On This Day

Events in History in 1797

  • Jan 1 Albany replaces New York City as capital of New York
  • Jan 7 The modern Italian flag is first used

'Terrifying' Top Hat Causes Sensation'Terrifying' Top Hat Causes Sensation

Jan 15 1st top hat worn by John Etherington of London

Read Article
Queen Victoria looks uncertainly at her husband as Prince Albert tries out his new top hat
Queen Victoria looks uncertainly at her husband as Prince Albert tries out his new top hat
Read Article
  • Jan 26 Russia, Prussia and Austria sign treaty
  • Jan 30 US Congress refuses to accept 1st petition from African American
  • Feb 4 Earthquake in Quito, Ecuador kills 41,000
  • Feb 12 Joseph Haydn's song "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" (God Save Emperor Francis) premieres in Vienna

Victory in battleVictory in Battle

Feb 14 The Battle of Cape St Vincent: British fleet under Admiral Sir John Jervis defeats larger Spanish fleet under Admiral Don José de Córdoba y Ramos near Cape St. Vincent, Portugal. Captain Horatio Nelson distinguishes himself.

Admiral Horatio Nelson
Admiral
Horatio Nelson
  • Feb 18 Trinidad is surrendered to a British fleet under the command of Sir Ralph Abercromby
  • Feb 19 One third of papal domain ceded to France
  • Feb 21 Trinidad, West Indies, surrenders to British

Battle of InterestLast Invasion of Britain

Feb 22 The Last Invasion of Britain, launched by the French during the Revolutionary Wars, begins near Fishguard, Wales

Learn More
French troops surrendering to British forces at Goodwick Sands near Fishguard in Wales. Drawing by James Baker.
French troops surrendering to British forces at Goodwick Sands near Fishguard in Wales. Drawing by James Baker.
Learn More
  • Feb 24 Colonel William Tate and his force of 1,000-1,500 soldiers surrender after the Last Invasion of Britain (according to legend, to Welsh women in tall black hats, mistaken for elite guards regiment)
  • Feb 26 Bank of England issues first £1 note

<b>President Inaugurated</b>President Inaugurated

Mar 4 John Adams inaugurated as 2nd President of The United States, Thomas Jefferson 2nd Vice President

2nd US President John Adams
2nd US President
John Adams
3rd US President Thomas Jefferson
3rd US President
Thomas Jefferson
  • Mar 28 Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire patents a washing machine

  • Apr 16 Spithead Mutiny begins: British Royal Navy sailors protest over living and working conditions and pay near Portsmouth
  • Apr 17 Sir Ralph Abercromby attacks San Juan, Puerto Rico, one of the largest invasions of Spanish territories in America
  • Apr 18 France & Austria sign ceasefire
  • May 10 1st US Navy ship, the "United States," is launched

Victory in battleVictory in Battle

May 12 First Coalition: Napoleon I of France conquers Venice

French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte
French Emperor
Napoléon Bonaparte
  • May 12 Nore Mutiny: British Royal Navy sailors mutiny on the Thames, England and blockade London
  • Jun 2 1st ascent of "Great Mountain" (4,622') in Adirondack, NY (C Broadhead)
  • Jun 14 Napoleon forms Ligurian Republic
  • Jun 26 Charles Newbold patents 1st cast-iron plow, though farmers fear effects of iron on soil
  • Jul 8 1st US senator (William Blount of Tennessee) expelled by impeachment
  • Jul 25 Horatio Nelson loses more than 300 men and his right arm during the failed conquest attempt of Tenerife (Spain)
  • Aug 3 Emperor Francis I permits Jews who served in military in "Countries of Bohemian Crown" to marry non Jews
  • Aug 16 Comet C/1797 P1 (Bouvard-Herschel) approaches 0.0879 AUs of Earth
  • Sep 1 2nd National Meeting in Hague
  • Oct 11 Battle of Camperdown (Kamperduin): British navy defeats Dutch fleet
  • Oct 17 Peace of Campo Formio: Austrian Dutch possessions & France
  • Oct 21 The USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) is launched in Boston
  • Oct 22 Andre-Jacques Garnerin makes 1st parachute descent from a balloon in Paris

Search the largest, most accurate site for today in history.