January 2 Mozart's opera "Cosi fan tutti" premieres, Vienna January 4 President Washington delivers 1st State of the Union address January 8 George Washington delivers 1st state of union address January 11 Statisten and Vonckisten unite as Belgium January 26 Mozart's opera "Cosi Fan Tutte" premieres in Vienna January 30 Lifeboat 1st tested at sea, by Mr. Greathead, the inventor February 1 Supreme Court convenes for 1st time (New York City) February 11 Society of Friends petitions Congress for abolition of slavery March 1 1st U.S. census authorized March 13 John Martin, 1st American-born actor, performs in Philadelphia March 21 Thomas Jefferson reports to President Washington in New York as Secretary of State March 22 Thomas Jefferson becomes the 1st U.S. Secretary of State March 26 Congress passes Naturalization Act, requires 2-year residency March 27 The shoelace invented April 3 Revenue Marine Service, U.S. Coast Guard, created April 10 Robert Gray is 1st American to circumnavigate the Earth April 10 U.S. Patent system forms April 30 Colonial troops occupy Bonni's marroon village May 26 Territory South of River Ohio created by Congress May 29 Rhode Is becomes last of original 13 colonies ratifying Constitution May 31 U.S. copyright law enacted June 9 1st book copyrighted under constitution, "Philadelphia Spelling Book" July 16 Congress establishes District of Columbia July 26 U.S. passes Assumption bill making U.S. responsible for state debts July 31 1st U.S. patent granted, to Samuel Hopkins for a potash process August 1 1st U.S. census, population of 3,939,214 August 4 U.S. Coast Guard founded as Revenue Cutter Service August 9 Columbia returns to Boston after 3 year journey, 1st ship to carry U.S. flag around the world August 10 Robert Gray's Columbia, completes 1st American around world voyage August 14 Sweden and Russia sign Peace of Verela October 28 New York gives up claims to Vermont for $30,000 November 11 Chrysanthemums are introduced into England from China December 2 Austrian army occupies Brussels December 6 Congress meets in Philadelphia, new temporary U.S. capital December 17 Aztec calendar stone discovered in Mexico City December 20 1st successful U.S. cotton mill to spin yarn (Pawtucket, RI) December 22 Russian troops occupy Ismail on Turks
