- January 22
- Marshal Oscar von Lubomirski expels Jews from Warsaw Poland. [1]
- January 25
- Americans drag cannon up hill to fight British (Gun Hill Road, Bronx). [1]
- February 8
- Leidse University 400th anniversary dinner. [1]
- February 9
- English Parliament declares Massachusetts colony is in rebellion. [1]
- February 15
- Angelo Braschi chosen as Pope Pius VI. [1]
- February 22
- First US joint stock company (to make cloth) offers shares at £10. [1]
- Jews expelled from outskirts of Warsaw Poland. [1]
- March 6
- First Negro Mason in US initiated, Boston. [1]
- March 19
- Four people buried by avalanche for 37 days, three survive (Italy). [1]
- Poland and Prussia sign trade agreement. [1]
- March 22
- Edmund Burke presents his 13 articles to the English parliament. [1]
- March 23
- Patrick Henry proclaims "Give me liberty or give me death". [1]
- April 14
- First abolitionist society in US organizes in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. [1]
- April 18
- In Massachusetts, Paul Revere and William Dawes ride calling "the British are coming!" to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams to escape. [1] [450.175]
- April 19
- British Marines and Light Infantry under Major John Pitcairn open fire on local militia of Massachusetts at Lexington, killing 19 with no English losses. This begins the American Revolutionary War. [1] [129] [487.34] [696.20] [857.34]
- At Concord bridge, British troops are repulsed by Massachusetts militia with heavy losses to the British. [696.20]
- April 23
- The opera "Il Ré Pastore" is produced (Salzburg). [1]
- May 7
- Turkish state of Bukovina secedes from Austria. [1]
- May 10
- Second Continental Congress convened in Pennsylvania; issues paper currency for first time. [1]
- Second Continental Congress names George Washington, supreme commander. [1]
- Green Mountain Boys capture Fort Ticonderoga NY-American Revolution. [1]
- May 20
- Citizens of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina declare independence of Britain. [1]
- June 7
- United Colonies change name to United States. [1]
- June 12
- First naval battle of Revolution-Unity (Am) captures Margaretta (Br). [1]
- June 14
- The Continental Congress adopts the New England army as the Continental Army, and votes to raise ten companies of riflemen. [1] [438.70]
- June 15
- The Continental Congress names George Washington as commander in chief of the Continental Army. [1] [438.70]
- June 17
- British forces attack American militiamen at Breed's Hill; they initially retreat, British Major John Pitcairn is killed by a musket ball, but the British clear the hill. [1] [696.20]
- Death of John Pitcairn in Massachusetts by a musket ball shot; British Major. [696.20]
- June 23
- First regatta held on Thames, England. [1]
- July 10
- Horatio Gates, issues order excluding blacks from Continental Army. [1]
- July 16
- John Adams graduates Harvard. [1]
- July 17
- First military hospital approved. [1]
- July 22
- George Washington takes command of the troops. [1]
- July 25
- Maryland issues currency depicting George III trampling Magna Carta. [1]
- July 26
- Benjamin Franklin becomes first Postmaster General. [1]
- August 5
- First Spanish ship, San Carlos, enters San Francisco Bay. [1]
- August 22
- King George III proclaims American colonies to be in open rebellion. [1] [916.169]
- September 25
- American Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen captured. [1]
- October 8
- Officers decide to bar slaves and free blacks from Continental Army. [1]
- October 16
- Portland, Maine burned by British. [1]
- October 23
- Continental Congress approves resolution barring blacks from army. [1]
- October 27
- November 7
- Lord Dunmore, promises freedom to male slaves who join British army. [1]
- November 12
- General Washington forbids recruiting officers enlisting blacks. [1]
- November 13
- American Revolutionary forces capture Montreal. [1]
- December 3
- First official US flag raising (aboard naval vessel Alfred). [1]
- December 22
- Continental navy organized with 7 ships. [1]
- December 25
- Pope Pius VI encyclical on the problems of the pontificate. [1]
- December 28
- Peter A van de Parra Governor-General of (Netherlands Indies), dies at age 61. [1]
- December 31
- Battle of Québec; Americans unable to take British stronghold. [1]
- General Richard Montgomery dies fighting the British. [1]
1776
- January 1
- General George Washington hoists Continental Union Flag. [1]
- January 2
- First revolutionary flag displayed. [1]
- Austria ends interrogation torture. [1]
- January 5
- Assembly of New Hampshire adopts its first state constitution. [1]
- January 10
- "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine, published. [1]
- January 16
- Continental Congress approves enlistment of free blacks. [1]
- February 8
- Wolfgang von Goethes' "Stella" premieres in Hamburg. [1]
- February 17
- First volume of Gibbon's "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" published. [1]
- March 2
- Americans begin shelling British troops in Boston. [1]
- March 3
- The Continental Marines land at New Providence in the Bahamas. [1] [438.70]
- March 4
- George Washington's Continental Army besieges Boston. [603.56]
- March 17
- British forces evacuate Boston to Halifax, Nova Scotia during American Revolutionary War. [1] [696.21] [857.35]
- April 1
- Friedrich von Klinger's "Sturm und Drang", premieres in Leipzig. [1]
- April 3
- Washington receives honorary Ll.D. degree from Harvard College. [1]
- April 12
- Halifax resolution for independence adopted by North Carolina. [1]
- April 15
- Duchess of Kingston found guilty of bigamy. [1]
- April 19
- Jacob Israel Emden [Jacob ben Tswi] German rabbi, dies at age 78. [1]
- April 22
- Johann Adolph Scheibe German music theroist/composer, dies at age 67. [1]
- April 24
- Carolus van de Abeele Flemish Jesuit, dies at age 84. [1]
- Giuseppi Paolucci composer, dies at age 49. [1]
- May 1
- Doctor Adam Weishaupt, professor of canon law at Ingelstadt University of Bavaria, forms the Order of the Illuminati secret society. [861.13] [916.42]
- Scottish economist Adam Smith releases book The Wealth of Nations. [403.60] [620.60]
- May 2
- France and Spain agree to donate arms to American rebels. [1]
- May 4
- Rhode Island declares independence from England. [1]
- May 10
- First issue of $1 notes, authorized by the Continental Congress. [542.60]
- May 12
- Turgot, French minister of Finance, resigns. [1]
- May 13
- Anton de Haen medical Ratio medendi, dies at age 71. [1]
- June 12
- Virginia adopts Declaration of Rights. [1]
- June 28
- Charleston, South Carolina repulses British sea attack. [1]
- Thomas Hickey American sergeant convicted of treason, hanged. [1]
- June 29
- Mission Dolores founded by San Francisco Bay. [1]
- July 1
- First vote on the Declaration of Independence. [1]
- July 2
- Continental Congress resolves "these United Colonies are and of right. [1]
- July 4
- In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Continental Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming the independence of the United States of America from Great Britain and its king. Twelve colonies adopt the declaration. [1] [129]
- July 6
- Declaration of Independence announced on front page of the "PA Evening Gazette". [1]
- July 8
- Colonel John Nixon gives first public reading of Declaration of Independence. [1]
- July 9
- Declaration of Independence read aloud to General Washington's troops in New York. [1]
- July 19
- New York adopts the declaration of independence from Great Britain. [129]
- August 2
- Formal signing of the American Declaration of Independence. [1] [129]
- August 27
- British defeat Americans in Battle of Long Island. [1]
- August 28
- Battle of Long Island. [1]
- August 29
- Americans withdraw from Manhattan to Westchester. [1]
- September 7
- The World's first submarine attack occurs, as the American submersible craft Turtle attempts to attach a time bomb to the hull of the British flagship HMS Eagle in New York Harbor. [5]
- September 9
- Continental Congress renames "United Colonies," "United States". [1]
- September 10
- George Washington asks for a spy volunteer, Nathan Hale volunteers. [1]
- September 12
- Nathan Hale leaves Harlem Heights Camp (127th St) for spy mission. [1]
- September 15
- British forces capture Kip's Bay Manhattan during the Revolution. [1]
- September 17
- Presidio of San Francisco forms as a Spanish fort. [1]
- September 21
- Great fire in New York. [1]
- Nathan Hale spied on British for American rebels, hanged. [1]
- September 22
- Nathan Hale executed as a spy by the British. [1]
- October 9
- Father Francisco Palou founds Mission San Francisco de Asis in what is now San Francisco, California. [1] [5]
- October 11
- Brigadier General Arnold's Lake Champlain fleet defeated by British. [1]
- October 12
- British Brigade begins guarding Throgg Necks Road in the Bronx. [1]
- October 18
- Colonel John Glover and Marblehead regiment meet British Forces in Bronx. [1]
- In a New York bar decorated with bird tail, customer orders "cock tail". [1]
- October 28
- Battle of White Plains; Washington retreats to New Jersey. [1]
- November 1
- Mission San Juan Capistrano founded in California. [1]
- November 16
- Hessians capture Fort Washington, Manhattan. [1]
- November 18
- Hessians capture Fort Lee, New Jersey. [1]
- December 5
- Phi Beta Kappa, first American scholastic fraternity (William and Mary College), is founded. [1]
- December 8
- George Washington's retreating army crosses Delaware River from New Jersey. [1]
- December 19
- Thomas Paine published his first "American Crisis" essay, in which he wrote, "These are the times that try men's souls". [1]
- December 23
- Continental Congress negotiates a war loan of $181,500 from France. [1]
- Thomas Paine writes "These are the times that try men's souls". [1]
- December 24
- General George Washington crosses the Delaware River to surprise Hessians at Trenton, New Jersey. [1] [464.44]
- December 26
- Battle of Trenton-major British defeat. [1]
- George Washington defeats Hessians at Trenton. [1]
- Johann Gottlieb Rall Hessian colonel/mercenary, dies in battle. [1]
1777
- January 1
- Emanuele Barbella composer, dies at age 58. [1]
- January 3
- Washington defeats British at Battle of Princeton, New Jersey. [1]
- January 12
- Mission Santa Clara de Asis founded in California. [1]
- January 15
- People of New Connecticut (Vermont) declare independence from England. [1]
- January 16
- Vermont declares independence from New York. [1]
- January 18
- San Jose California founded. [1]
- February 5
- Georgia becomes first US state to abolish both entail and primogeniture. [1]
- February 13
- Marquis de Sade arrested without charge, imprisoned in Vincennes fortress. [1]
- February 16
- Messier adds M53 to his catalog (globular cluster in Coma Berenice). [1]
- February 21
- English ambassador Joseph Yorke demands dismissal of Governor John de Graaff for saluting US flag. [1]
- March 1
- Georg Christoph Wagenzeil Austria (court)composer/pianist, dies at age 62. [1]
- March 22
- John Bartram father of American botany, dies at age 77. [1]
- April 12
- Claude-Prosper J de Crébillon French writer (Le sopha), dies at age 70. [1]
- April 14
- New York adopts new constitution as an independent state. [1]
- April 16
- Battle of Bennington-New England's Green Mountain Boys rout British. [1]
- April 20
- New York adopts new constitution as an independent state. [1]
- April 26
- Sybil Ludington, 16, rode from New York to Connecticut rallying her father's militia. [1]
- May 1
- RB Sheridans "School for Scandal" premieres in London. [1]
- May 12
- First ice cream advertisement (Philip Lenzi-New York Gazette). [1]
- May 13
- University library at Vienna opens. [1]
- May 16
- Button Gwinnet US revolutionary leader, dies from wounds. [1]
- June 13
- Marquis de Lafayette lands in US. [1]
- June 14
- The American Continental Congress adopts a resolution stating that "the flag of the United States be thirteen alternate stripes red and white" and that "the Union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation." [1] [129]
- July 2
- Vermont becomes the first American territory to abolish slavery. [5]
- July 6
- British General Burgoyne captures Fort Ticonderoga from Americans. [1]
- July 8
- Vt becomes first state abolishing slavery, adopts male sufferage. [1]
- July 31
- Marquis de Lafayette, 19, made major-general of Continental Army. [1]
- August 4
- Retired British cavalry officer Philip Astley establishes first circus. [1]
- August 16
- Americans defeat British in Battle of Bennington, Vt. [1]
- September 11
- Battle of Brandywine, Pennsylvania; Americans lose to British. [1]
- September 19
- Battle of Freeman's Farm (Bemis Heights) or first Battle of Saratoga. [1]
- September 26
- British troops occupy Philadelphia during the American Revolution. [1]
- September 27
- Battle of Germantown; Washington defeated by the British. [1]
- September 30
- US Congress, flees to York Pennsylvania, as British forces advance. [1]
- October 4
- Battle of Germantown. [1]
- October 7
- Americans beat Brits in second Battle of Saratoga and Battle of Bemis Hts. [1]
- October 17
- British General John Burgoyne surrenders at Saratoga, New York. [1]
- November 15
- Articles of Confederation adopted by Continental Congress. [1]
- December 2
- British General Howe plots attack on Washington's army for December 4. [1]
- December 5
- Horace Walpole writes to Countess of Upper Ossory "I rejoice that the Americans are to be free, as they had a right to be, and as I am sure they have shown they deserve to be." [919.86]
- December 8
- Captain Cook leaves Society Islands. [1]
- December 12
- Albrecht von Haller Swiss physician/biologist/author, dies at age 69. [1]
- December 17
- France recognizes independence of English colonies in America. [1]
- George Washington's army returns to Valley Forge Pennsylvania. [1]
- December 18
- First national Thanksgiving Day, commemorating Burgoyne's surrender. [1]
- December 19
- Washington settles his troops at Valley Forge Pennsylvania for the winter. [1]
- December 24
- Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, is discovered by James Cook. [5]
- December 30
- Maximilian III Jozef elector of Bayern (1745-77), dies at age 50. [1]
1778
- January 4
- Charles D J Eisen French engraver/painter, dies at age 57. [1]
- January 10
- Carolus Linnæus "Carl von Linné" Swedish botanist/explorer/"Father of Taxonomy", dies at age 70. [1]
- January 18
- Captain James Cook becomes the first known European to discover the Hawaiian Islands, which he names the "Sandwich Islands." [1] [5] [570.62]
- January 20
- First American military court martial trial begins, Cambridge Massachusetts. [1]
- January 27
- Piccinni's opera "Roland" premieres, Paris. [1]
- February 5
- Articles of Confederation ratified by first state, South Carolina. [1]
- February 6
- England declares war on France. [1]
- France recognizes US, signs treaty of aid in Paris; first US treaty. [1]
- February 14
- "Stars and Stripes" arrives in foreign port for first time (France). [1]
- February 15
- Johann Gottlieb Gorner composer, dies at age 80. [1]
- February 23
- Baron von Steuben joins the Continental Army at Valley Forge. [1]
- February 28
- Rhode Island General Assembly authorizes enlistment of slaves. [1]
- March 5
- Thomas A Arne English composer (Alfred, Rule Britannia), dies at age 67. [1]
- March 7
- Captain James Cook first sights Oregon coast, at Yaquina Bay. [1]
- March 15
- Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island discovered by Captain Cook. [1]
- March 22
- Captain Cook sights Cape Flattery, in Washington state. [1]
- March 30
- Playwright Voltaire crowned with laurel wreath. [1]
- April 1
- Oliver Pollock, a New Orleans businessman, creates "$" symbol. [1]
- April 7
- Johann Balthasar Kehl composer, dies at age 52. [1]
- April 8
- Pieter Teyler van der Hulst Dutch founder (Teyler Museum), dies at age 76. [1]
- April 22
- James Hargreaves inventor (spinning jenny), dies. [1]
- May 11
- Death of William Pitt the Elder, first Earl of Chatham, at age 69; British statesman, Prime Minister (1756-61, 1766-68). [1] [621.15]
- June 19
- Washington's troops finally leave Valley Forge. [1]
- June 24
- David Rittenhouse observes a total solar eclipse in Philadelphia. [1]
- June 28
- Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey. [1]
- Mary Ludwig Hayes "Molly Pitcher" aids American patriots. [1]
- July 3
- British forces massacre 360 men, women and children in Wyoming, Pennsylvania. [1]
- August 9
- Captain Cook passes through Bering Strait. [1]
- August 31
- British kill 17 Stockbridge indians in the Bronx during Revolution. [1]
- November 11
- Iroquois Indians in New York kill 40 in Cherry Valley Massacre. [1]
- November 26
- Captain Cook discovers Maui (Sandwich Islands). [1]
- December 29
- English troops occupy Savannah, Georgia. [1]
1779
- January 17
- Captain Cook's last notation in ship's log Discovery. [1]
- January 20
- John Burman Dutch botanist/director (botanical gardens), dies at age 71. [1]
- January 23
- Charles Messier catalogs M56 (globular cluster in Lyra). [1]
- January 31
- Charles Messier adds M57 (Ring Nebula in Lyra) to his catalog. [1]
- February 2
- Georg Philipp Kress composer, dies at age 59. [1]
- February 7
- William Boyce composer, dies at age 67. [1]
- February 14
- Hawaiian natives kill Captain James Cook on the beach of Kealakekua. [1] [688.30]
- February 16
- William Boyce English organist/composer (Cathedral Music), dies. [1]
- February 24
- George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes IN from British. [1]
- February 27
- Jan Nepveu Dutch Governor-General of Suriname (1769-79), dies at age 59. [1]
- March 11
- US army Corps of Engineers established (first time). [1]
- April 6
- Tommaso MFS Traetta Italian opera composer (Farnace), dies at age 52. [1]
- May 11
- Death of John Hart in Hopewell, New Jersey; New Jersey delegate to Second Continental Congress, voted for independence. [626.202]
- May 13
- War of Bavarian Succession ends. [1]
- June 15
- General Anthony Wayne captures Stony Point, Bronx. [1]
- June 20
- Battle of Stone Ferry. [1]
- September 23
- John Paul Jones' "Bon Homme Richard" defeats 'HMS Serepis'. [1]
- September 27
- John Adams negotiates Revolutionary War peace terms with Britain. [1]
- October 11
- General Casimir Pulaski dies. [1]
- December 6
- Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin French still life painter, dies at age 80. [1]
- December 15
- Manuel Jeronimo Romero de Avila composer, dies at age 62. [1]
- December 18
- Jan Punt engraver/illustrator/actor (Gideonschool), dies at age 68. [1]
- December 23
- Benedict Arnold court-martialed for improper conduct. [1]
- December 28
- Gennaro Manna composer, dies at age 64. [1]
- December 31
- English fleet beat Dutch Merchant vessels. [1]
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