May 10 Louis XVI ascends the throne of France

May 20 Britain gives Québec, Labrador & territory north of the Ohio

May 28 The first Continental Congress convenes (Virginia)

May 10 Louis XVI ascends to throne of France

May 23 Chestertown tea party occurs (tea dumped into Chester River)

Jan 30 Captain Cook reaches 71º 10' S, 1820 km from S pole (record)

Jan 11 Messier adds M51 (spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici) to his catalog

Feb 10 Andrew Becker demonstrates diving suit

Feb 22 English House of Lords rules authors do not have perpetual copyright

Apr 30 Pope Clement XIV proclaims a universal jubilee

Sep 05 The first Continental Congress of what would later become the USA, convenes in Philadelphia, PA.

Jun 01 British govt orders Port of Boston closed

Jun 13 Rhode Island becomes first colony to prohibit importation of slaves

Dec 18 Jews expelled from Prague, Bohemia and Moravia by Empress Maria Theresa

Dec 06 Austria becomes the first nation to introduce state education

Dec 13 First incident of the Revolution-400 attack Fort William and Mary, NH

Aug 01 Joseph Priestley isolates oxygen for the first time

Aug 01 Priestly discovers oxygen

Oct 26 The First Continental Congress adjourns in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Oct 14 First Continental Congress is first to declare colonial rights (Phila)

Jul 12 Citizens of Carlisle, Penn. pass a declaration of independence

Mar 07 British close port of Boston to all commerce

Mar 25 English Parliament passes Boston Port Bill

Mar 22 A collection of English nursery rhymes is published and includes Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.

Mar 28 Britain passes Coercive Act against Massachusetts

Mar 04 First sighting of Orion nebula