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American Revolutionary War

1775–1783 war between Great Britain and the Thirteen Colonies, which won independence as the United States of America

126 dated entries naming American Revolutionary War, drawn from 28 separate years between 1721 CE and 1810 CE. Nothing here is written by us: each line is the sentence a Wikipedia year article used, and the link beside it opens the exact revision.

Also written as American War for Independence, American War of Independence in the source articles; Wikipedia redirects those to the same subject, so their entries are on this page.

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18th century

  • 1721June 19 – Johann de Kalb, Bavarian-French military officer who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (died 1780)source
  • 1724March 6 – Henry Laurens, political leader during the American Revolutionary War, father of John Laurens (died 1792)source
  • 1726December 4 – Lord Stirling, American brigadier-general during the American Revolutionary War (died 1783)source
  • 1727July 26 – Horatio Gates, retired British soldier who served as an American general during the American Revolutionary War (died 1806)source
  • 1733January 24 – Benjamin Lincoln, major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, and politician (died 1810)source
  • 1734February 15 – William Stacy, American Revolutionary War officer (died 1802)source
  • 1740February 17 – John Sullivan, American General in the American Revolutionary War, delegate in the Continental Congress (died 1795)source
  • 1746July 23 – Bernardo de Gálvez, Spanish military leader, aids the United States in its quest for independence in the American Revolutionary War (died 1786)source
  • 1750May 2 – John André, British Army officer of the American Revolutionary War (died 1780)source
  • 1770March 5 – Boston Massacre: Eleven American men are shot (five fatally) by British troops, in an event that helps start the American Revolutionary War five years later.source
  • 17705 March – Boston Massacre: five Americans killed by British troops in an event that helps start the American Revolutionary War five years later.source
  • 1772November 2 – American Revolutionary War: Samuel Adams and Joseph Warren form the first Committee of Correspondence.source
  • 177431 March – American Revolutionary War: Britain orders the port of Boston, Massachusetts closed in the Boston Port Act.source
  • 1775April 19 – The American War of Independence begins, at Concord and Lexington, Massachusetts.source
  • 1775April 19 – American Revolution – Battles of Lexington and Concord: Hostility between Britain and its American colonies explodes into bloodshed, igniting the American Revolutionary War.source
  • 177519 April – the American Revolutionary War begins with the Battles of Lexington and Concord.source
  • 1775June 11 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Machias: In the first naval engagement of the American Revolution, Patriot forces capture the schooner HMS Margaretta.source
  • 1776Russia maintains formal neutrality in the American Revolutionary War, rejecting British requests for troops.source
  • 1776January 1 – American Revolutionary War: Burning of Norfolk – The town of Norfolk, Virginia is destroyed, by the combined actions of the British Royal Navy and occupying Patriot forces.source
  • 1776March 4 – American Revolutionary War: American Patriots capture Dorchester Heights, dominating the port of Boston.source
  • 1776March 17 – American Revolutionary War: Threatened by Patriot cannons on Dorchester Heights, the British evacuate Boston, ending the 11‑month Siege of Boston.source
  • 1776March 25 – American Revolutionary War: American Patriots conduct a Raid on Tybee Island, primarily seeking to capture runaway slaves who sought refuge with British forces stationed there.source
  • 1776June 28 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Sullivan's Island – South Carolina militia repel a British attack on Charleston.source
  • 1776June 29 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet – The American Continental Navy successfully challenges the British Royal Navy blockade off New Jersey.source
  • 1776September 7 – American Revolutionary War: World's first submarine attack – The American submersible craft Turtle attempts to attach a time bomb to the hull of British Admiral Richard Howe's flagship HMS Eagle in New York Harbor.source
  • 1776September 11 – American Revolutionary War: An abortive peace conference takes place between the British and Americans, on Staten Island.source
  • 1776September 15 – American Revolutionary War: Landing at Kip's Bay – British troops land on Manhattan at Kips Bay.source
  • 1776September 16 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Harlem Heights – The Continental Army under Washington is victorious against the British on Manhattan.source
  • 1776September 22 – American Revolutionary War – Nathan Hale is executed by the British in New York City for espionage.source
  • 1776October 11 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Valcour Island – On Lake Champlain near Valcour Island, a British fleet led by Sir Guy Carleton defeats 15 American gunboats, commanded by Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Although nearly all of Arnold's ships are destroyed, the two-day-long battle will give Patriot forces enough time to prepare the defenses of New York City.source
  • 1776October 18 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Pell's Point – Troops of the American Continental Army resist a British and Hessian force in The Bronx.source
  • 1776October 28 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of White Plains – British forces arrive at White Plains, attack and capture Chatterton Hill from the Americans.source
  • 1776November 16 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Fort Washington – Hessian forces under Lieutenant General Wilhelm von Knyphausen capture Fort Washington (Manhattan) from the American Continental Army.source
  • 1776November 20 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Fort Lee – The invasion of New Jersey, by British and Hessian forces, leads to the subsequent general retreat of the American Continental Army.source
  • 1776December 26 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Trenton – Washington's troops surprise the 1,500 Hessian troops under the command of Col. Johann Rall at 8 a.m. outside Trenton and score a victory, taking 948 prisoners while suffering only five wounded.source
  • 1777January 2 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of the Assunpink Creek: American general George Washington's army repulses a British attack by Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis, in a second battle at Trenton, New Jersey.source
  • 1777January 3 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Princeton: American general George Washington's army defeats British troops.source
  • 1777January 12 – Hugh Mercer, American Revolutionary War officer, mortally wounded in battle (born 1726)source
  • 1777April 13 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Bound Brook: A British and Hessian force led by Charles Cornwallis surprises a Continental Army outpost in New Jersey, commanded by Major General Benjamin Lincoln.source
  • 1777April 26 – American Revolutionary War: 16-year-old Sybil Ludington is said to have ridden 40 mi through the night to warn militiamen under the control of her father Henry that British troops had raided Danbury, Connecticut.source
  • 1777April 27 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Ridgefield: The British Army defeats Patriot militias, galvanizing resistance in the Connecticut Colony.source
  • 1777July 6 – American Revolutionary War – Siege of Fort Ticonderoga: After a bombardment by British artillery under General John Burgoyne, American forces retreat from Fort Ticonderoga, New York.source
  • 1777July 7 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Hubbardton: British forces capture over 200 of the American rearguard, from Fort Ticonderoga.source
  • 1777August 6 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Oriskany: Loyalists gain a tactical victory over Patriots; Iroquois fight on both sides.source
  • 1777August 16 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Bennington: British and Brunswicker forces are decisively defeated by American troops at Walloomsac, New York.source
  • 1777August 22 – American Revolutionary War – The Siege of Fort Stanwix is ended by withdrawal of British forces, following a ruse by Benedict Arnold to persuade them that a much larger force is arriving.source
  • 1777September 3 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Cooch's Bridge: British and Hessian forces defeat an American militia in a minor skirmish in New Castle County, Delaware.source
  • 1777September 3 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Cooch's Bridge – In a minor skirmish in New Castle County, Delaware, the flag of the United States was flown in battle for the first time.source
  • 1777September 11 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Brandywine: The British gain a major victory in Chester County, Pennsylvania.source
  • 1777September 19 – American Revolutionary War – First Battle of Saratoga (Battle of Freeman's Farm): Patriot forces withstand a British attack at Saratoga, New York.source
  • 1777September 26 – American Revolutionary War – British troops occupy Philadelphia; members of the Continental Congress flee to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where they meet and hold a one day session as the Fifth Congress before fleeing again.source
  • 1777September 30 – American Revolutionary War – The Sixth Continental Congress opens its session at York, Pennsylvania, and continues for 272 days until June 27, 1778.source
  • 1777October 4 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Germantown: Troops under George Washington are repelled by British troops under Sir William Howe.source
  • 1777October 6 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery: British troops capture Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery (Hudson River), and are able to dismantle the Hudson River Chain.source
  • 1777October 7 – American Revolutionary War – Second Battle of Saratoga (Battle of Bemis Heights): British General John Burgoyne is defeated by American troops.source
  • 1777October 17 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Saratoga: British General John Burgoyne surrenders to the American troops.source
  • 1777December 19 – American Revolutionary War – George Washington's Continental Army goes into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.source
  • 1778February 6 – American Revolutionary War: In Paris, the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce are signed by the United States and France, signaling official French recognition of the new republic.source
  • 1778February 6 – American Revolutionary War: In Paris the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce are signed by the United States and France, signaling official recognition of the new republic.source
  • 1778February 6 – The United States allies with France, and joins the American Revolutionary War.source
  • 1778February 23 – American Revolutionary War: Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and begins to train the American troops.source
  • 1778March 10 – American Revolutionary War: George Washington approves the dishonorable discharge of Lieutenant Frederick Gotthold Enslin, for "attempting to commit sodomy, with John Monhort a soldier".source
  • 177824 April – American Revolutionary War: North Channel Naval Duel: John Paul Jones in USS Ranger captures HMS Drake in the North Channel off Carrickfergus.source
  • 177824 April – American Revolutionary War: North Channel Naval Duel: Scottish-born John Paul Jones in the USS Ranger captures HMS Drake in the North Channel off Carrickfergus.source
  • 1778June 28 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Monmouth – George Washington's Continental Army battles British general Sir Henry Clinton's army to a draw, near Monmouth County, New Jersey.source
  • 1778June 28 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Monmouth: George Washington's Continental Army battles the British general Sir Henry Clinton's army to a draw near Monmouth, New Jersey.source
  • 1778July 3 – American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Wyoming takes place near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, ending in a terrible defeat for the local colonists.source
  • 1778July 3 – American Revolutionary War: the Battle of Wyoming, also known as the Wyoming Massacre, takes place near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, ending in a terrible defeat for the Americans.source
  • 1778July 4 – American Revolutionary War: George Rogers Clark takes Kaskaskia.source
  • 1778July 27 – American Revolutionary War: First Battle of Ushant – British and French fleets fight to a standoff.source
  • 1778August 29 – American Revolutionary War: The tactically inconclusive Battle of Rhode Island takes place, after which the Continental Army abandons its position on Aquidneck Island.source
  • 1778September 7 – American Revolutionary War: Invasion of Dominica – The French capture the British fort there, before the latter is aware that France has entered the war in the Franco-American alliance.source
  • 1778November 11 – American Revolutionary War: Cherry Valley massacre – British forces and their Iroquois allies attack a fort and the village of Cherry Valley, New York, killing 14 soldiers and 30 civilians.source
  • 1778December 29 – American Revolutionary War: Capture of Savannah – British forces under Archibald Campbell take the city of Savannah, Georgia.source
  • 1779January 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
  • 1779June 1 – American Revolutionary War – Benedict Arnold is court-martialed for malfeasance, in his treatment of government property.source
  • 1779June 16 – American Revolutionary War – In support of France, Spain declares war on Britain.source
  • 1779June 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.source
  • 1779July 16 – American Revolutionary War – United States forces, led by General Anthony Wayne, capture Stony Point, New York from British troops.source
  • 1779July 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
  • 1779July 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.source
  • 1779September 14–15 – American Revolutionary War – Little Beard's Town, a loyalist stronghold, is burnt by the Sullivan Expedition.source
  • 1779September 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
  • 1780January 16 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Cape St. Vincent: British Admiral Sir George Rodney defeats a Spanish fleet.source
  • 178016 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.source
  • 1780March 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
  • 1780March 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
  • 1780April 28: Juan de Miralles, 66, diplomat and arms dealer during the American Revolutionary War, pneumonia.source
  • 1780April 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
  • 1780May 12 – American Revolutionary War: Charleston, South Carolina is taken by British forces after 44 days of siege.source
  • 1780June 23 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Springfield: The Continental Army defeats the British in New Jersey.source
  • 1780July 11 – French soldiers arrive in Newport, Rhode Island to reinforce the colonists, in the American Revolutionary War.source
  • 1780July 11 – Expédition Particulière: French soldiers arrive in Newport, Rhode Island to reinforce colonists in the American Revolutionary War.source
  • 1780August 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
  • 1780August 16 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Camden: British troops inflict heavy losses on a Patriot army at Camden, South Carolina.source
  • 1780August 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
  • 1780October 2 – American Revolutionary War: In Tappan, New York, British spy John André is hanged by American forces.source
  • 1780October 7 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Kings Mountain: Patriot militia forces annihilate Loyalists under British Major Patrick Ferguson, at Kings Mountain, South Carolina.source
  • 1780November 30 – American Revolutionary War: The British San Juan Expedition is forced to withdraw.source
  • 1781January 5 – American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia is burned by British naval forces, led by Benedict Arnold.source
  • 17815 January – American Revolutionary War: Richmond, Virginia, is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold.source
  • 1781January 17 – American Revolutionary War – Battle of Cowpens: The American Continental Army, under Daniel Morgan, decisively defeats British forces in South Carolina.source
  • 1781December 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
  • 1782February 27 – The British House of Commons votes against further war in America, paving the way for the Second Rockingham ministry and the Peace of Paris.source
  • 1782March 8 – American Revolutionary War: In Ohio, the Gnadenhutten massacre of Native Americans takes place in which 29 men, 27 women and 34 children are killed by white militiamen in retaliation for raids carried out by another Native American group.source
  • 1782May 25–June 12 – American Revolutionary War: Crawford expeditionsource
  • 1782August 19 – A combined British and Native American force defeat Kentucky militiamen in the Battle of Blue Licks in the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War.source
  • 1782September 14 – American Revolutionary War: Review of the French troops under General Rochambeau by General George Washington at Verplanck's Point, New York.source
  • 1782October 2 – Charles Lee, Continental Army general during the American War of Independence (born 1732)source
  • 1782November 30 – American Revolutionary War: In Paris, representatives from the United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain sign preliminary peace articles (later formalized in the Treaty of Paris).source
  • 1782December 12 – American Revolutionary War: Action of 12 December 1782: A naval engagement off Ferrol, Spain, in which the British ship HMS Mediator commanded by James Luttrell successfully attacks a convoy of French and American ships attempting to supply the United States.source
  • 1783January 15 – William Alexander, Lord Stirling, American major-general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (born 1726)source
  • 1783February 3 – American Revolutionary War: Great Britain acknowledges the independence of the United States of America. At this time, the Spanish government does not grant diplomatic recognition.source
  • 1783February 3 – American Revolutionary War: Britain awards the United States independence. Spain refuses to grant diplomatic recognition to the United States.source
  • 1783April 15 – Preliminary articles of peace ending the American Revolutionary War are ratified by the Congress of the Confederation in the United States.source
  • 1783September 3 – Peace of Paris: A treaty between the United States and Great Britain is signed in Paris, formally ending the American Revolutionary War, in which Britain recognizes the independence of the United States; and treaties are signed between Britain, France, and Spain at Versailles, ending hostilities with the Franco-Spanish Alliance.source
  • 1783November 25 – American Revolutionary War: The last British troops leave New York City and George Washington triumphantly returns, three months after the signing of the Treaty of Paris.source
  • 1784January 14 – The Confederation Congress ratifies the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain to end the American Revolutionary War.source
  • 1786November 30 – Bernardo de Gálvez, Spanish military leader who aided the United States in its quest for independence, in the American Revolutionary War (born 1746)source
  • 1794November 19 – The United States and Great Britain sign the Jay Treaty (coming into effect in 1796), which attempts to clear up some issues left over from the American Revolutionary War and secures a decade of peaceful trade between the two nations. Britain agrees to evacuate border forts in the Northwest Territory (roughly the area north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi) and thereby end British support for the Indians.source
  • 179419 November – Britain and the United States sign the Jay Treaty (coming into effect 1796), which attempts to clear up some issues left over from the American Revolutionary War and secures a decade of peaceful trade between the two nations.source
  • 1794November 19 – The United States and Great Britain sign the Jay Treaty (coming into effect 1796), which attempts to clear up some issues left over from the American Revolutionary War and secures a decade of peaceful trade between the two nations. Britain agrees to evacuate border forts in the Northwest Territory (roughly the area north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi) and thereby end British support for the Indians.source
  • 1795January 23 – John Sullivan, American general in the American Revolutionary War, delegate in the Continental Congress (born 1740)source

19th century

  • 1806April 10 – Horatio Gates, British soldier, served as an American general during the American Revolutionary War (born 1727)source
  • 1807May 17 – John Gunby, Maryland soldier in the American Revolutionary War (born 1745)source
  • 1810May 9 – Benjamin Lincoln, major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War (born 1733)source

Named in the same entries