1776 in Great Britain

Events from the year 1776 in the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Incumbents

*Monarch - George III of the United Kingdom
*Prime Minister - Frederick North, Lord North, Tory

Events

* 27 February - American Revolution: At the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge, Scottish Loyalists are defeated by North Carolina Patriots.cite book|last=Williams|first=Hywel|title=Cassell's Chronology of World History|publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson|year=2005|isbn=0-304-35730-8|pages=330–331]
* 2 March–3 March - American Revolution: Battle of Nassau.
* 2 March–3 March - American Revolution: Battle of the Rice Boats.
* 9 March - Economist Adam Smith publishes "The Wealth of Nations".
* 17 March - American Revolution: British forces evacuate Boston, Massachusetts after George Washington commands the placement of artillery overlooking the city at Dorchester Heights.
* 15 May–26 May - American Revolution: Battle of the Cedars.
* 8 June - American Revolution: Battle of Trois-Rivières: American invaders are driven back at Trois-Rivières, Quebec.
* 4 July - American Revolution: the United States officially declares independence from the British Empire with the United States Declaration of Independence.cite book|title=Penguin Pocket On This Day|publisher=Penguin Reference Library|isbn=0-141-02715-0|year=2006]
* 12 July - Captain James Cook sets off from Plymouth on his third, and fatal, expedition to the Pacific Ocean.
* 27 August - American Revolution: At the Battle of Long Island Washington's troops are routed in Brooklyn by British under William Howe.
* 11 September - American Revolution: abortive peace conference between British and Americans on Staten Island.
* 15 September - American Revolution: British land on Manhattan at Kip's Bay.
* 16 September - American Revolution: Battle of Harlem Heights is fought.
* 24 September - First running of the St. Leger Stakes horse race.
* 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 two day-long battle will give Patriot forces enough time to prepare defenses of New York City.
* 18 October - American Revolution: Battle of Pell's Point.
* 28 October - American Revolution: Battle of White Plains: British forces arrive at White Plains, attack and capture Chatterton Hill from the Americans.
* 19 November - American Revolution: Battle of Fort Lee sees the capture of Fort Lee, New Jersey by the British forces.
* 26 December - American Revolution: The Continental Army led by Washington defeats a Hessian brigade at the Battle of Trenton.

Undated

* Member of Parliament David Hartley unsuccessfully introduces a motion to the House of Commons calling for the abolition of slavery.

Publications

* The first volume of Edward Gibbon's "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire".
* Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations".

Births

* 10 January - George Birkbeck, doctor, academic and philanthropist (died 1841)
* 17 January (baptism date) - Jane Porter, novelist (died 1850)
* 11 April - Macvey Napier, lawyer and encyclopedia editor (died 1847)
* 11 June - John Constable, painter (died 1837)

Deaths

* 2 February - Francis Hayman, painter and illustrator (born 1708)
* 24 March - John Harrison, clockmaker (born 1693)
* 29 April - Edward Wortley Montagu, traveller and writer (born 1713)
* 20 June - Benjamin Huntsman, inventor and manufacturer (born 1704)
* 7 July - Jeremiah Markland, classical scholar (born 1693)
* 25 August - David Hume, philosopher (born 1711)
* 17 November - James Ferguson, astronomer (born 1710)

References

ee also