On This Day

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What Happened in October 1781

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Historical Events

Surrender at Yorktown

Oct 9 Americans under George Washington and the French under Comte de Rochambeau begin bombardment of Yorktown, the last battle of American Revolutionary War

'Surrender of Lord Cornwallis' by John Trumbull depicting the British surrender which ended the American Revolutionary War

Victory in Battle

Oct 19 British forces under General Charles Cornwallis sign terms of surrender to George Washington and Comte de Rochambeau at Yorktown at 2 pm, ending the US Revolutionary War

General and Colonial Administrator Charles Cornwallis
Military Leader Comte de Rochambeau
First US President George Washington
  • Oct 19 Edict of Toleration issued by Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II, providing limited freedom of worship for non-Roman Catholic Christians
Events in 1781

Famous Birthdays

  • Oct 1 James Lawrence, American naval hero (War of 1812-"Don't give up the ship!"), born in Burlington, New Jersey (d. 1813)
  • Oct 5 Bernard Bolzano, Czech mathematician and philosopher, born in Prague, Bohemia (d. 1848)
Born in 1781

Famous Deaths

  • Oct 9 Thomas Erskine, 6th earl of Kellie, Scottish composer and musician, dies at 49
  • Oct 16 Edward Hawke, 1st Baron Hawke, British naval officer (b. 1705)
  • Oct 27 Herman-François Delange, Belgian composer, dies at 66


What Happened in 1781

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