| February 11 | Samuel Adams letter, circulates around American colonies, opposing Townshend Act taxes |
| February 15 | 1st mustard manufactured in America advertised, Philadelphia |
| February 20 | 1st American chartered fire insurance company opens (Penn) |
| April 5 | 1st U.S. Chamber of Commerce forms (New York City) |
| June 21 | 1st U.S. bachelor of medicine degree, Dr. John Archer |
| July 7 | Firm of Johann Buddenbrook founded, in Thomas Mann's novel |
| July 18 | Boston Gazette publishes "Liberty Song," America's 1st patriotic song |
| August 25 | Captain James Cook departs from Plymouth with Endeavour to Pacific Ocean |
| October 1 | English troops under general Gauge lands in Boston |
| October 30 | 1st Methodist church in U.S. initiated (Wesley Chapel, New York City) |
| December 6 | 1st edition of "Encyclopedia Brittanica" published (Scotland) |
