creates the Purple Heart medal (original name Badge of Military Merit) as commander of the Continental Army
- Aug 14 Suriname forbids selling slave mothers without their babies
- Aug 22 Fire in Cibali, Istanbul, destroys 7,000 homes
Battle of Interest
Aug 27 Battle of the Combahee River near Beaufort, South Carolina, American abolitionist John Laurens is killed leading the charge
