Events in year of 1777
- 01-03Washington defeats British at Battle of Princeton, New Jersey
- 01-12Mission Santa Clara de Asis founded in California
- 01-15People of New Connecticut (Vermont) declare independence from England
- 01-16Vermont declares independence from New York
- 01-18San Jose California, founded
- 02-05Georgia becomes 1st US state to abolish both entail and primogeniture
- 02-13De Sade arrested without charge, imprisoned in Vincennes fortress
- 02-16Messier adds M53 to his catalog (globular cluster in Coma Berenice)
- 02-21English ambassador Joseph Yorke demands dismissal of Governor John de Graaff for saluting US flag
- 04-14New York adopts new constitution as an independent state
- 04-20New York adopts new constitution as an independent state
- 04-26Sybil Ludington, 16, rode from New York to Ct rallying her fathers militia
- 05-01RB Sheridans "School for Scandal, " premieres in London
- 05-121st ice cream advertisement (Philip Lenzi - NY Gazette)
- 05-13University library at Vienna opens
- 06-13Leonard Norcross patents a submarine diving suit
- 06-13Marquis de Lafayette lands in US
- 06-14Continental Congress adopts Stars and Stripes replacing Grand Union flag
- 07-02Vermont becomes 1st American colony to abolish slavery
- 07-06British General Burgoyne captures Fort Ticonderoga from Americans
- 07-08Vt becomes 1st state abolishing slavery, adopts male suffrage
- 07-31Marquis de Lafayette, 19, made major-general of Continental Army
- 08-04Retired British cavalry officer Philip Astley establishes 1st circus
- 08-16Americans defeat British in Battle of Bennington, Vermont
- 09-11Battle of Brandywine, Pa; Americans lose to British
- 09-20Paoli massacre
- 09-25English general William Howe conquers Philadelphia
- 09-26British troops occupy Philadelphia during American Revolution
- 09-27English General William Howe occupies Philadelphia
- 09-30Congress, flees to York Pa, as British forces advance
People born in year of 1777
- 01-01Micah Hawkins: Composer
- 01-02Christian D Rauch: German sculptor
- 01-03Louis Poinsot: French instrument worker
- 01-03M A Elisa Bonaparte: Corsican Monarch of Lucca / Piombino
- 01-08Filippo Traetta: Italy -- Composer / musicologist
- 01-25Elias Canneman: Dutch liberal Minister of Finance (1813-14)
- 03-09Alexander Orlowski: Polish painter / cartoonist / graphic artist
- 03-17Roger Brooke Taney: Calvert, Maryland -- 5th Chief Justice (Dred Scott dec)
- 03-19Anton R Falck: Dutch Minister of Education / diplomat
- 04-12Henry Clay [the Great Compromiser]: US politician
- 04-18Ignac Ruzitska: Composer
- 05-04Charles-Louis-Joseph Hanssens: Composer
- 05-28Joseph-Henri-Ignace Mees: Composer
- 06-02Christian Traugott Tag: Composer
- 07-09Henry Hallam: British lawyer / historian
- 07-27Thomas Campbell: Poet (Hohenlinden, Battle of the Baltic)
- 08-14Hans Christian Oersted: Den, physicist / chemist (View of Chemical Law)
- 09-20Ramon Felix Cuellar y Altarriba: Composer
- 10-06William Russell: Composer
- 10-18Heinrich von Kleist: Germany -- Dramatist / poet (Penthesilea)
- 11-28Georg A Kestner: German art collector / diplomat
- 12-02Henry Doeff: Colonialist (wrote Dutch-Japanese dictionary)
- 12-14Juan N Gallego: Spanish poet / interpreter (El dos the mayo)
- 12-16Janos Fusz: Composer
- 12-23Aleksandr I P Romanov: Tsar of Russia (1801-25)
People died in year of 1777
- 01-01Emanuele Barbella: Composer, dies at 58
- 03-01Georg Christoph Wagenzeil: Austria (court)composer / pianist, dies at 62
- 03-22John Bartram: Father of American botany, dies at 77
- 05-16Button Gwinnet: US revolutionary leader, dies from wounds
- 06-22Josef Christian: German sculptor, dies at 71
- 07-13Guillaume Coustou, Jr.: French Sculptor (Apollo / Mars / Venus), dies at 61
- 07-27William Hayes: Composer, dies at 69
- 08-17Giuseppe Scarlotti: Composer, dies at 54
- 08-23Giuseppe Sellitto: Composer, dies at 77
- 09-01Johann Ernst Bach: Composer, dies at 55
- 09-25Johann Heinrich Lambert: Mathematician, dies at 49
- 10-07Simon Fraser: English General, dies in battle
- 10-13Dismas Hatas: Composer, dies at 52
- 11-30Jean-Marie Leclair: Composer, dies at 74
- 12-12Albrecht von Haller: Swiss Physician / biologist / author, dies at 69
- 12-12Benjamin Russen: Rev, executed at Tyburn England for rape
- 12-30Maximilian III Jozef: Elector of Bayern (1745-77), dies at 50
Events in year of 1778
- 01-18Captain James Cook stumbles over Sandwich Islands (Hawaiian Islands)
- 01-201st American military court martial trial begins, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- 02-05Articles of Confederation ratified by 1st state, South Carolina
- 02-06England declares war on France
- 02-06France recognizes US, signs treaty of aid in Paris; 1st US treaty
- 02-14"Stars & Stripes" arrives in foreign port for 1st time (France)
- 02-23Baron von Steuben joins Continental Army at Valley Forge
- 02-28Rhode Island General Assembly authorizes enlistment of slaves
- 03-07Captain James Cook 1st sights Oregon coast, at Yaquina Bay
- 03-15Nootka Sound, Vancouver Is discovered by Captain Cook
- 03-22Captain Cook sights Cape Flattery, in Washington state
- 03-30Playwright Voltaire crowned with laurel wreath
- 04-01Oliver Pollock, a New Orleans businessman, creates "$" symbol
- 06-18British Redcoats evacuate Philadelphia
- 06-24David Rittenhouse observes a total solar eclipse in Philadelphia
- 06-27Liberty Bell came home to Philadelphia after the British had left
- 06-28Battle of Monmouth, New Jersey (Gen Washington beats Clinton)
- 06-28Mary Ludwig Hayes "Molly Pitcher" aids American patriots
- 07-03British forces massacre 360 men, women and children in Wyoming, Pennsylvania
- 07-03Prussia declares war on Austria
- 07-08George Washington headquarters at West Point for his Continental Army
- 08-03Teatro alla Scala opens in Milan
- 08-09Captain Cook reaches Cape Prince of Wales, Bering straits
- 08-31British kill 17 Stockbridge indians in Bronx during Revolution
- 09-04City Amsterdam signs trade agreement with US rebels
- 09-171st treaty between the US and Indian tribes signed (Fort Pitt)
- 10-03Captain Cook anchors at Alaska
- 11-11Iroquois Indians in New York kill 40 in Cherry Valley Massacre
- 11-26Captain Cook discovers Maui (Sandwich Islands [now Hawaii])
- 12-29English troops occupy Savannah, Georgia
People born in year of 1778
- 01-05Fortunato Santini: Composer
- 01-10Carolus Linnaeus: Swedish Botanist (naming plants and animals)
- 01-13Anton Fischer: Composer
- 01-24Charles F: Duke of Berry / Son of French King Charles X
- 01-31Franz Anton graaf von Kolowrat: Austrian Premier of Bohemia (1848)
- 02-12Franz Joseph Volkert: Composer
- 02-13Fernando Sor: Composer
- 02-14Fernando Joseph Maria Sor: Composer
- 02-22Rembrandt Peale: Portrait / historical painter (Court of Death)
- 03-08Friedrich August Kanne: Composer
- 04-06Joseph Funk: Composer
- 04-10William Hazlitt: Maidstone Kent, England -- Essayist / critic
- 05-08Johann Gansbacher: Composer
- 05-28Friedrich Westenholz: Composer
- 06-07George Bryan "Beau" Brummel: London, England -- English dandy
- 07-07Antonio Francesco Gaetano S Pacini: Composer
- 07-10Sigismund Ritter von Neukomm: Austrian composer / royal chaplain master
- 07-25Heinrich Gebhard: Composer
- 07-28Charles Stewart: Rear Admiral (Union Navy), died in 1869
- 07-29Carl Borromaus Neuner: Composer
- 08-11Friedrich Ludwig Jahn: Founder of turnverein (gymnastics) movement
- 08-12Francis Horner: Politician
- 08-18Fabian Gottlieb von Bellinghausen: 1st to circumnavigate Antarctica
- 09-02Leopold FJJJ van Sassen Ysselt: Dutch politician
- 09-03Jean Nicolas Auguste Kreutzer: Composer
- 09-04Louis Napoleon: French King of the Netherlands (1806-10)
- 11-14Johann Nepomuk Hummel: Composer
- 11-27John Murray: Publisher
- 12-15Godert AGP Baron van der Capellen: Dutch Governor-General (Dutch-Indies)
- 12-17Hunphry Davy: English chemist (discovered some elements)
People died in year of 1778
- 01-04Charles D J Eisen: French engraver / painter, dies at 57
- 02-15Johann Gottlieb Gorner: Composer, dies at 80
- 03-05Thomas A Arne: English Composer (Alfred, Rule Britannia), dies at 67
- 04-07Johann Balthasar Kehl: Composer, dies at 52
- 04-08Pieter Teyler van der Hulst: Dutch founder (Teyler Museum), dies at 76
- 04-22James Hargreaves: Inventor (spinning jenny)
- 05-11William Pitt, Sr.: English Premier (1756-61, 66-68), dies at 69
- 05-30Voltaire [Francois-Marie Arouet]: French writer (Candide), dies at 42
- 06-07Johann Georg Zechner: Composer, dies at 62
- 06-12Philip Livingston: US Merchant (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 62
- 06-24Peter Burmannus Secundus [P Burman]: Dutch classicist, dies at 64
- 06-26Angelo Antonio Caroli: Composer, dies at 77
- 07-28Arvid Niclas Hopken: Composer, dies at 68
- 08-14Augustus Montague Toplady: Hymn writer (Rock of Ages)
- 08-28Jacob Wallenberg: Swedish writer / shipminister
- 09-23Balthazar Huydecoper: Translator / historian, dies at 83
- 11-09Giovanni Battista Piranesi: Italian etcher, dies at 58
- 11-26Jean-Noel Hamal: Composer, dies at 68
Events in year of 1779
- 01-23Charles Messier catalogs M56 (globular cluster in Lyra)
- 01-31Charles Messier adds M57 (Ring Nebula in Lyra) to his catalog
- 02-24George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes (Ind) from British
- 03-11US army Corps of Engineers established (1st time)
- 05-13War of Bavarian Succession ends
- 06-15General Anthony Wayne captures Stony Point, Bronx
- 06-16In support of the US, Spain declares war on England
- 06-16Vice-adm Hardy sails out of Isle of Wright against Spanish Armada
- 06-18French fleet occupies St. Vincent
- 06-20Battle of Stone Ferry
- 07-04French fleet occupies Grenada
- 07-15US troops under General A Wayne conquer Ft Stony Point, New York
- 09-27John Adams negotiates Revolutionary War peace terms with Britain
- 12-23Benedict Arnold court-martialed for improper conduct
- 12-31English fleet beat Dutch Merchant vessels
People born in year of 1779
- 01-05Stephen Decatur: United States -- Naval hero (War of 1812)
- 01-15Jean Coralli: Paris, France -- Ballet producer / choreographer
- 01-18Peter Roget: Thesaurus fame / inventor (slide rule, pocket chessboard)
- 01-22Stefano Pavesi: Composer
- 02-21Friedrich C von Savigny: German lawyer
- 02-22Joachim Nicolas Eggert: Composer
- 03-01Jacob Gottfried Weber: Composer
- 03-06Philipp Roth: Composer
- 03-13Oliver Shaw: Composer
- 03-15William Lamb: (Whig) Viscount Melbourne, British Prime Minister (1834, 1835-41)
- 03-21Alexis Garaude: Composer
- 03-28Angelo Maria Benincori: Composer
- 04-11Louise Reichardt: Composer
- 04-21William Knyvett: Composer
- 05-02John Galt: Scotland, United Kingdom -- Novelist (Ayrshire Legatees, Lawrie Todd)
- 05-25Henry M Baron de Kock: Dutch officer / politician
- 07-10Alois Basil Nikolaus Tomasini: Composer
- 07-20Ignaz Schuster: Composer
- 07-21Gottlob Wiedebein: Composer
- 08-07Carl Ritter: Cofounder of modern science of geography
- 08-17Franz de Paula Roser: Composer
- 09-08Johann Philipp Samuel Schmidt: Composer
- 09-08Mustafa IV: Sultan of Turkey (1807-08)
- 09-10Louis Alexandre Piccinni: Composer
- 09-18Joseph Story: Massachusetts, United States -- 19th Supreme Court Justice (1812-45)
- 10-10Antoine PFGdV Celles: Belgium -- French MP
- 11-04John W Pieneman: Historical painter (Battle at Waterloo)
- 11-05Washington Allston: US painter / author
- 11-06Michal Bogdanowicz: Composer
- 12-01Pyotr Ivanovich Turchaninov: Composer
People died in year of 1779
- 01-20John Burman: Dutch Botanist / director (botanical gardens), dies at 71
- 02-02Georg Philipp Kress: Composer, dies at 59
- 02-27Jan Nepveu: Dutch Governor-General of Suriname (1769-79), dies at 59
- 04-06Tommaso MFS Traetta: Italian opera Composer (Farnace), dies at 52
- 05-11John Heart: US farmer (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at about 68
- 06-29Anton R Mengs: German writer / neo-classic Painter Madrid, dies at 51
- 07-14George Ross: US judge / signer (Declaration of Independence), dies at 49
- 08-03Henry Kobell: Dutch Painter / cartoonist, dies at 27
- 09-02Onno Zwier van Hairs: Fries Poet (Agon), dies at 66
- 10-11Casimir Pulaski: General
- 10-28Raphael Weiss: Composer, dies at 66
- 11-10Joseph Hewes: US Merchant / signer (Declaration of Independence), dies at 49
- 11-13Thomas Chippendale: English furniture maker, dies at 61
- 12-15Manuel Jeronimo Romero de Avila: Composer, dies at 62
- 12-18Jan Punt: Engraver / illustrator / actor (Gideonschool), dies at 68
- 12-28Gennaro Manna: Composer, dies at 64