Explore 387 historical events from 1790–1799.
Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Po…
The District of Columbia is established as the capital of the United States after signature of the Residence Act.
A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time, in exch…
The first U.S. patent is issued, to inventor Samuel Hopkins for a potash process.
A tariff, or import tax, is a duty imposed by a national government, customs territory, or supranational union on imports of goods and is paid by the importer. Exceptionally, an ex…
A newly passed tariff act creates the Revenue Cutter Service (the forerunner of the United States Coast Guard).
William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, styled Marquess of Hartington until 1811, was an English peer, courtier and Whig politician. Known as the "Bachelor Duke",…
William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire, English politician, Lord Chamberlain of the Household (died 1858)
Jules Sébastien César Dumont d'Urville was a French explorer and naval officer who explored the south and western Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. As a botanist and …
Jules Dumont d'Urville, French admiral and explorer (died 1842)
James Pradier was a Genevan-born French sculptor best known for his work in the neoclassical style.
James Pradier, French neoclassical sculptor (died 1852)
Ferdinand Raimund was an Austrian actor and playwright.
Ferdinand Raimund, Austrian actor and playwright (died 1836)
José Antonio Páez Herrera was a Venezuelan politician and military officer who served as the president of Venezuela three times. The first as the 5th president from 1830 to 1835, t…
José Antonio Páez, Venezuelan general and politician, President of Venezuela (died 1873)
Charles-Amédée Kohler was a Swiss chocolatier and entrepreneur who founded Chocolat Kohler. He notably invented hazelnut chocolate, in his factory opened in 1830 in Lausanne. After…
Charles-Amédée Kohler, Swiss chocolatier (died 1874)
Sir George Everest was a British surveyor and geographer who served as Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843.
George Everest, Welsh geographer and surveyor (died 1866)
Ferenc Kölcsey was a Hungarian poet, literary critic, orator, and politician, noted for his support of the liberal current in Hungary regarding the politics involving the Austrian …
Ferenc Kölcsey, Hungarian poet, critic, and politician (died 1838)
William Charles Wentworth was an Australian statesman, author, explorer, lawyer, newspaper editor and pastoralist, who became one of the wealthiest and most powerful figures in col…
William Wentworth, Australian journalist, explorer, and politician (died 1872)
Benjamin Franklin was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and political philosopher. Among the most influential intellectua…
Benjamin Franklin, American inventor, publisher, and politician, 6th President of Pennsylvania (born 1706)
Matthew Tilghman was an American planter, and Revolutionary leader from Maryland. He served as a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1774 to 1776, where he signed the 1774 Co…
Matthew Tilghman, American politician (born 1718)
William Clingan was a Founding Father of the United States, lawyer, and jurist. As a delegate in the Continental Congress for Pennsylvania from 1777 to 1779, he signed the Articles…
William Clingan, American politician (born 1721)
Philip Yorke, 2nd Earl of Hardwicke, PC, FRS, styled Viscount Royston between 1754 and 1764, was a British politician and writer.
Philip Yorke, 2nd Earl of Hardwicke, English politician, Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire (born 1720)
Thomas Warton was an English literary historian, critic, and poet. He was appointed Poet Laureate in 1785, following the death of William Whitehead.
Thomas Warton, English poet and critic (born 1728)
Israel Putnam, popularly known as "Old Put", was an American military officer and landowner who served in the French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War. He was an office…
Israel Putnam, American general (born 1718)
Jean-Baptiste Louis Romé de l'Isle was a French mineralogist, considered one of the creators of modern crystallography.
Jean-Baptiste L. Romé de l'Isle, French geologist and mineralogist (born 1736)
François Hemsterhuis was a Dutch writer on aesthetics and moral philosophy.
François Hemsterhuis, Dutch philosopher and author (born 1721)
Ernst Gideon von Laudon, since 1759 Freiherr von Laudon, was an Austrian military officer of Baltic German descent and one of the most successful opponents of the Prussian king Fre…
Ernst Gideon von Laudon, Austrian field marshal (born 1717)
Johann Bernhard Basedow was a German educational reformer, teacher and writer. He founded the Philanthropinum, a short-lived but influential progressive school in Dessau, and was t…
Johann Bernhard Basedow, German educator and reformer (born 1723)
The Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790 was fought between Sweden and Russia from June 1788 to August 1790. The war was ended by the Treaty of Värälä on 14 August 1790 and took place co…
Russo-Swedish War: During the Battle of Svensksund in the Baltic Sea, the Swedish Navy captured a third of the Russian…
Adam Smith was a Scottish economist and philosopher who was a pioneer in the field of political economy and key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. Seen by many as the "fathe…
Adam Smith, Scottish economist and philosopher (born 1723)