Astronomer William Herschel first observed Uranus.
Wolfgang Mozart's opera 'Idomeneo' premiered at the Cuvilliés Theatre in Munich, Germany.
John Hancock became the first Governor of Massachusetts after winning 90% of the votes in the Massachusetts Constitution.
During the American Revolutionary War, John André, a British Army officer, was hanged as a spy by the Continental Army.
British Major John André was captured and searched by three Westchester militiamen near Tarrytown, New York, USA.
American Academy of Arts & Science was established in Boston with James Bowdoin, John, and Samuel Adams as founding members.
William Herschel discovered the first binary star.
John Adams was selected to negotiate a peace treaty of commerce with Great Britain following the Revolutionary war.
Four men became the first recorded climbers to complete a successful ascent of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak.
Louis XVI of France declared war on Great Britain during the American Revolution.
Captain James Cook became the first European to travel to the Hawaiian islands.
Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, is discovered by James Cook.
Virginia became the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
The Continental Congress ratified the Articles of Confederation, the first government rule for the newly-formed United States of America.
During the American Revolution, Lancaster in Pennsylvania became the capital of the United States for just one day.
The state of Vermont became the first to abolish adult slavery after declaring the Constitution of Vermont.
The Second Continental Congress met to create the US flag with stars and stripes.
During the Battle of Princeton, British forces were defeated in New Jersey by George Washington's revolutionary army.
George Washington crossed Delaware, in which he surprised and defeated 1,400 Hessians.
The first fraternity in the US was founded at William and Mary College: Phi Beta Kappa.
The Great Fire of New York ended.
Congress changed the official name from United Colonies to the United States of America.
The Pointe-à-Pitre hurricane hit Guadeloupe killing 6,000 people.
The British defeated the Americans in the Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn.
The finalized copy of the United States Declaration of Independence was signed by congress.
The first president of the United States of America, George Washington, read the Declaration of Independence.
The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence occurred.
The American Declaration of Independence was publicly released in the Pennsylvania Evening Post.
The United States of America declared its Independence from Britain.
The final draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the final 'Committee of the Whole' Congress.
President George Washington received an honorary law degree from Harvard College.
Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense.
The Grand Union Flag flew for the first time with the commissioning of the USS Alfred.
Amateur British chemist Sir James Jay invented invisible ink.
The United States Marine Corps was founded when two battalions of Continental Marines came together in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Lord Dunmore promised freedom to every slave who enlisted into the British Army.
African-American poet Phillis Wheatley was freed from slavery.
The US Postal Service was founded.
The Battle of Lexington and Concord began, which kicked off the American Revolutionary War between 1775 & 1783.
The first Jewish person was elected in the US.
The first Continental Congress meeting was held in Philadelphia, US.
British scientist Joseph Priestley discovered oxygen by removing it from the air.
John Hancock was unanimously elected President of the Continental Congress.
Captain James Cook reached a record 1,130 miles from the South Pole.
The Boston Tea Party protest occurred.
Charles Messier discovered the Whirlpool Galaxy.
The parliament of Great Britain passed the Tea Act, a piece of legislation that ultimately led to the Boston Tea Party.
Britain implemented a Tea Act against its American colonies.
On his second voyage, explorer Captain James Cook became the first to cross the Antarctic Circle.
The Charleston Museum was founded, making it the first public museum in the United States.
