1790 CE
President of the U.S. George Washington gives the first State of the Union address, in New York City. 18 – Battle of Andros: An Ottoman–Algerian fleet destroys the fleet of the Greek privateer Lambros Katsonis. Alleged London Monster arrested in London: he later receives two years for three assaults.
In the 1790s, the 18th century.
Geopolitics & Diplomacy
- January 8 – United States President George Washington gives the first State of the Union address, in New York City.source
- January 8 – President of the U.S. George Washington gives the first State of the Union address, in New York City.United Statessource
- January 11 – The 11 minor states of the Austrian Netherlands, which took part in the Brabant Revolution at the end of 1789, sign a Treaty of Union, creating the United States of Belgium.source
- January 14 – U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton submits his proposed plan for payment of American debts, starting with $12,000,000 to pay the foreign debts of the confederation, followed by $40 million for domestic debts, and $21.5 million for the war debts of the states. The plan is narrowly approved 14-12 in the Senate, and 34-28 in the House.source
- February 1 – In New York City, the Supreme Court of the United States convenes for the first time.source
- February 4 – King Louis XVI declares to the French National Assembly that he will maintain the constitutional laws.source
- February 11 – Two Quaker delegates petition the United States Congress for the abolition of slavery.source
- February 25 – North Carolina cedes its western territories (modern day Tennessee) to the federal government.source
- March 4 – France is divided into 83 départements, which cut across the former provinces, in an attempt to dislodge regional loyalties based on noble ownership of land.source
- March 6 – The New York legislature consents to the admission to the Union of a new state, Vermont, formed within the boundaries of New York, contingent upon the successful conclusion of negotiations concerning disputed real-estate claims, and the boundary between the two states.source
- March 21 – Thomas Jefferson reports to President George Washington in New York, as the new United States Secretary of State.source
- April 14: Ólafur Stefánsson is appointed Governor of Iceland, the first Icelander to hold the position.Icelandsource
- May 26 – Congress passes an act to govern the creation of states from the "Southwest Territory", from which Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi will be formed.source
- May 29 – Rhode Island ratifies the United States Constitution, and becomes the last of the 13 original states to do so.source
- 16 June–28 July – British general election gives Pitt an increased majority.Scotlandsource
- June 20 – Compromise of 1790: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton come to an agreement: Madison agrees to not be "strenuous" in opposition for the assumption of state debts by the federal government; Hamilton agrees to support the capital site being above the Potomac.source
- July 10 — The U.S. House of Representatives votes 32–29 to approve creating the District of Columbia from portions of Maryland and Virginia for the eventual seat of government and national capital.source
- July 12 – French Revolution: The Civil Constitution of the Clergy is passed. This completes the destruction of the monastic orders, legislating out of existence all regular and secular chapters for either sex, abbacies and priorships.source
- July 16 – U.S. President George Washington signs the Residence Act into law, establishing a site along the Potomac River as the District of Columbia and the future site of the capital of the United States. The move comes after the bill is narrowly approved on July 1 by the Senate, 14 to 12, and on July 9 by the House, 32 to 29. At the same time, plans are made to move the national capital from New York to Philadelphia until the Potomac River site can be completed.source
- July 26 – Alexander Hamilton's Assumption Bill, giving effect to his First Report on the Public Credit, is passed in the United States Congress, allowing the federal government to assume the consolidated debts of the U.S. states.source
- July 27 – The Convention of Reichenbach is signed between Prussia and Austria.source
- July – Louis XVI accepts a constitutional monarchy in France.source
- 4 August – Lord North becomes Earl of Guilford upon the death of his father and moves from the House of Commons to the House of Lords.United Kingdomsource
- August 14 – The Treaty of Värälä ends the Russo-Swedish War.source
- October 7 – Commissioners appointed by the New York legislature announce the successful conclusion of negotiations between New York and Vermont, concerning disputed real-estate claims, and the consent of New York's legislature to the admission to the Union of the state of Vermont as the 14th State (which was formed within what New York claimed as its territory, under an Order in Council, that King George III issued on July 20, 1764).source
- October 7 New York consents to Vermont's admission to the Union, with cessation of New York's jurisdiction, in the disputed territory.Canadasource
- 26 October - Kingdom of Coorg became a Protectorate of East India Company.Indiasource
- November 27 – U.S. President George Washington and his wife, Martha Washington, arrive in the new temporary U.S. capital, Philadelphia, and take up residence at the President's House located at 524 Market Street.source
- December 6 – The United States Congress opens its first session in the new temporary U.S. capital in Philadelphia.source
- December 26 – Louis XVI gives his public assent to Civil Constitution of the Clergy during the French Revolution.source
- Commanding officer of the colony's marine presence – Major Robert RossAustraliasource
- Sir Herbert Mackworth gives up the Parliamentary seat of Cardiff when John Stuart, Lord Mount Stuart, comes of age.Walessource
Conflict & Security
- January 15 – Fletcher Christian & 8 mutineers aboard the Bounty land on Pitcairn.source
- January 30 – Olowalu Massacre: American Captain Simon Metcalfe opens fire with cannon towards villagers in canoes, killing about one hundred Hawaiians, and wounding many others.source
- 14 March – William Bligh arrives back in Britain with the first report of the Mutiny on the Bounty.United Kingdomsource
- March – Following the loss of the Sirius, Lieutenant-Governor King returns to Britain to report on the difficulties of the settlements in New South Wales. Marine commander Robert Ross takes control of Norfolk Island in his absence, and under his harsh rule the condition on the island deteriorates.Australiasource
- May 17–18 – Battle of Andros: An Ottoman–Algerian fleet destroys the fleet of the Greek privateer Lambros Katsonis.source
- 4 July - Battle of Vyborg Bay (1790)Swedensource
- 4 July – Third Anglo-Mysore War: in India, Britain allies with the Nizam of Hyderabad against the Kingdom of Mysore.United Kingdomsource
- July 19: Battle of Kerch Strait (1790)Russiasource
- 7 September – Governor Arthur Phillip is speared in the shoulder while speaking with a group of Indigenous Australians, due to a misunderstanding. Acting as interpreter, Bennelong prevents the situation from escalating and the Aboriginal people are permitted to leave in peace.Australiasource
- October 7–22 – The Harmar Campaign ends in a defeat of U.S. Army General Josiah Harmar and Colonel John Hardin by the Western Confederacy of Indians, led by Chief Little Turtle or Mihšihkinaahkwa of the Miami tribe and Blue Jacket or Weyapiersenwah of the Shawnee at Kekionga (now Fort Wayne, Indiana).source
- October–December – Vincent Ogé leads a rebellion of freed blacks in Saint-Domingue. The rebellion is suppressed and Ogé executed.source
- December 2 – Holy Roman Empire forces recapture Brussels, bringing an end to the short-lived United States of Belgium and restoring the Austrian Netherlands.source
- December 22 – Russo-Turkish War (1787–92): The Turkish fortress of Izmail is stormed and captured by Alexander Suvorov and his Russian armies. During Suvorov's storm of Izmail, 26,000 Turkish soldiers lose their lives.source
- December 22: Conclusion of Siege of IzmailRussiasource
- Northwest Indian War (1785–1795)United Statessource
Exploration & Expansion
- January 30 – The first boat specialized as a rescue lifeboat is tested on the River Tyne in England.source
- March – Norwegian merchants meet Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt, as representative of King Gustav III of Sweden, to discuss military hjelp from Sweden to end the Danish-Norwegian union, at Eda, Sweden.Norwaysource
- 17 April – In order to replenish the supplies lost with the Sirius, Phillip sends the colony's only remaining ship (HMS Supply) to Batavia.Australiasource
- April–May – Josiah Wedgwood shows off his first reproductions of the Portland Vase.United Kingdomsource
- 3 June – The Lady Juliana arrives in Port Jackson – the first ship to land on Australian soil since the First Fleet. Much to the colonists' despair, she contains no fresh supplies, only more convicts.Australiasource
- 18 October – HMS Supply returns from Batavia with more supplies.Australiasource
- December 10 – The Hawkesbury and Nepean Wars begin in New South Wales, Australia, as a result of deterioration in relations and increasing colonization.source
- British Captain George Vancouver begins his three-year survey of northwest coast of North America .Canadasource
Religion & Belief
- Lower Canada is divided into three districts, instead of two.Canadasource
- Armagh Observatory, founded by Richard Robinson, 1st Baron Rokeby, Archbishop of Armagh, begins to function.Irelandsource
- Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra completedRussiasource
- Church of the Ascension (Chaltyr) foundedRussiasource
- Fredmans epistlar by Carl Michael BellmanSwedensource
- Peter Williams - Tafol i Bwyso SosiniaethWalessource
Economy & Finance
- August 4 – A newly passed U.S. tariff act creates the system of cutters for revenue enforcement (later named the United States Revenue Cutter Service), the forerunner of the Coast Guard.source
- August 4 – A newly passed U.S. tariff act creates the United States Revenue Cutter Service, the forerunner of the Coast Guard.United Statessource
- Lieutenant-Governor of Norfolk Island – Philip Gidley KingAustraliasource
- National income - ₹10,434 millionIndiasource
- Balblair distillery at Edderton founded.Scotlandsource
- John Coles, son of the founder of the Cambrian Pottery, goes into partnership with entrepreneur George Haynes, resulting in the expansion of the business.Walessource
Technology & Infrastructure
- 1 January – the Oxford Canal is opened throughout its 91 miles, providing an important link between the River Thames at Oxford and Coventry in the English Midlands.United Kingdomsource
- March 1 – The first United States Census is authorized; it is held later in the year.source
- March 1 – The first United States census is authorized.United Statessource
- April 10 – The United States patent system is established.source
- May – construction begins on the Royal Canal at Cross Guns Bridge in Phibsborough, Dublin.Irelandsource
- June 9 – Royal assent is given to establishment of the port of Milford Haven in Wales.source
- 9 June - Royal assent is given to establishment of the port of Milford Haven.Walessource
- 28 June – Forth and Clyde Canal opened.Scotlandsource
- July 31 – Inventor Samuel Hopkins becomes the first to be issued a U.S. patent (for an improved method of making potash).source
- Langabúð, the oldest house in Djúpivogur, was built.Icelandsource
- By royal command, the silk factories are explicitly allowed to employ women workers when no men are available (though women did in practice work in the silk industry earlier), which quickly results in a majority of female workers in the Swedish silk industry.Swedensource
- The world's first railway viaduct (used by horse-drawn wagons to carry coal from the mines) is built at Blaenavon.Walessource
Science & Discovery
- December 17 – The Aztec calendar stone is discovered at El Zócalo, Mexico City.source
- Journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow by Alexander Radishchev publishedRussiasource
- The mineral element strontium is discovered near Strontian by chemists Adair Crawford and William Cruickshank.Scotlandsource
- Den nya skapelsen by Johan Henric KellgrenSwedensource
- Thomas Pennant - Indian ZoologyWalessource
- David Williams - Lessons to a Young Prince (published anonymously)Walessource
Health & Medicine
- 5.1% of Americans are living in centers of 2,500 or more people.United Statessource
- Calvinistic Methodist clergyman Thomas Charles of Bala attempts to preach at Corwen but is driven out of town by a mob.Walessource
Crime & Justice
- April - Ten death sentences is given for participants in the Anjala conspiracy.Swedensource
- 5 June – Treason Act 1790 comes into effect, abolishing burning at the stake as the penalty for women convicted of offences of treason (which include coining and mariticide): they are to suffer hanging, bringing the punishment in line with that for men. As a consequence of the change of law, the sentence on Sophia Girton, convicted in April of coining, is delayed and she is in fact transported to the new penal Colony of New South Wales.United Kingdomsource
- June 23 – The alleged London Monster is arrested in London; he later receives 40 years for 10 assaults.source
- 23 June – alleged London Monster arrested in London: he later receives two years for three assaults.United Kingdomsource
- 8 September - Execution of Johan Henrik Hästesko, the only death sentence of the Anjala conspiracy which is actually performed.Swedensource
- Emo Court, near Emo, County Laois, is designed by James Gandon for John Dawson, 1st Earl of Portarlington.Irelandsource
- Approximate date – Whaligoe steps cut.Scotlandsource
- First organised otter hunt established, at Culmstock, Devon.United Kingdomsource
- Thomas Edwards (Twm o'r Nant) - Gardd o GerddiWalessource
Disasters & Accidents
Climate & Environment
- 19 March – HMS Sirius, while transporting supplies to Norfolk Island, becomes wrecked and destroyed on a reef. This destroys many of the colony's supplies, and Phillip is again forced to introduce rationing to avoid famine.Australiasource
- October 10 – At least 3,000 people die in Algeria when an earthquake and tsunami strikes the city of Oran. The city is destroyed and Spanish forces eventually flee in 1792.source
Culture & Society
- January 26 – Mozart's opera Così fan tutte premieres in Vienna.source
- 15 March – The Sick and Indigent Roomkeepers' Society is established in Dublin; by the 21st century this will be the city's oldest surviving charity.Irelandsource
- 18 May - The first meeting of the Literary Fund, founded by David Williams ("to assist indigent authors") takes place in London.Walessource
- 16 June–28 July – 1790 British general election gives Pitt an increased majority.United Kingdomsource
- July 14 – French Revolution: Citizens of Paris celebrate the unity of the French people and the national reconciliation, in the Fête de la Fédération.source
- 14 July - The Fête de la Fédération is held.Francesource
- 14 September – Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Marie Sophie arrives at Copenhagen.Denmarksource
- September 25 – The Peking Opera is born, when the Four Great Anhui Troupes introduce Anhui opera to Beijing, in honor of the Qianlong Emperor's 80th birthday.source
- September 30 – Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor starts to rule.source
- The song «Udsikter fra Ulriken» is written by Johan Nordahl Brun.Norwaysource
- Kirkmichael musician Robert Petrie publishes several Highland music pieces with "Mrs. Small of Dirnanean" in their title. The compositions are published in "Petrie's Collection of Strathspey Reels & County Dances".Scotlandsource
- The noblewomen's social boycott of the monarch is smashed by the arrest of Jeanna von Lantingshausen.Swedensource
Births
- January 5 – Melchor Múzquiz, 5th President of Mexico (died 1844)source
- January 18 – Qi Shan, Manchu Qing official (died 1854)source
- January 27 – Juan Álvarez, interim president of Mexico, 1855 (died 1867)source
- February 4 – John Bachman, American minister, social activist and naturalist (died 1874)source
- March 29 – John Tyler, tenth President of the United States (died 1862)source
- March 29 – John Tyler, tenth president of the United States from 1841 to 1845, tenth vice president of the United States from March to April 1841 (died 1862)United Statessource
- May 23 – Jules Dumont d'Urville, French explorer (died 1842)source
- June 13 – José Antonio Páez, 19th President of Venezuela (died 1873)source
- 13 August – William Wentworth, explorer and politician (died 1872)Australiasource
- October 21 – Alphonse de Lamartine, French poet and politiciansource
- November 17 – August Ferdinand Möbius, German mathematician, astronomer (died 1868)source
- November 21 – Edmund Lyons, 1st Baron Lyons, British admiral (died 1858)source
- December 8 – Richard Carlile, English social reformer, press advocate (died 1843)source
- December 16 – Leopold I of Belgium (died 1865)source
- December 19 – William Edward Parry, English Arctic explorer (died 1855)source
- December 23 – Jean-François Champollion, French Egyptologist (died 1832)source
- 26 December - Andreas Martin Seip, military officer and politician (d.1850)Norwaysource
- Matvey Dmitriev-Mamonov, nobleman, writer, and generalRussiasource
Deaths
- January 20 – John Howard (prison reformer), English philanthropist (born 1726)source
- February 5 – William Cullen, Scottish physician, chemist (born 1710)source
- February 15– Juan Albano Pereira Márquez, godfather and tutor of Bernardo O'Higgins (born 1728)source
- February 20 – Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor (born 1741)source
- 31 March – Arthur Bowes Smyth, First Fleet surgeon (born 1750)Australiasource
- April 17 – Benjamin Franklin, American scientist and statesman (born 1706)source
- April 17 – Benjamin Franklin, publisher, inventor, congressman, ambassador, abolitionist and American icon (born 1706)United Statessource
- May 13 – Battle of Reval: Gustav III of Sweden sends the battlefleet to eliminate the Russian squadron wintering at Reval (Estonia), but is defeated; 8 Russians, 130 Swedes are killed, up to 520 captured, 1 ship is burnt, another captured.source
- May 29 – Israel Putnam, American Revolutionary War general (born 1718)source
- July 6 – George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield, British army officer (born 1717)source
- July 9 – Russo-Swedish War – Second Battle of Svensksund: In a massive Baltic Sea battle of 300 ships, the Swedish Navy captures one third of the Russian galley fleet: 304 Swedes are killed, 3,500 Russians killed and 6,000 captured, 51 Russian galleys and other rowing craft are sunk and 22 are taken.source
- July 14 – Ernst Gideon von Laudon, Austrian field marshal (born 1717)source
- July 17 – Adam Smith, Scottish economist, philosopher (born 1723)source
- July 25 – William Livingston, Governor of New Jersey (1776–1790) (born 1723)source
- September 28 – Nikolaus I, Prince Esterházy, Hungarian prince (born 1714)source
- 4 November - Ove Gjerløw Meyer, jurist and government official (born c. 1742)Norwaysource
- November 6 – James Bowdoin, American Governor of Massachusetts (born 1726)source
- Mikhail Shcherbatov, historian, writer, philosopher, statesmanRussiasource