January 7 1st U.S. commercial bank, Bank of North America, opens in Philadelphia February 4 British garrison surrenders to French and Spanish fleet February 5 Spanish take Minorca (western Mediterranean) from English February 13 French fleet occupies St. Christopher February 21 U.S. congress resolves establishment of a U.S. mint March 8 Gnadenhutten Massacre - Ohio militia kills 90 indians April 12 Battle at Les Saintes West-Indies: British fleet beats French April 19 Netherlands recognizes U.S. June 20 Congress approves Great Seal of U.S. and eagle as it's symbol July 6 British-French sea battle at Negapatam (South-Indies) July 16 Mozart's opera "Das Entfuhrung aus dem Serail," premieres in Vienna August 2 George Washington creates Honorary Badge of Distinction August 7 George Washington creates Order of Purple Heart August 14 Suriname forbids selling slave mothers without their babies September 16 Great Seal of U.S. used for 1st time November 30 Britain signs agreement recognizing U.S. independence December 14 Charleston, South Carolina evacuated by British December 29 1st nautical almanac in U.S. published by Samuel Stearns, Boston
