January 3 Washington defeats British at Battle of Princeton, New Jersey January 12 Mission Santa Clara de Asis founded in California January 15 People of New Connecticut, Vermont, declare independence from England January 16 Vermont declares independence from NY January 18 San Jose, California, founded February 5 Georgia becomes 1st U.S. state to abolish both entail and primogeniture February 13 de Sade arrested without charge, imprisoned in Vincennes fortress February 16 Messier adds M53 to his catalog (globular cluster in Coma Berenice) February 21 English ambassador Joseph Yorke demands dismissal of Governor John de Graaff for saluting U.S. flag April 14 New York adopts new constitution as an independent state April 16 Battle of Bennington-New England's Green Mountain Boys rout Brits April 20 New York adopts new constitution as an independent state April 26 Sybil Ludington, 16, rode from New York to Ct rallying her fathers militia May 1 RB Sheridans "School for Scandal," premieres in London May 12 1st ice cream advertisement (Philip Lenzi-NY Gazette) May 13 University library at Vienna opens June 13 Leonard Norcross patents a submarine diving suit June 13 Marquis de Lafayette lands in US June 14 Continental Congress adopts Stars and Stripes replacing Grand Union flag July 2 Vermont becomes 1st American colony to abolish slavery July 6 British General Burgoyne captures Fort Ticonderoga from Americans July 8 Vermont becomes 1st state abolishing slavery, adopts male suffrage July 31 Marquis de Lafayette, 19, made major-general of Continental Army August 4 Retired British cavalry officer Philip Astley establishes 1st circus August 16 Americans defeat British in Battle of Bennington, Vt September 11 Battle of Brandywine, Pa; Americans lose to British September 19 Battle of Freeman's Farm (Bemis Heights) or 1st Battle of Saratoga September 20 Paoli massacre September 25 English general William Howe conquers Philadelphia September 26 British troops occupy Philadelphia during American Revolution September 27 Battle of Germantown; Washington defeated by British September 27 English General William Howe occupies Philadelphia September 30 Congress, flees to York Pa, as British forces advance October 4 Battle of Germantown October 4 General George Washington's troops attacked British at Germantown, Pennsylvania October 5 Washington begins assault on Germantown, Penn October 6 Battle of Germantown; Washington defeated by British October 7 Americans beat Brits in 2nd Battle of Saratoga and Battle of Bemis Hts October 15 Major James Graves Simcoe appointed commandant of Queen's Rangers October 17 British General John Burgoyne surrenders at Saratoga NY November 15 Articles of Confederation adopted by Continental Congress December 2 British General Howe plots attack on Washington's army for Dec 4 December 8 Captain Cook leaves Society Islands December 17 France recognizes independence of English colonies in America December 17 ,George Washingtons army returns to Valley Forge Pennsylvania December 18 1st national Thanksgiving Day, commemorating Burgoyne's surrender December 19 Washington settles his troops at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania for winter
