January 3 Danish national anthem "Kong Kristian...," 1st sung January 4 Snowstorm hit Washington's army at Morristown, New Jersey January 15 Continental Congress establishes court of appeals January 16 Battle at Cape St. Vincent: Admiral Rodney beats Spanish fleet March 1 Pennsylvania becomes 1st U.S. state to abolish slavery (for new-borns only) March 26 1st British Sunday newspaper appears (British Gazette and Sunday Monitor) May 2 William Herschel discovers 1st binary star, Xi Ursae Majoris May 4 American Academy of Arts and Science founded May 4 Charles Bunbury on Diomed wins 1st Epsom Derby May 5 2nd oldest learned society in U.S. (American Academy of Arts and Sciences) forms (Boston) May 12 British troops occupy Charleston, South Carolina May 12 Charleston, South Carolina falls to British (Revolutionary War) May 19 About midday, near-total darkness descends on much of New England to this day it's cause is still unexplained June 2 Anti Catholic demonstration attacks parliament in London June 7 Anti-Catholic riot in London, 100s die July 9 Denmark declares neutrality August 1 Sweden declares neutrality August 11 Barbados hurricane begins August 16 British decisively defeat Americans in Battle of Camden, SC August 22 Resolution, without Captain Cook, returns to England September 21 Benedict Arnold gives British Major Andre plans to West Point September 23 British Major John Andre reveals Benedict Arnold's plot to betray West Pt September 25 Benedict Arnold joins the British October 7 British defeated by American militia near Kings Mountain, SC October 10 Great Hurricane of 1780 kills 20,000 to 30,000 in Caribbean November 20 Britain declares war on Holland December 20 England declares war on Netherlands
