1780 CE

American Revolutionary War: British naval victory at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent led by Admiral Sir George Rodney over a Spanish squadron. The future William IV is present as a midshipman. An Anti-Catholic mob led by Lord George Gordon marches on the Parliament of Great Britain, leading to the outbreak of the Gordon Riots in London. An Anti-Catholic mob led by Lord George Gordon marches on Parliament leading to the outbreak of the Gordon Riots in London.

In the 1780s, the 18th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

February 19 – The legislature of New York votes to allow its delegates to cede a portion of its western territory to the Continental Congress for the common benefit of the war.source
March 1 – The legislature of Pennsylvania votes, 34 to 21, to approve An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery.source
8 March – American Revolutionary War: the League of Armed Neutrality is formed by Russia with Denmark and Sweden to try to prevent the Royal Navy from searching neutral vessels for contraband.United Kingdom source
March 11 – The First League of Armed Neutrality is formed by Russia with Denmark and Sweden to try to prevent the British Royal Navy from searching neutral vessels for contraband (February 28 O.S.).source
May 13 – The Cumberland Compact is signed by American settlers, in the Cumberland Valley of Tennessee.source
26 August - Edward Williames Salusbury Vaughan succeeds to the Rûg estate.Wales source
August - Denmark-Norway joins the First League of Armed Neutrality.Denmark source
August – Sweden, Denmark-Norway and Russia conduct an alliance of neutrality against Great Britain's privateers.Sweden source
October 25 – John Hancock is sworn in as the first governor of Massachusetts.United States source
December 16 – Emperor Kōkaku accedes to the throne of Japan.source
The Duke of Richmond calls, in the House of Lords of Great Britain, for manhood suffrage and annual parliaments, which are rejected.source
Henry Grattan demands parliamentary independence.Ireland source
Kungursky Uyezd - administrative division of Perm Governate establishedRussia source
Catherine II issues a Declaration of Armed Neutrality, leading to the founding of the First League of Armed NeutralityRussia source

Conflict & Security

January 16 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Cape St. Vincent: British Admiral Sir George Rodney defeats a Spanish fleet.source
16 January – Battle of Cape St. Vincent, a naval battle off the southern coast of Portugal during the Anglo-Spanish War. A British fleet defeated a Spanish squadron.Portugal source
January 16-17: Battle of Cape St. VincentSpain source
16 January – American Revolutionary War: British naval victory at the Battle of Cape St. Vincent led by Admiral Sir George Rodney over a Spanish squadron. The future William IV is present as a midshipman.United Kingdom source
January - Admiral Sir Thomas Foley plays an important role in the relief of Gibraltar.Wales source
March 11 – General Lafayette embarks on French frigate Hermione at Rochefort, arriving in Boston on April 28, carrying the news that he has secured French men and ships to reinforce the American side in the American Revolutionary War.source
17 April – Battle of MartiniqueFrance source
April 29 – American Revolutionary War: The Spanish commander of the Fortress of the Immaculate Conception on the San Juan River in modern-day Nicaragua surrenders it to the British San Juan Expedition.source
May 12 – American Revolutionary War: Charleston, South Carolina is taken by British forces after 44 days of siege.source
May 29 – American Revolutionary War – Waxhaw Massacre: Loyalist forces under Colonel Banastre Tarleton kill surrendering American soldiers.source
June 7 – The Gordon Riots in London are ended by the intervention of troops. About 285 people are shot dead, with another 200 wounded and around 450 arrested.source
June 23 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Springfield: The Continental Army defeats the British in New Jersey.source
June 23 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Springfield: The American victory at Springfield effectively ends British ambitions in New Jersey.United States source
August 9 – American Revolutionary War: Spanish admiral Luis de Córdova y Córdova captures a British convoy totalling 55 vessels amongst Indiamen, frigates and other cargo ships off Cape St. Vincent.source
9 August – American Revolutionary War: Spanish admiral Luis de Córdova y Córdova captures a British convoy totalling 55 vessels amongst Indiamen, frigates and other cargo ships off Cape St. Vincent.United Kingdom source
August 16 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Camden: British troops inflict heavy losses on a Patriot army at Camden, South Carolina.source
September 21 – Benedict Arnold gives detailed plans of West Point to Major John André. Three days later, André is captured, with papers revealing that Arnold was planning to surrender West Point to the British.source
September 25 – Benedict Arnold flees to British-held New York.source
October 2 – American Revolutionary War: In Tappan, New York, British spy John André is hanged by American forces.source
October 7 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Kings Mountain: Patriot militia forces annihilate Loyalists under British Major Patrick Ferguson, at Kings Mountain, South Carolina.source
November 4 – Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II: In the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru, Túpac Amaru II leads an uprising of Aymara and Quechua peoples and mestizo peasants as a protest against the Bourbon Reforms.source
December 20 – The Fourth Anglo-Dutch War begins.source

Exploration & Expansion

March 17 – American Revolutionary War: The British San Juan Expedition sails from Jamaica under the command of Captains John Polson and Horatio Nelson to attack the Captaincy General of Guatemala (modern-day Nicaragua) in New Spain.source
17 March – American Revolutionary War: the British San Juan Expedition sails from Jamaica under the command of Captains John Polson and Horatio Nelson to attack the Captaincy General of Guatemala (modern-day Nicaragua) in New Spain.United Kingdom source
May 13 – Cumberland Compact signed by American settlers in the Cumberland Valley of Tennessee.United States source
July 11 – French soldiers arrive in Newport, Rhode Island to reinforce the colonists, in the American Revolutionary War.source
July 11 – Expédition Particulière: French soldiers arrive in Newport, Rhode Island to reinforce colonists in the American Revolutionary War.United States source
November 30 – American Revolutionary War: The British San Juan Expedition is forced to withdraw.source
30 November – American Revolutionary War: The San Juan Expedition is forced to withdraw.United Kingdom source
Jose Gabriel Kunturkanki, businessman and landowner, proclaims himself Inca Túpac Amaru II.source
Western countries pay 16,000,000 ounces of silver for Chinese goods.source
The mysterious disappearance of The Reynistadur Brothers, two young brothers from Reynistaður in Skagafjörður who perished along with three of their companions in Kjölur at the beginning of the winter.Iceland source
The Ladies of Llangollen settle at Plas Newydd.Wales source

Religion & Belief

Nikephoros Theotokis starts introducing Edinoverie, an attempt to integrate the Old Believers into Russia's established church.source
Kilcalmonell Parish Church at Clachan, Kintyre, is rebuilt.Scotland source
The market town of Middleton, Dorset, is demolished by order of the landowner, Joseph Damer, Lord Milton, and the population moved to a new model village, Milton Abbas.United Kingdom source
Henry Mills of Llanidloes impresses Thomas Charles so much with his singing that he is appointed to supervise the improvement of congregational singing in the district.Wales source

Economy & Finance

The Jameson Irish Whiskey distillery is founded in Dublin, Ireland.source
East India Company Act (British statute)India source
The whiskey company John Jameson is established.Ireland source
Richard Price devises the "Northampton Tables" for calculating actuarial valuation for assurance and pensions.Wales source

Technology & Infrastructure

31 May – James Watt patents a copying machine.Scotland source
1 July - Anthony Bacon acquires the lease of the Hirwaun ironworks.Wales source
July 17 – The first bank created in the United States, the Bank of Pennsylvania, is chartered.source
August – passenger boat service begins on Grand Canal between Dublin and Sallins.Ireland source
The Woodford Reserve bourbon whiskey distillery begins operation in Kentucky.source
The original Craven Cottage is built by William Craven, 6th Baron Craven, in London, on what will become the centre circle of Fulham F.C.'s pitch.source
Quakers begin the Underground Railroad to smuggle slaves to freedom in Canada.Canada source
James Small produces a two-horse swing plough using Carron Company iron.Scotland source
The original Craven Cottage is built by William Craven, 6th Baron Craven, in London.United Kingdom source
Woodford Reserve bourbon whiskey distillery begins operation in Kentucky.United States source
The development of Ebbw Vale Steelworks begins.Wales source

Science & Discovery

Jeremy Bentham's Introduction to Principles of Morals and Legislation, presenting his formulation of utilitarian ethics, is printed (but not published) in London.source
John Walters - Poems with NotesWales source

Health & Medicine

March 1 – The Pennsylvania General Assembly passes An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery, prohibiting the further importation of adults and children into the Commonwealth for the purposes of enslaving themUnited States source
June 2 – An Anti-Catholic mob led by Lord George Gordon marches on the Parliament of Great Britain, leading to the outbreak of the Gordon Riots in London.source
2 June – an Anti-Catholic mob led by Lord George Gordon marches on Parliament leading to the outbreak of the Gordon Riots in London.United Kingdom source
September – outbreak of the Second Anglo-Mysore War in India.United Kingdom source
The Kingdom of Great Britain reaches c.9 million population.source

Crime & Justice

August 24 – King Louis XVI abolishes the use of torture in extracting confessions in French law courts.source
2 October – American Revolutionary War: British spy John André is hanged by American forces.United Kingdom source
In Ireland, Lady Berry, who is sentenced to death for the murder of her son, is released when she agrees to become an executioner (she retires in 1810).source
National income - ₹9,900 millionIndia source
Lady Berry, sentenced to death for the murder of her son, is released when she agrees to become an executioner (retires 1810).Ireland source
Cherhill White Horse cut in Wiltshire.United Kingdom source

Disasters & Accidents

September 29 – The Danish ship-of-the-line Printz Friderich runs aground on the Kobbergrund shoal and is a total losssource
November 28 – A lightning strike in Saint Petersburg begins a fire that burns 11,000 homes.source

Climate & Environment

May 19 – New England's Dark Day: An unaccountable darkness spreads over New England, regarded by some observers as a fulfillment of Bible prophecy.source
May 19 – an unusual darkening of the day sky was observed over the New England states and parts of Canada. This has never been explained, though clouds of smoke from massive forest fires are the most likely cause.Canada source
October 9 – Great Hurricane of 1780: The deadliest Atlantic Hurricane in recorded historyUnited States source

Culture & Society

March 26 – The British Gazette and Sunday Monitor, the first Sunday newspaper in Britain, begins publication.source
April 16 – The University of Münster in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany is founded.source
May 4 – The first Epsom Derby horse race is run on Epsom Downs, Surrey, England. The victor is Diomed.source
4 May – the first Epsom Derby horse race is run on Epsom Downs, Surrey. The victor is Diomed.United Kingdom source
8 June – Henrik af Trolle is appointed general admiral and chief of the Swedish naval fleet.Sweden source
July – Robert Raikes initiates a Sunday school movement, in Gloucester.United Kingdom source
29 September - Sir Watkin Lewes is elected Lord Mayor of London.Wales source
December 14 – Alexander Hamilton marries Elizabeth Schuyler Hamiltonsource
The amateur dramatic group Det Dramatiske Selskab is founded in Christiania, Norway.source
The book Atli by Björn Halldórsson in Sauðlauksdalur was first published.Iceland source
Det Dramatiske Selskab in Oslo is founded.Norway source
Royal Aberdeen Golf Club founded as the 'Society of Golfers at Aberdeen'.Scotland source
St David's Club established in Aberystwyth, the oldest gentlemen's club in Wales.Wales source

Births

January 14 – Henry Baldwin, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (died 1844)source
February 1 – David Porter, American naval officer (died 1843)source
March 29 – Jørgen Jørgensen, Danish adventurer (died 1841)source
April 7 – William Ellery Channing, influential American Unitarian theologian and minister (died 1842)source
April 29 – Charles Nodier, French author (died 1844)source
May 21 – Elizabeth Fry, British humanitarian (died 1845)source
June 1 – Carl von Clausewitz, Prussian military strategist (died 1831)source
July 5 – François Carlo Antommarchi, French physician (died 1838)source
12 July – Mouzinho da Silveira, statesman, jurist and politician (died 1849)Portugal source
July 27 – Anastasio Bustamante, 4th President of Mexico (died 1853)source
August 29 – Richard Rush, United States Attorney General under James Madison, United States Secretary of the Treasury under President John Quincy Adams (died 1859)source
August 29 – Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, French painter (died 1867)source
October 17 – Richard Mentor Johnson, U.S. Senator from Kentucky from 1819 to 1829 and 9th vice president of the United States from 1837 to 1841 (died 1850)United States source
October 20 – Pauline Bonaparte, Italian noblewoman (died 1825)source
November 13 – Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of The Punjab (Sikh Empire), (died 1839)source
December 26 – Mary Fairfax Somerville, British mathematician (died 1872)source
Mikhail Petrovich Dolgorukov (died 1808) - prince, generalRussia source
Miguel Parra Abril, court painter.Spain source

Deaths

February 14 – William Blackstone, English jurist (born 1723)source
February 18 – Kristijonas Donelaitis, Lithuanian poet (born 1714)source
April 28: Juan de Miralles, 66, diplomat and arms dealer during the American Revolutionary War, pneumonia.Spain source
June 3 – Thomas Hutchinson, American colonial governor of Massachusetts (born 1711)source
June 3 – Thomas Hutchinson, last governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony (born 1711)United States source
July 4 – Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine, Austrian military leader (born 1712)source
August 3 – Étienne Bonnot de Condillac, French philosopher (born 1715)source
August 19 – Johann de Kalb, Bavarian-French military officer who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (born 1721)source
September 8 – Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont, French writer (born 1711)source
September 8 – Enoch Poor, American Revolutionary general (born 1736)source
October 2 – John André, British Army officer of the American Revolutionary War (executed) (born 1750)source
October 10–16 – The Great Hurricane flattens the islands of Barbados, Martinique and Sint Eustatius; 22,000 are killed.source
23 October – João da Bemposta (born 1726)Portugal source
November 26 – Sir James Steuart, Scottish economist (born 1712)source
November 28 – Esther Wheelwright, mother superior for Quebec UrsulinesCanada source
November 29 – Maria Theresa of Austria dies in Vienna after 40 years of rule, and her Habsburg dominions pass to her ambitious son, Joseph II, who has already been Holy Roman Emperor since 1765.source
November 29 – Empress Maria Theresa of Austria (born 1717)source
December 26 – John Fothergill, English physician (born 1712)source