1776 in Great Britain
Events from the year 1776 in Great Britain.
Incumbents
Events
- 10 January – American Revolution: The radical Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet Common Sense "written by an Englishman" in Philadelphia arguing for independence from British rule in the Thirteen Colonies.[1]
- 27 February - American Revolution: At the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, Scottish American Loyalists are defeated by North Carolina Patriots.[2]
- 2–3 March - American Revolution:
- 9 March - Economist Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations.
- 17 March - American Revolution: British forces evacuate Boston, Massachusetts,[2] after George Washington commands the placement of artillery overlooking the city at Dorchester Heights.
- 4 May - American Revolution: Rhode Island becomes the first American colony to renounce allegiance to George III.
- 15–26 May - American Revolution: Battle of The Cedars: British forces skirmish with the American Continental Army around Les Cèdres, Quebec.
- 8 June - American Revolution: Battle of Trois-Rivières: The invading American Continental Army is driven back at Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
- 29 June - American Revolution: Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet: The American Continental Navy successfully challenges the Royal Navy blockade off New Jersey.
- 4 July - American Revolution: United States Declaration of Independence: The Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia ratifies the declaration by the United States of its independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.[3]
- 12 July - Captain James Cook sets off from Plymouth in HMS Resolution on his third voyage, to the Pacific Ocean and Arctic, which will be fatal.
- 27 August - American Revolution: At the Battle of Long Island Washington's troops are routed in Brooklyn by British under William Howe.[2]
- 11 September - American Revolution: abortive peace conference between British and Americans on Staten Island.[2]
- 15 September - American Revolution: Landing at Kip's Bay: British troops land on Manhattan at Kips Bay.[2]
- 16 September - American Revolution: Battle of Harlem Heights: The Continental Army under Washington are victorious against the British on Manhattan.
- 24 September - First running of the St. Leger Stakes horse race[3] (not yet named), first of the British Classic Races, devised by Anthony St Leger, on Cantley Common at Doncaster. The winner is a filly (later named Allabaculia) owned by the organiser, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham.
- 11 October - American Revolution: 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 defense of Lake Champlain prevents a further British advance toward Albany, New York.
- 18 October - American Revolution: Battle of Pell's Point: Troops of the American Continental Army resist a British and Hessian force in The Bronx.
- 28 October - American Revolution: Battle of White Plains: British forces arrive at White Plains, attack and capture Chatterton Hill from the Continental Army.[2]
- 19 November - American Revolution: Fort Lee, New Jersey, is captured by the British forces.[2]
- 26 December - American Revolution: The Continental Army led by Washington defeats a Hessian brigade at the Battle of Trenton.[2]
Undated
Publications
Births
- 10 January - George Birkbeck, doctor, academic and philanthropist (died 1841)
- 16 January - Richard Onslow, archdeacon (died 1849)
- 17 January (baptism date) - Jane Porter, novelist (died 1850)
- 23 January - Howard Douglas, army general (died 1861)
- 12 February - Richard Mant, writer and cleric (died 1848)
- 16 February - Abraham Raimbach, engraver (died 1843)
- 23 February
- 25 February - George William Tighe, expatriate (died 1837)
- 9 March - Thomas Evans, army general (died 1863)
- 12 March - Lady Hester Stanhope, archaeologist (died 1839)
- 20 March - Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Grenville, 1st Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, politician (died 1839)
- 23 March - Robert Eden Duncombe Shafto, politician (died 1848)
- 11 April - Macvey Napier, lawyer and encyclopedia editor (died 1847)
- 12 April - Henry Hobhouse, archivist (died 1854)
- 20 April
- 25 April
- 28 April - Charles Bennet, 5th Earl of Tankerville, politician (died 1859)
- 6 May - Stephen Rumbold Lushington, politician and administrator in British India (died 1868)
- 8 May - Edward Leveson-Gower, admiral (died 1853)
- 10 May - George Thomas Smart, musician (died 1867)
- 8 June - Thomas Rickman, architect and architectural antiquary (died 1841)
- 11 June - John Constable, landscape painter (died 1837)
- 21 June
- 28 June - Charles Mathews, actor (died 1835)
- 3 July - Henry Parnell, 1st Baron Congleton, Anglo-Irish politician (died 1842)
- 18 July - John Struthers, Scottish poet (died 1853)
- 22 July - Etheldred Benett, geologist (died 1845)
- 30 July - Sir Edward Kerrison, 1st Baronet, army general (died 1853)
- 2 August - Thomas Assheton Smith II, landowner and sportsman (died 1858)
- 12 August - David Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine, politician (died 1855)
- 18 August
- 25 August - Thomas Bladen Capel, admiral (died 1853)
- 11 September - Thomas Arbuthnot, army general (died 1849)
- 18 September - Thomas Gleadowe-Newcomen, 2nd Viscount Newcomen, politician (died 1825)
- 21 September - John Fitchett, epic poet (died 1838)
- 6 October
- 13 October
- 14 October - Robert Townsend Farquhar, colonial administrator (died 1830)
- 20 October - John Rolls of The Hendre, judge (died 1837)
- 22 October - Edward Draper, army officer and colonial administrator (died 1841)
- 7 November - James Abercromby, 1st Baron Dunfermline, politician (died 1858)
- 10 November - Henry Seymour (Knoyle), politician (died 1849)
- 15 November - Aaron Manby, ironmaster and civil engineer (died 1850)
- 16 November - Mary Matilda Betham, diarist, scholar and poet (died 1852)
- 30 November - Bartholomew Frere, diplomat (died 1851)
- 12 December - Nicholas Conyngham Tindal, lawyer and politician (died 1846)
- 19 December - Lord Edward Somerset, army general (died 1842)
Deaths
References
Further reading
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1776 in Great Britain: