1779 CE

American Revolutionary War – Claudius Smith is hanged at Goshen, Orange County, New York for supposed acts of terrorism upon the people of the surrounding communities. American Revolutionary War: start of the Great Siege of Gibraltar (fourteenth and last military siege). This is an action by French and Spanish forces to wrest control of Gibraltar from the established British Garrison. The garrison, led by George Augustus Eliott, later 1st Baron Heathfield of Gibraltar, survives all attacks and a blockade of supplies. Battle of Baton Rouge: Spanish troops under Bernardo de Galvez capture the city from the British.

In the 1770s, the 18th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • January 29 – After a second petition for partition from its residents, the North Carolina General Assembly abolishes Bute County, North Carolina (established 1764) by dividing it and naming the northern portion Warren County (for Revolutionary War hero Joseph Warren), the southern portion Franklin County (for Benjamin Franklin). The General Assembly also establishes Warrenton (also named for Joseph Warren) to be the seat of Warren County, and Louisburg (named for Louis XVI of France) to be the seat of Franklin County.source
  • March 10 – The Treaty of Aynalıkavak is signed between Ottoman Turkey and the Russian Empire, regarding the Crimean Khanate.source
  • April 12 – Spain and France secretly sign the Convention of Aranjuez, with Spain joining an alliance against Great Britain in return for France's pledge to recover all Spanish territory lost to the British.source
  • 12 April - Treaty of Aranjuez (1779)Francesource
  • April 12 - Treaty of Aranjuez (1779)Spainsource
  • 12 April – France (at this time in alliance with America) signs a secret treaty with Spain to wage war against Great Britain.United Kingdomsource
  • 30 June – Parliament passes the Penitentiary Act permitting the creation of state prisons for the first time.United Kingdomsource
  • August 23 – Martín de Mayorga, Captain-General of Guatemala, becomes the Spanish Viceroy of New Spain after the death of Antonio María de Bucareli.source
  • September 28 – Samuel Huntington is elected as the seventh President of the Continental Congress.source
  • September – American Revolutionary War: France captures Saint Vincent and Grenada from the British.United Kingdomsource
  • November 2 – The North Carolina General Assembly carves a new county from Dobbs County, North Carolina and names it Wayne County, in honor of United States General Anthony Wayne.source
  • A joint Spanish-Portuguese survey of the Amazon basin begins to determine the boundary between the colonial possessions in South America; it continues until 1795.source
  • Pavlograd founded, Lipetsk and Sergach granted town status.Russiasource
  • Russia and France acted as diplomatic intermediaries to end War of the Bavarian Succession.Russiasource
  • The first theater in Gothenburg, Comediehuset, is inaugurated.Swedensource

Conflict & Security

  • January 11 – British troops surrender to the Marathas in Wadgaon, India, and are forced to return all territories acquired since 1773.source
  • January 22 – American Revolutionary War – Claudius Smith is hanged at Goshen, Orange County, New York for supposed acts of terrorism upon the people of the surrounding communities.source
  • March 1 – Capture and sack of Vientiane by Siamese forces.source
  • May 13 – War of the Bavarian Succession – Russian and French mediators at the Congress of Teschen negotiate an end to the war. In the agreement Austria receives a part of the Bavarian territory (the Innviertel), and relinquishes the rest.source
  • June 1 – American Revolutionary War – Benedict Arnold is court-martialed for malfeasance, in his treatment of government property.source
  • June 16 – American Revolutionary War – In support of France, Spain declares war on Britain.source
  • June 21 – King Charles III of Spain issues a declaration of war against Great Britain.source
  • 24 June – American Revolutionary War: start of the Great Siege of Gibraltar (fourteenth and last military siege). This is an action by French and Spanish forces to wrest control of Gibraltar from the established British Garrison. The garrison, led by George Augustus Eliott, later 1st Baron Heathfield of Gibraltar, survives all attacks and a blockade of supplies.United Kingdomsource
  • June - Valentine Morris, governor of St Vincent, negotiates unfavourable surrender terms with the French.Walessource
  • 6 July – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Grenada fought between British and French navies. British ships are badly damaged but none are lost.United Kingdomsource
  • July 16 – The Great Siege of Gibraltar begins. This is an action by French and Spanish forces to wrest control of Gibraltar from the established British garrison. The garrison, led by George Augustus Eliott (later 1st Baron Heathfield of Gibraltar), survives all attacks and a blockade of supplies.source
  • July 16 – American Revolutionary War – United States forces, led by General Anthony Wayne, capture Stony Point, New York from British troops.source
  • July 22 – Battle of Minisink: The Goshen Militia is destroyed by Joseph Brant's forces.source
  • August 17 – Action of 17 August 1779: The 64-gun British warship HMS Ardent is captured by France in the English Channel off of Plymouth after an ineffective attempt by the British captain to properly aim its cannons at the French frigate Junon.source
  • September 21 – Battle of Baton Rouge – Spanish troops under Bernardo de Gálvez capture the city from the British.source
  • September 23 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Flamborough Head – The American ship Bonhomme Richard, commanded by John Paul Jones, engages the British ship HMS Serapis. The Bonhomme Richard sinks, but the Americans board the Serapis and other vessels, and are victorious.source
  • September – Battle of Baton Rouge: Spanish troops under Bernardo de Galvez capture the city from the British.United Statessource
  • October 4 – The Fort Wilson Riot against James Wilson and others in Philadelphia takes place.source
  • December 25 – Fort Nashborough (later to become Nashville, Tennessee) is founded by James Robertson.source
  • December 31 – Affair of Fielding and Bylandt: Following a brief naval engagement between the British and Dutch off the Isle of Wight, the Dutch merchantmen and naval vessels are captured and taken to Portsmouth, England.source
  • 2-4 July - Capture of Grenada (1779)Francesource
  • Spike Island, County Cork, is acquired by the government to form part of the defences of Cork Harbour.Irelandsource
  • Seven Months' War (March-December)Russiasource

Exploration & Expansion

  • February 12 – Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Bouligny arrives with Malagueño colonists at Bayou Teche, to establish the city of New Iberia, Louisiana.source
  • 3 June – Armada of 1779: Fleet sets sail from France.United Kingdomsource
  • June 18 – American Revolutionary War: In response to Iroquois and Loyalist attacks, the U.S. launches the Sullivan Expedition with the aim of destroying enemy Iroquois settlements in what is now central New York.United Statessource
  • June–September - Armada of 1779Francesource
  • July 24 – American Revolutionary War – American forces, led by Commodore Dudley Saltonstall, launch the Penobscot Expedition in what is now Castine, Maine, resulting in the worst naval defeat in U.S. history, until surpassed by the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.source
  • July 24 – American Revolutionary War: American forces led by Commodore Dudley Saltonstall launch the Penobscot Expedition in what is now Castine, Maine, resulting in the worst naval defeat in U.S. military history until Pearl Harbor.United Statessource
  • 24 July – American Revolutionary War: the Penobscot Expedition ends in defeat for the Americans.United Kingdomsource
  • September 14–15 – American Revolutionary War – Little Beard's Town, a loyalist stronghold, is burnt by the Sullivan Expedition.source
  • 31 December – Affair of Fielding and Bylandt, a brief naval engagement with the Dutch off the Isle of Wight.United Kingdomsource
  • Armed Volunteers demonstrate in Dublin for free trade between Ireland and England. This demand for amendment of the Navigation Acts is quickly granted by the British government.Irelandsource
  • 14–18 August; 31 August–3 September – Armada of 1779 in the English Channel, but no fleet action with the Royal Navy takes place.United Kingdomsource

Religion & Belief

  • July 16 – Declaratory Rescript of the Illyrian Nation issued in order to regulate organization of Eastern Orthodox Church in Habsburg monarchy.source
  • New Church of Ireland Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford, completed.Irelandsource
  • The Bible Society, predecessor of the Naval, Military and Air Force Bible Society, formed in London.United Kingdomsource
  • Robert Jones, Calvinistic Methodist exhorter, preaches in London.Walessource
  • David William - Joy in the Tents of Zion (English edition)Walessource

Economy & Finance

Technology & Infrastructure

  • May – Boulton and Watt's Smethwick Engine, which will become the oldest working engine in the world, is brought into service.United Kingdomsource
  • July 20 – Tekle Giyorgis I begins the first of his five reigns as Emperor of Ethiopia.source
  • The spinning mule is perfected by Lancashire inventor Samuel Crompton.source
  • The Iron Bridge is erected across the River Severn in Shropshire, the world's first bridge built entirely of cast iron. It will open to traffic on January 1, 1781.source
  • Boulton and Watt's Smethwick Engine, now the oldest working engine in the world, is brought into service (May).source
  • Grand Canal opens to traffic between Dublin and Sallins.Irelandsource
  • Mandal is given town status as a ladested.Norwaysource
  • New bridge over River Deveron between Banff and Macduff, designed by John Smeaton, is completed.Scotlandsource
  • Cotton mill at Rothesay, Bute, is established.Scotlandsource
  • The Iron Bridge is erected across the River Severn in Shropshire; the first all cast-iron bridge ever constructed.United Kingdomsource
  • Haverfordwest prison is built on the site of the former castle.Walessource
  • New bridges are built over the River Wye at Builth Wells and River Towy at Llandeilo.Walessource

Science & Discovery

Crime & Justice

  • 11 February – Admiral Keppel acquitted of charges of misconduct brought against him by Sir Hugh Palliser.United Kingdomsource
  • 6 October - Action of 6 October 1779Francesource
  • 23 November - Magnus Theiste was sentenced by the Supreme Court to be removed from his office as County Governor of Nordre Bergenhus amt, because of his involvement with corruption.Norwaysource
  • Robert Adam completes his remodelling of Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath.United Kingdomsource
  • South façade of Stowe House, Buckinghamshire, completed in the neoclassical style based on a design by Robert Adam.United Kingdomsource
  • Richard Morris creates a list of "Henwau Mesurau Cerdd Dafod a Thant a arferir yn gyffredinol gan y Prydyddion a'r Telynorion yng Nghymru".Walessource

Climate & Environment

  • 1 January–31 March – with a total England and Wales Precipitation of only 44.4 mm, this is the driest three consecutive months since records began in 1766.United Kingdomsource
  • 1–28 February – with an average temperature of 7.9 °C, this is the warmest February in the CET record and the oldest still-standing record-warm month therein.United Kingdomsource

Culture & Society

  • 14 May – First running of The Oaks horse race.United Kingdomsource
  • October 1 – The city of Tampere, Finland (belonging to Sweden at this time) is founded by King Gustav III of Sweden.source
  • December 13 – Alexandre, Vicomte de Beauharnais marries Joséphine Tascher.source
  • The Icelandic Society of Learning was founded by Icelandic students in Copenhagen, the group would later be replaced by the Icelandic Literary Society.Icelandsource
  • George Richardson's Iconology is published.Scotlandsource
  • First performance of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play The Critic at the Drury Lane Theatre in London.United Kingdomsource

Births

  • January 5 – Stephen Decatur, American naval officer (died 1820)source
  • January 5 – Stephen Decatur, U.S. Naval commander (died 1820)United Statessource
  • January 18 – Peter Mark Roget, British lexicographer (died 1869)source
  • March 6 – Antoine-Henri Jomini, French general (died 1869)source
  • March 15 – William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (died 1848)source
  • 27 April - Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of RussiaRussiasource
  • May 28 – Thomas Moore, Irish poet (died 1852)source
  • June 20 – Dorothy Ann Thrupp, British psalmist, hymnwriter, translator (died 1847)source
  • August 1 – Francis Scott Key, American lawyer, lyricist (died 1843)source
  • August 8 – Benjamin Silliman, American chemist, educator and abolitionist (died 1864)source
  • August 20 – Jöns Jacob Berzelius, Swedish chemist (died 1848)source
  • August 29 – Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, French painter (died 1867)source
  • September 8 – Mustafa IV, sultan of the Ottoman Empire (died 1808)source
  • September 18 – Joseph Story, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (died 1845)source
  • 21 September (in France) – Johan Caspar Herman Wedel-Jarlsberg, politician and nobleman (died 1840).Norwaysource
  • October 25 - Pedro Velarde y Santillán (died 1808)Spainsource
  • November 14 – Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger, Danish poet (died 1850)source
  • December 12 – Madeleine Sophie Barat, French Catholic saint, founder of the Society of the Sacred Heart (died 1865)source

Deaths

  • January 20 – David Garrick, English actor (born 1717)source
  • January 22 – Jeremiah Dixon, English surveyor, astronomer (born 1733)source
  • February 14 – James Cook, British naval captain and explorer (born 1728)source
  • February 14 – James Cook killed by Hawaiian natives, cutting short his search for Northwest Passage. (born 1728)Canadasource
  • April 9 – Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa, Spanish military officer (born 1717)source
  • June 7 – William Warburton, English critic, Bishop of Gloucester (born 1698)source
  • June 16 – Sir Francis Bernard, 1st Baronet, Colonial governor of New Jersey and Massachusetts Bay (born 1712)source
  • June 23 – Ras Mikael Sehul, Enderase of Ethiopia (born 1692)source
  • June 29 – Anton Raphael Mengs, German-Bohemian painter (born 1728)source
  • 8 September: Bjarni Pálsson, doctor.Icelandsource
  • September 12 – Richard Grenville-Temple, 2nd Earl Temple, English politician (born 1711)source
  • 25 September - Ekaterina Chernysheva, courtier (born 1715)Russiasource
  • October 11 – Kazimierz Pułaski, veteran commander of Polish, Russian, and American troops (born 1745)source
  • November 16 – Pehr Kalm, Finnish explorer and naturalist (born 1716)source
  • December 6 – Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, French painter (born 1699)source
  • December 16 – Emperor Go-Momozono of Japan (born 1758)source
  • December 23 – Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol, British admiral and politician (born 1724)source
  • James Cook February 14, 1779, Explorer and NavigatorUnited Statessource