On This Day

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What Happened in December 1777

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Historical Events

  • Dec 2 British General Howe plots attack on Washington's army for Dec 4

Cooks Leaves Society Islands

Dec 8 Captain James Cook leaves the Society Islands

Explorer James Cook
  • Dec 16 Virginia becomes 1st state to ratify Articles of Confederation (US 1st constitution)
  • Dec 17 France recognizes independence of British colonies in America
  • Dec 17 George Washington's army returns to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
  • Dec 18 1st US national Thanksgiving Day, commemorating British General Burgoyne's surrender
  • Dec 19 Washington settles his troops at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania for the winter
  • Dec 24 James Cook is first European to visit Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island
Events in 1777

Famous Birthdays

  • Dec 2 Henry Doeff, Dutch trader in Japan and translator (wrote Dutch-Japanese dictionary) (d. 1835)
  • Dec 4 Juliette Récamier, French socialite, born in Lyon, Kingdom of France (d. 1849)
  • Dec 14 Juan Nicasio Gallego, Spanish poet and interpreter (El dos the mayo), born in Zamora, Spain (d. 1853)

Alexander I (1777-1825)

Dec 23 Tsar of Russia (1801-25), born in Saint Petersburg, Russia

Alexander I

Born in 1777

Famous Deaths

  • Dec 12 Albrecht von Haller, Swiss experimental physiologist, biologist and author (Acadamy of Science), dies at 69
  • Dec 12 Reverend Benjamin Russen, executed at Tyburn England for rape
  • Dec 30 Maximilian III Joseph, Elector of Bayern (1745-77), dies at 50


What Happened in 1777

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