1781 CE

Ohmiya (近江屋), as predecessor for Takeda, a major worldwide pharmaceutical brand, is founded in Doshomachi (道修町), Osaka, Japan. American Revolution: A French fleet under Comte de Grasse enters Chesapeake Bay, cutting British General Charles Cornwallis off from escape by sea. A school is founded in Washington County, Pennsylvania that will later be known as Washington & Jefferson College.

In the 1780s, the 18th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • January 2 – Virginia passes a law ceding its western land claims, paving the way for Maryland to ratify the Articles of Confederation.source
  • January – William Pitt the Younger, later Prime Minister of Great Britain, enters Parliament, aged 21.source
  • January – William Pitt the Younger, later Prime Minister, enters Parliament, aged 21.United Kingdomsource
  • February 2 – The Articles of Confederation are ratified by Maryland, the 13th and final state to do so.source
  • February 2 – Ethan Allen receives a further proposal from Col. Robinson; but sends both to Congress, with a request for the recognition of Vermont. Premising loyalty to Congress, he maintains that Vermont may properly treat with Great Britain, to prevent being subjected to another State, by the authority of a Government which Vermonters have helped to establish.Canadasource
  • March 1 – The United States Continental Congress implements the Articles of Confederation, forming its Perpetual Union as the United States in Congress Assembled.source
  • April 14 – The Continental Congress votes a resolution thanking U.S. Captain John Paul Jones for his services.source
  • 4 July – Robert Burns joins the Freemasons at Tarbolton.Scotlandsource
  • August 19 – Congress passes an act saying they will recognize the secessionist state of Vermont (formed in 1777 by unilateral separation from New York) and agree to admit that state to the Union if Vermont will renounce its claims to territory east of the Connecticut River and west of Lake Champlain. (The following spring the Vermont legislature agreed, but nonetheless New York continued to block its admission until 1791.)United Statessource
  • September 4 – Los Angeles is founded as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora La Reina de Los Ángeles de Porciuncula (City of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of Porciuncula) by a group of 44 Spanish settlers.United Statessource
  • September 10 – American Revolution: Graves gives up trying to break through the now-reinforced French fleet and returns to New York, leaving Cornwallis to his fate.source
  • November 5 – John Hanson is elected President of the Continental Congress.source
  • Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor abolishes serfdom.source
  • The Bank of North America is chartered by the Continental Congress.source
  • By the Articles of Confederation, Congress controls the western lands.Canadasource
  • Austro-Russian alliance (1781)Russiasource
  • Meeting in Paris, Benjamin Franklin invites Princess Yekaterina Vorontsova-Dashkova to become the first woman member of the American Philosophical Society.United Statessource

Conflict & Security

  • January 6 – Battle of Jersey: British troops prevent the French from occupying Jersey in the Channel Islands.source
  • January 17 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Cowpens: The American Continental Army, under Daniel Morgan, decisively defeats British forces in South Carolina.source
  • February 3 – Fourth Anglo-Dutch War – Capture of Sint Eustatius: British forces take the Dutch Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius, with only a few shots fired. On November 26 it is retaken by Dutch-allied French forces.source
  • 3 February – American Revolutionary War and Fourth Anglo-Dutch War: The Dutch Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius (which has been supplying the United States) surrenders to Admiral Rodney.United Kingdomsource
  • March 15 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Guilford Court House: American General Nathanael Greene loses to the British.source
  • March 15 – American Revolution – Battle of Guilford Court House: American General Nathanael Greene loses to the British.United Statessource
  • March – Riots break out in Socorro, Santander, and spread to other towns.source
  • April 4 – American Revolutionary War: The Spanish capture the sloop-of-war HMS St Fermin off Málaga, Spain.source
  • April 6 – The rebellion by Túpac Amaru II, against the Spanish colonial government of Peru, is ended as Tupac, his wife and two of his sons are captured at Checacupe. "The Rebellion of Tupac-Amaru II", in The Hispanic American Historical Review (February 1919) p20source
  • April 10 – Future U.S. President Andrew Jackson, age 14, is slashed by a British officer's sword at his home near Waxhaw, North Carolina, after refusing to clean the officer's boots, an event that leaves physical and psychological scars.source
  • April 25 – American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Hobkirk's Hill takes place in Camden, South Carolinasource
  • May 1 – Receiving proposals for Vermont's independence, Col. Ira Allen temporizes to prevent invasion and enable the farmers to sow seed for another crop.Canadasource
  • May 9 – General John Campbell, defender of the British colony of West Florida, surrenders the capital at Pensacola to Spanish forces commanded by Bernardo de Galvez.source
  • May 18 – A Spanish army sent from Lima puts down the Inca rebellions, and captures and savagely executes Túpac Amaru II.source
  • June 3 – American Revolution – Jack Jouett begins a "midnight ride" to warn Thomas Jefferson and the Virginia legislature of approaching British cavalry led by Banastre Tarleton who have been sent to capture themUnited Statessource
  • July 29 – American Revolution – Skirmish at the House in the Horseshoe: A Tory force under David Fanning attacks Phillip Alston's smaller force of Whigs, at Alston's home in Cumberland County, North Carolina (in present day Moore County, North Carolina). Alston's troops surrender, after Fanning's men attempt to ram the house with a cart of burning straw.source
  • August 30 – American Revolution: A French fleet under Comte de Grasse enters Chesapeake Bay, cutting British General Charles Cornwallis off from escape by sea.source
  • September 5 – American Revolution – Battle of the Chesapeake: A British fleet under Thomas Graves arrives and fights de Grasse, but is unable to break through to relieve the Siege of Yorktown.source
  • September 6 – American Revolution – Battle of Groton Heights: A British force under Benedict Arnold attacks a fort in Groton, Connecticut, achieving a strategic victory.source
  • September 8 – American Revolution – Battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina: The war's last significant battle, in the Southern theatre, ends in a narrow British tactical victory.source
  • September 28 – American Revolution: American and French troops begin a siege of the British at Yorktown, Virginia.source
  • October 19 – American Revolution: Following the Siege of Yorktown, General Charles Cornwallis surrenders to General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, ending the armed struggle of the American Revolution.source
  • 19 October – American Revolutionary War: following the Siege of Yorktown, General Charles Cornwallis surrenders to General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, ending the armed struggle of the American Revolutionary War.United Kingdomsource
  • October 19 – American Revolution: Following the Siege of Yorktown, General Cornwallis surrenders to General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, ending the armed struggle of the American Revolution.United Statessource
  • November 29 – English slave traders begin to throw approximately 142 slaves taken on in Accra overboard alive from the slave ship Zong in the Caribbean Sea to conserve supplies for the remainder; the Liverpool owners subsequently attempt to reclaim part of their value from insurers.source
  • December 12 – American Revolutionary War – Second Battle of Ushant: The British Royal Navy, commanded by Rear Admiral Richard Kempenfelt in HMS Victory, decisively defeats the French fleet in the Bay of Biscay.source
  • December 18 – Troops sent from New York, to coerce New Hampshire grantees, learn that they will defend their rights.Canadasource
  • American independence is assured by the British surrender at Yorktown. Gen. George Washington leads the Colonial army against the British.Canadasource

Exploration & Expansion

  • April – Ira Allen is sent to Canada to arrange an exchange of prisoners.Canadasource

Religion & Belief

  • 24 January - Tolerance Act (Sweden)Swedensource
  • 23 February - Hans Eilersen Hagerup was ennobled, and given the noble family name Gyldenpalm.Norwaysource
  • March 16 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arrives in Vienna after being fired by the Archbishop of Salzburg. He would stay there for the rest of his brief life.source
  • 11 April - Oplandenes amt was split into two, with the western part becoming Kristians amt and the eastern part becoming Hedemarkens amt.Norwaysource
  • 18 June – The county of Lindenborg is established by Heinrich Carl von Schimmelmann from the manors of Lindenborg, Gudumlund, Vildmosegaard, Tiendegården, Henriksdal, Louisendal and Thoruphedegård.Denmarksource
  • Edvard Storm writes Zinklars vise ("Ballad of Sinclair").Norwaysource
  • John Howie begins publication of the 2nd edition of his Biographia Scoticana (Scots Worthies): A Brief Historical Account of the Lives, Characters, and Memorable Transactions of the Most Eminent Scots Worthies.Scotlandsource

Economy & Finance

  • April 18 – Future New York mayor James Duane, North Carolina representative William Sharpe and future Connecticut governor Oliver Wolcott deliver the first report to the U.S. Continental Congress about the national debt and report it to be 24,057,157 and 2/5 dollars.source
  • May 26 – Bank of North America is chartered by the Confederation Congress.United Statessource
  • June 12 – Ohmiya (近江屋), as predecessor for Takeda, a major worldwide pharmaceutical brand, is founded in Doshomachi (道修町), Osaka, Japan.source

Technology & Infrastructure

  • January 1 – Industrial Revolution: The Iron Bridge opens across the River Severn in England.source
  • 1 January – Industrial Revolution: The Iron Bridge opens across the River Severn.United Kingdomsource
  • 8 August – construction of The Custom House, Dublin, to the design of James Gandon, begins.Irelandsource
  • October 20 – A Patent of Toleration, providing limited freedom of worship, is approved in the Habsburg monarchy.source
  • Tjöruhúsið, Neðstikaupstaður was built in Ísafjörður.Icelandsource
  • Cheboksary granted city statusRussiasource
  • Construction of The Mound in Edinburgh begins.Scotlandsource

Science & Discovery

  • March 13 – Sir William Herschel discovers the planet Uranus. Originally he calls it Georgium Sidus (George's Star), in honour of King George III.source
  • 13 March – Sir William Herschel discovers the planet Uranus. Originally he calls it Georgium Sidus (George's Star) in honour of King George III.United Kingdomsource
  • Charles Messier publishes the final catalog of Messier objects.source
  • Carl Wilhelm Scheele discovers tungsten.source
  • Messier 87, a supergiant elliptical galaxy, was discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier.Francesource

Health & Medicine

  • Montrose Lunatic Asylum, Infirmary & Dispensary, predecessor of Sunnyside Royal Hospital, founded by Susan Carnegie.Scotlandsource

Crime & Justice

  • July 27 – French spy François Henri de la Motte is hanged and drawn before a large crowd at Tyburn, London in England for high treason.source
  • 27 July – French spy François Henri de la Motte executed at Tyburn (London) for high treason.United Kingdomsource
  • Thomas Pennant - Tours in Wales, volume 2Walessource

Disasters & Accidents

  • January 5 – American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia is burned by British naval forces, led by Benedict Arnold.source
  • 5 January – American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia, is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold.United Kingdomsource

Culture & Society

  • September 4 – Los Angeles is founded as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángeles de Porciuncula ("City of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of Porciuncula"), by a group of 44 Spanish settlers in California.source
  • October 12 – The first bagpipes competition is held in the Masonic Arms, Falkirk, Scotland.source
  • 12 October – first bagpipes competition in the Masonic Arms, Falkirk.Scotlandsource
  • November 29 – Henry Hurle officially founds the Ancient Order of Druids in London, England.source
  • 3 December – first known building society established, in Birmingham.United Kingdomsource
  • December – A school is founded in Washington County, Pennsylvania that will later be known as Washington & Jefferson College.source
  • December – A school is founded in Washington County, Pennsylvania that would later be known as Washington & Jefferson College.United Statessource
  • Immanuel Kant publishes his Critique of Pure Reason.source
  • Reverend Samuel Peters publishes his General History of Connecticut, using the term blue law for the first time.source
  • 'Journalisme' appears for the first time (in French).source
  • Phillips Exeter Academy is founded in New Hampshire.source
  • First annual Granard harp festival.Irelandsource
  • Great Gatchina Palace completedRussiasource
  • Nazran founded; largest city in IngushetiaRussiasource
  • John Parry (harpist) - British Harmony, being a Collection of Antient Welsh AirsWalessource
  • Richard Price is made an honorary LL.D. by Yale University, in the company of George Washington.Walessource

Births

  • January 30 – Adelbert von Chamisso, German poet and scientist (died 1838)source
  • February 17 – René Laennec, French physician and inventor (died 1826)source
  • March 13 – Karl Friedrich Schinkel, German architect, painter (died 1841)source
  • April 3 – Swaminarayan, Indian Hindu reformer and deity (died 1830)source
  • June 9 – George Stephenson, English engineer, designer of railway locomotives Locomotion No. 1, Rocket (died 1848)source
  • June 21 – Siméon Denis Poisson, French mathematician, physicist (died 1840)source
  • July 6 – Stamford Raffles, English founder of Singapore (died 1826)source
  • July 27 – Mauro Giuliani, Italian composer (died 1829)source
  • 27 August: Finnur Magnússon, secret archivist and antiquarianIcelandsource
  • September 3 – Eugène de Beauharnais, French nobleman, son of Napoleon's wife Joséphine (died 1824)source
  • October 1 – James Lawrence, U.S. Navy officer (died 1813)United Statessource
  • October 5 – Bernard Bolzano, Czech philosopher and mathematician (died 1848)source
  • November 6 – Maha Bandula, Commander-in-chief of the Burmese military forces (died 1825)source
  • November 29 – Andrés Bello, Venezuelan poet, lawmaker, teacher, philosopher, sociologist (died 1865)source
  • November 30 – Alexander Berry, Scottish adventurer, Australian pioneer (died 1873)source
  • 10 December – Christian Hersleb Horneman, jurist and politician (died 1860).Norwaysource
  • December 11 – Sir David Brewster, Scottish physicist (died 1868)source
  • Alexander Bulgakov (died 1863) - diplomat, senator, postal officialRussiasource

Deaths

  • January 12 – Richard Challoner, English Catholic prelate (born 1691)source
  • January 15 – Mariana Victoria of Spain, Queen consort of Portugal (born 1718)source
  • February 15 – Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, German author, philosopher (born 1729)source
  • February 23 – George Taylor, Founding Father of the United States and signer of the Declaration of Independence (born c. 1716)source
  • February 28 - Richard Stockton, signatory of the Declaration of Independence (born 1730)United Statessource
  • 17 March – Johannes Ewald, dramatist, poet (born 1743)Denmarksource
  • March 18 – Anne Robert Turgot, French statesman (born 1727)source
  • May 18 – Túpac Amaru II, Peruvian indigenous rebel leader (born 1742)source
  • May 18 – Micaela Bastidas Puyucahua, Peruvian indigenous rebel leader (born 1745)source
  • May 27 – Giovanni Battista Beccaria, Italian physicist (born 1716)source
  • July 23 – John Joachim Zubly, Swiss-born Continental Congressman (born 1724)source
  • September 12 – Peter Scheemakers, Flemish sculptor (born 1691)source
  • September 28 – William Nassau de Zuylestein, 4th Earl of Rochford, British diplomat, statesman (born 1717)source
  • 12 October – David Powell (Dewi Nantbrân), Franciscan friar and authorWalessource
  • October 16 – Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, British naval officer (born 1705)source
  • November 4 – Charles Morris, Canadian judge (born 1711)source
  • November 21 – Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, Count of Maurepas, French statesman (born 1701)source
  • Abram Petrovich Gannibal (born circa 1696) - military engineer, general, noblemanRussiasource