January 22 Spain cedes Falkland Islands to Britain February 16 Messier presents his original list of 45 M-objects to French Academy February 19 Messier adds M46-M49 to his catalog (galactic clusters in Puppis and Hydra and galaxy in Virgo) May 7 Samuel Hearne explores Copper Mine River of Canada July 12 James Cook sails Endeavour back to Downs England July 14 Mission San Antonio de Padua founded in California September 8 Mission San Gabriel Archangel forms in California September 26 Denis Diderot's "Le Fils Naturel," premieres in Paris November 4 Carlo Goldoni's "Le Bourru Bienfaisant," premieres in Paris November 16 West Indian Company and Amsterdam divide up Suriname
