Born in 1778:
Died in 1778:
Events of 1778:
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War of American Independence:
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Political activity
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The United States and France conclude two important treaties:
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(February 6) A Treaty of Amity and Commerce
which stated that any "favor" either country granted to a third country
would immediately be granted to the other. The phrase "Nations
most favoured" actually appears in the text.
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(May 4) A Treaty of Alliance which states that
if France enters a state of war with Great Britain1, it and
the US will act in concert.
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(March 13) French diplomats inform King George III that France recognizes
the United States.
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Fighting
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(February 23) Baron von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge and begins
training troops there.
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General William Howe resigns his command. Great Britain decides to change
its strategy in the war; focusing on the South where there are more Loyalists.
General Henry Clinton replaces General Howe as commander of British
forces
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(May-June) Clinton moves the British army from Philadelphia to New York.
New Jersey militia harass them all the way.
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(June 28) the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse doesn't accomplish much,
but Washington's forces aren't routed,
so that's something.
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(July 3) The Battle of Wyoming Valley along the Susquehanna River.
Americans and Oneida and Tuscarora Indians are massacred by Loyalists,
Seneca, Onandaga, and other Iroquois. Colonel John Butler is driven
from Kingston, Pennsylvania.
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(July 4) George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes, Cahokia, and Kaskaskia, now in Illinois. (The fort
that Clark built for this campaign eventially grew into the city of Louisville, Kentucky.
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(July-August) the French fleet under the Comte d'Estang and American
general John Sullivan attempt to drive the British out of Newport,
Rhode Island. The attack is unsuccesful; however, the British scuttle
several ships, among them the prison ship Lord Sandwich.
This was the same ship, then named Endeavour, which James Cook had used to circumnagivate the globe on his first voyage.
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(August 31) a company of Stockbridge Mohican indians are massacred
in the Bronx by grenadiers under Colonel Simcoe and cavalry under Colonel
Banastre Tarleton.
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(November-December) General Clinton sends a force of 3,000 men by sea from
New York to invade Souh Carolina and Georgia.
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(September 8) The French capture the Carribean island Dominica from
the British.
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(Decembr 18) The British capture the Carribean island St. Lucia from
the French.
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Austrian troops march into southern Bavaria to enforce the claims granted
in a secret treaty a year earlier. King Frederick
of Prussia objects. This is the closest thing to fighting that happened
in the War of Bavarian Succession.
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Spain enacts a Free Trade Act which opens its American ports.
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Captain James Cook's third voyage:
1This wasn't too terribly hard to arrange.
1777 - 1778 - 1779