1770s in South Africa

Events

The Dutch East India Company institutes a policy in the Cape Colony which dictated that schools should teach exclusively in Dutch and strict laws of assembly
Clashes between Trekboers and Xhosa begin as trekkers cross the Gamtoos River in the east
12 August Baron Joachim van Plettenberg, is appointed acting Governor of the Cape Colony after the death of Ryk Tulbagh

A commando mounted against the San tribes kill 503 and capture 241 San
18 May Joachim Ammema, Baron van Plettenberg, is appointed to the full post of Governor of the Cape

England's revolting colonies declare themselves the independent United States of America

The Cape Colony boundary is extended to Buffels, Zak and Fish Rivers
Hendrik Jacob Wikar and Robert Jacob Gordon meet Khoikhoi, Geisiqua and Tswana tribes along lower and middle Gariep which Gordon names Orange River in honour of the Netherlands Stadtholder
6 February - France formally recognises the United States as a nation by signing a treaty of Friendship and Trade. An undeclared war with Britain soon erupted
27 July - French and British navies clash just off the coast of France
30 December - Britain captures the port of St. Lucia in the Caribbean Sea
British forces capture Pondicherry in the Bay of Bengal from the French, later recaptured
The Dutch port of St Eustatius in the West Indies became the world's busiest port handling the majority of supplies and arms bound for the United States

Xhosas moving south clash with the settlers at the Fish River starting the first of nine Cape Frontier Wars
12 April - Spain joins with France and America in the war against Britain

1 May 1772 - Sir Gilbraith Lowry Cole, Governor of the Cape Colony, is born
14 April 1775 - John Philip, a London Missionary Society's missionary to South Africa, is born at Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland

See Years in South Africa for list of References