Events in year of 1785
- 01-01"Daily Universal Register" (Times of London) publishes 1st issue
- 01-071st balloon flight across English Channel (Blanchard & Jeffries)
- 01-11Continental Congress convenes in New York City
- 01-13John Walter publishes 1st issue of London Times
- 01-14Mozart completes "Dissonantenkwartet" (opus 10)
- 01-15Mozarts string quartet opus 10 premieres
- 01-20Samuel Ellis advertises to sell Oyster Island (Ellis Is), no takers
- 01-271st US state university chartered - Athens, Georgia
- 03-01Philadelphia Society for the Promotion of Agriculture organized
- 04-21Russian tsarina Catharina II ends noble privileges
- 05-09British inventor Joseph Bramah patents beer-pump handle
- 05-23Benjamin Franklin announces his invention of bifocals
- 07-06Congress resolves US currency named "dollar" andadopts decimal coinage
- 07-121st manned flight by gas balloon in the Netherlands
- 08-01Caroline Herschel becomes 1st woman discoverer of a comet
- 08-15French Cardinal De Rohan arrested
- 09-01Mozart publishes 6 string quartet opus 10 in Vienna
- 09-10Prussia signs trade agreement with US
- 09-28Napoleon Bonaparte (16) graduates from the military academy in Paris (42nd in a class of 51)
- 09-29Chasidic sect is excommunicated in Cracow Poland
- 11-10Netherlands and France signs treaty
- 11-17Church of England organizes in New England
People born in year of 1785
- 01-04Jacob Ludwig Carl Grimm: Germany -- Librarian (fairy tale collector)
- 01-23Carl A Agardh: Sweden -- Botanist / Bishop of Karlstad
- 02-15Claude Louis Marie Navier
- 02-21Karl A Varnhagen von Ense: German officer / author (Die Sterner)
- 03-06Karol Kazimierz Kurpinski: Composer
- 03-07Alessandro Manzoni: Italy -- Poet / Novelist (Betrothed)
- 03-19Pierre-Joseph-Guillaume Zimmermann: Composer
- 03-27Louis XVII Charles: King of France (1793-95)
- 04-01J H Ferdinand Olivier: German painter
- 04-04Bettina Brentano: Composer
- 04-04Bettina von Arnim: German writer (This Book Belongs to the King)
- 04-09Sibrand Acker Stratingh: Dutch Physician / chemist (electric car 1835)
- 04-19Alexandre Pierre Francois Boely: Composer
- 05-06Arvir A Afzelius: Swedish story teller
- 05-09James Pollard Espy: Pennsylvania, United States -- Meteorologist (Philosphy of Storms)
- 07-06William J Hooker: English Botanist / director (Kew Gardens)
- 07-20Mahmud II: Sultan of Turkey (1808-39) / Westernizer / Reformer
- 08-15Thomas De Quincey: England, United Kingdom -- Writer (Confessions of English Opium Eater)
- 08-19Seth Thomas: Pioneer in mass production of clocks
- 08-20Oliver Hazard Perry: US Naval hero ("We have met the enemy")
- 09-25George Frederic Pinto: Composer
- 09-28David Walker: Wilmington, North Carolina -- Abolitionist (Appeal to Colored Citizens)
- 10-15Jose Miguel Carrera: President of Chile (1811-14)
- 10-18Thomas Love Peacock: English author (Headlong Hall)
- 10-31George F Kersting: German painter
- 11-02Frederic Kalkbrenner: Composer
- 11-02Johann Leopold Fuchs: Composer
- 11-08Friedrich Wilhelm Michael Kalkbrenner: Composer
- 11-21William Beaumont: Surgeon (studied digestion)
- 11-23Joannes P Roothaan: 1st Dutch General of the Jesuits (1829-53)
People died in year of 1785
- 01-06Haym Salomon: Dies in Philadelphia at 44, helped finance the revolution
- 02-06Iman Willem Falck: Dutch Governor of Ceylon (1765-83), dies at 48
- 02-19Johann Christoph Richter: Composer, dies at 84
- 02-24Carlo Bonaparte: Corsican attorney, dies at 39
- 04-26Karl Siegmund von Seckendorff: Composer, dies at 40
- 04-30Frederick Philipse 3: Land owner (Bronx, Westch & Putnam), dies at 65
- 05-08Pietro Longhi: Painter
- 05-09Franz Xaver Schnitzer: Composer, dies at 44
- 05-10Etienne Joseph Floquet: Composer, dies at 36
- 05-15Karel Blazej Kopriva: Composer, dies at 29
- 05-23William Woollett: Engraver
- 06-05Gottfried August Homilius: Composer, dies at 71
- 06-06Johann Michael Demmler: Composer, dies at 36
- 06-25Pierre Talon: Composer, dies at 63
- 06-25Pieter Kintsius: VOC-supercarga / chief on Macau, dies at 53
- 06-27Egbert de Free Temminck: Amsterdam regent, dies at 84
- 07-13Stephen Hopkins: US judge / signer (Declaration of Independence), dies at 78
- 08-14John William Fletcher: Evangelist
- 08-17Jonathan Trumbull: US patriot
- 08-21Jean B Pigalle: French Sculptor (Child with Pigeon)
- 10-24Jean-Jacques Robson: Composer, dies at 64
- 10-30Gustaf P Creutz: Swedish diplomat / Poet (Daphne), dies at 54
- 11-19Bernard de Bury: Composer, dies at 65
- 11-28William Whipple: Merchant / judge / signer (Declaration of Independence), dies at 55
- 12-08Antonio Maria Mazzoni: Composer, dies at 68
- 12-29Johann Heinrich Rolle: Composer, dies at 69
Events in year of 1786
- 02-13Abraham Baldwin selected President of University of Georgia
- 02-24Charles Cornwallis appointed Governor-General of India
- 06-08Commercially made ice cream 1st advertised (Mr Hall, NYC)
- 07-291st newspaper published west of Alleghanies, Pittsburgh Gazette
- 08-02Utrechtse Vroedschap flees
- 08-08Congress adopts silver dollar and decimal system of money
- 08-08Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard are 1st to climb to top of Mont Blanc
- 09-05Montplaisir Ceramic factory opens in Schaarbeek Belgium
- 09-11Annapolis Convention to determine interstate commerce
- 09-26England and France sign trade agreement
- 10-20Harvard University organizes 1st astronomical expedition in US
People born in year of 1786
- 01-03Johann Christian Friedrich Schneider: Composer
- 01-08Nicholas Biddle: Made 2nd bank of US 1st effective central bank
- 01-26Benjamin Robert Haydon: Plymouth -- Painter (Waiting for The Times)
- 02-28D Francois J Arago: French astronomer / physicist / politician
- 03-25Giovanni B Amia: Italian astronomer / physicist / Botanist
- 04-04John Franklin: British explorer (Arctic)
- 04-07William Rufus DeVane King: (D) 13th VP (1853)
- 04-18Franz Xaver Schnyder von Wartensee: Composer
- 05-08Thomas Hancock: Founded British rubber industry
- 06-13Winfield Scott: Army General (Union) / presidential candidate
- 07-25Giacomo Cordella: Composer
- 08-01Louis C Luzac: Judge / Dutch Internal minister
- 08-25[Charles] Louis I [Augustus]: King of Bavaria (Lola Montez)
- 09-11Friedrich Kuhlau: Composer
- 09-18Justinus AC Kerner: German family doctor / poet / writer
- 09-27Jose Mariano Elizaga: Composer
- 11-07Francisco Andrevi y Castellar: Composer
- 11-10Carl Eberwein: Composer
- 11-18Henry Rowley Bishop: British composer / conductor
- 12-05Henry Drummond: English banker / apostole
- 12-18Carl Maria von Weber: Germany -- Romantic composer (Der Freischutz)
- 12-20Pietro Raimondi: Composer
People died in year of 1786
- 01-04Mozes Mendelssohn: Jewish / German philosopher (Haksalah), dies at 56
- 02-20Johann Wolfgang Kleinknecht: Composer, dies at 70
- 03-07Frantisek Benda: Composer, dies at 76
- 03-11Jacobus Bellamy [Zelandus]: Dutch / Swiss poet, dies at 28
- 03-23Patience Wright: 1st US woman pro artist
- 04-20John Goodricke: English deaf and dumb astronomer, dies at 21
- 04-23Alexander Cozens: English water colors painter, dies at about 68
- 05-05Pedro III: King of Portugal
- 05-19John Stanley: Composer, dies at 74
- 05-21Carl W Scheele: Swedish pharmacist / chemist, dies at 43
- 07-22Vaclav Kalous: Composer, dies at 71
- 07-29Franz Asplmayr: Composer, dies at 58
- 08-07Friedrich Schwindl: Composer, dies at 49
- 08-16Henri-Jacques de Croes: Flemish Composer / bandmaster, dies at 80
- 08-17Frederik II: King of Prussia (1740-86) / composer, dies at 74
- 10-02August Keppel: 1st viscount / naval commander / politican
- 10-06Antonio Maria Gasparo Giaccino Sacchini: Composer, dies at 56
- 10-19Pietro Alessandro Pavona: Composer, dies at 58
Events in year of 1787
- 01-11Titania and Oberon, moons of Uranus, discovered by William Herschel
- 02-041st Anglican bishops of New York and Pennsylvania consecrated in London
- 02-18Austrian Emperor Jozef II bans children under 8 from labor
- 04-161st American comedy, "The Contrast, " made its debut in New York City
- 05-061st Black Masonic Lodge (African # 459) forms Prince Hall, Boston
- 05-10Parliament impeaches Warren Hastings
- 05-13Arthur Phillip sets sails with 11 ships of criminals to Botany Bay
- 05-14Delegates gather in Philadelphia to draw up US constitution
- 05-17English slave ship Sisters, from Africa to Cuba, capsizes
- 05-25Constitutional convention opens at Philadelphia, G Washington presiding
- 05-29"Virginia Plan" proposed
- 06-12Law passes providing a senator must be at least 30 years old
- 07-02De Sade shouts from Bastille that prisoners are being slaughtered
- 07-06French government proclaims end to stamp / land tax
- 07-06Orange troops occupy Area at Duurstede
- 07-13Congress establishes Northwest Territory (excludes slavery)
- 07-13Ord of 1787-a territory can become 3 to 5 states at 60,000 pop
- 07-15Parliament of Paris banished to Troyes
- 08-02Horace the Saussure reaches top of Mont Blanc
- 08-06Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia begans debate
- 08-10Mozart completes his "Eine small Nachtmusik"
- 08-10Turkey declares war on Russia
- 08-17Jews are granted permission in Budapest Hungary to pray in groups
- 08-19W Herschel discovers Enceladus, a moon of Saturn
- 08-24Wolfgang A Mozart completes his viola sonata in A, K526
- 09-12Black Masons form 1st lodge
- 09-13Prussian army moves into Netherlands
- 09-17Prussian troops conquer Gorinchem
- 09-17US constitution adopted by Philadelphia convention
- 09-20Prince Willem V returns to Hague
People born in year of 1787
- 01-08Johann Ludwig Bohner: Composer
- 02-13James P Carrell: Composer
- 02-16Andreas Schelfhout: Dutch painter / etcher / lithographer
- 02-23Emma Willard: United States -- Opens school for young ladies (Hall of Fame)
- 03-08Karl Ferdinand von Grafe: Help create modern plastic surgery
- 03-10William Etty: English painter (nudes)
- 04-26Ludwig Uhland: Writer
- 06-28Henry G W Smith: Leader of British-Indian forces
- 08-15Alexander Aliabiev: Composer
- 08-24James Weddell: Ostend, England -- Antarctic explorer (Weddell Sea)
- 09-01John Bake: Classical composer
- 09-10John Jordan Crittenden: MC (Union), died in 1863
- 09-18Johann D Passavant: German historian / painter / graphic artist
- 10-04Francois P G Guizot: French historian / politician
- 10-30Karl Guhr: Composer
- 11-17Michele Carafa: Composer
- 11-18Sojourner Truth: Abolitionist / feminist
- 11-21Samuel Cunard: Founder (1st regular Atlantic steamship line)
- 11-25Franz Xavier Gruber: Austria -- Organist / composer (Silent Night)
- 11-27Christian Rummel: Composer
- 11-27Jacob Earl van Rechteren van Appeltern: Governor of Gelderland
- 12-01Pavel Ivanovich Dulgorukov: Composer
- 12-10Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- Pioneer of educating the deaf
- 12-15Charles Cowden Clarke: English editor / Shakespearean critic
- 12-22Rasmus Rask: Denmark -- Language Scholar
- 12-28Hermanus J Abbring: Dutch writer / engineer on Curacao
People died in year of 1787
- 01-01Arthur Middleton: US farmer (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 44
- 02-12Ruggiero Boscovich: Ital physicist / astronomer / philosopher, dies at 75
- 03-02Jean SOME Allamand: French Theologist / natural philosopher, dies at 73
- 03-11Maximilian JLP Gardel: French ballet dancer / choreographer, dies at 45
- 05-13Johann Michael Malzat: Composer, dies at 38
- 05-28Johann Georg Leopold Mozart: Austrian composer, dies at 67
- 06-19John Brown: Theologist
- 06-20Carl Friedrich Abel: German / British viola player / composer, dies at 63
- 07-04Charles: Prince de Rohan-Soubise, marshal of France, dies at 71
- 10-05Thomas Stone: US attorney / signer (Dec of Ind), dies at about 44
- 10-30Ferdinando Galiani: Italian economist / philosopher / diplomat, dies at 58
- 11-23Anton Schweitzer: Composer, dies at 52