1780

Historical events in 1780

A blizzard hit Washington's army at the Morristown, NJ, winter encampment.
Pennsylvania became the first U.S. state to abolish slavery (for new-borns only). It was followed by Connecticut and Rhode Island in 1784, New York in 1785, and New Jersey in 1786. Massachusetts abolished slavery through a judicial decision in 1783.
The 1st British Sunday newspaper appeared as the British Gazette and Sunday Monitor.

1781

Historical events in 1781

The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation.
Maryland ratified the Articles of Confederation. She was the last state to sign.
Astronomer William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus, which he named 'Georgium Sidus,' in honor of George III. He initially though it was a comet. It is the 7th planet from the sun and revolves around the sun every 84.02 years. It is 14.6 time the size of Earth and has five satellites.

1782

Historical events in 1782

Repeal of the Act of Proscription. Allowing tartan to be worn without fear of transportation.
The 1st US commercial bank, Bank of North America, opened in Philadelphia.
Daniel Webster (d.1852, aka Black Dan) American political leader, Senator and orator, lawyer, statesman, administrator and diplomat, was born in Salisbury, N.H. In 1830 he proclaimed "Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable!" He was Secretary of State before the Civil War.

1783

Historical events in 1783

The Glasgow Herald is first published.
Glasgow Chambers of Commerce founded. The first of its kind in the UK.
The fighting of the Revolutionary War ended. Britain signed a peace agreement with France and Spain, who allied against it in the American War of Independence.

1784

Historical events in 1784

Peace of Versailles ended the war between France, England, and Holland.
Samuel Johnson (b.1709), English lexicographer, essayist, poet and moralist best known for "The Dictionary of the English Language," died. "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel."
Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais wrote "The Marriage of Figaro," the sequel to "The Barber of Seville."
Trenton, North Carolina, was founded.

1785

Historical events in 1785

Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm, German philosopher who wrote Grimms Fairy Tales, was born.
Thomas Jefferson was appointed minister to France, succeeding Benjamin Franklin.
Louis XVII, Pretender to the throne (1793-1795) during the French Revolution, was born.

1786

Historical events in 1786

The first shipyard opens on The River Spey
Wilhelm Carl Grimm (d.1859), compiler of "Grimm's Fairytales," was born in Germany.
Sir John Franklin, arctic explorer, was born. He discovered the North-West Passage.

1787

Historical events in 1787

Scots born John Paul Jones receives a medal from the the Continental Congress for "valor and brilliant services".
Shays Rebellion, an uprising of debt-ridden Massachusetts farmers, failed.
Austrian emperor Josef II banned children under 8 from labor.

1788

Historical events in 1788

The Times, London's oldest running newspaper, was first published.
The first English settlers arrived in Australia's Botany Bay to establish a penal colony.
Charles Edward Stuart (67), Bonnie Prince Charlie - The Young Pretender, died.

1789

Historical events in 1789

A paddle steamer sails up the Forth and Clyde canal, Scotland.
Electors unanimously chose George Washington to be the first president of the United States and John Adams as vice-president.
The U.S. House of Representatives held its first meeting.

Timeline

1780

1781

1782

1783

1784

1785

1786

1787

1788

1789