1781 in History

Breaks with Archbishop Colloredo and becomes a freelance musician in Vienna.

The National Congress renames itself "The United States in Congress Assembled"

The National Congress renames itself "The United States in Congress Assembled"

Discovers Uranus using a home made telescope from his back garden in Bath

Louis XVI dismisses his Finance Minister, Neckar

Idomeneo premieres in Munich.

The National Congress renames itself "The United States in Congress Assembled"

Issues toleration reforms affecting Bohemian lands.

Joins Rodney in his flagship Barfleur, and remains in the West Indies or on the coast of North America until the close of the War of American Independence

Allows monasteries to re-open but weakens their links with Rome

Cornwallis's army is removed from the field, effectively ending major fighting in the American War of Independence.

The capitulation at Yorktown ends major combat and confirms the collapse of Britain's southern campaign.

Defeats the British enabling 16,000 Continental & Allied troops to besiege Yorktown

Surrenders 7,000 soldiers ending the American Revolution & the War of Independence

Lord Cornwallis surrenders with 7,000 men marking the end of fighting in the war

Birth of Eugene de Beauharnais

Birth of George Stephenson

Hood joins Admiral Thomas Graves in the unsuccessful effort to relieve the army at Yorktown, when the British fleet is driven off by the French Admiral, the Comte de Grasse, at the Battle of the Chesapeake

Defeats the British enabling 16,000 Continental & Allied troops to besiege Yorktown

Lands a French Fleet in Chesapeake Bay

A major defeat for the British, since it prevented the Royal Navy from reinforcing or evacuating the blockaded forces of General Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, as a result, Cornwallis surrendered his army after the Siege of Yorktown

Crucial naval Battle near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay between a British fleet led by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves and a French fleet led by Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse.

On 13 September de Grasse broke away from the British and returned to the Chesapeake, where de Barras had arrived, Graves returned to New York to organize a larger relief effort; this did not sail until 19 October, two days after Cornwallis surrendered.

Defeats the British fleet in the Battle of the Chesapeake, draws away the British forces and blockades the coast until Lord Cornwallis surrenders, ensuring the independence of the United States of America

A major defeat for the British, since it prevented the Royal Navy from reinforcing or evacuating the blockaded forces of General Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, as a result, Cornwallis surrendered his army after the Siege of Yorktown

Crucial naval Battle near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay between a British fleet led by Rear Admiral Sir Thomas Graves and a French fleet led by Rear Admiral Francois Joseph Paul, the Comte de Grasse.

Graves arrived at the mouth of the Chesapeake early on 5 September to see de Grasses fleet at anchor in the bay.

On 13 September de Grasse broke away from the British and returned to the Chesapeake, where de Barras had arrived, Graves returned to New York to organize a larger relief effort; this did not sail until 19 October, two days after Cornwallis surrendered

Morgan retreats to Southern Virginia

The British leave the sea near Chesapeake to the French & Graves returns to New York

The British leave the sea near Chesapeake to the French & Graves returns to New York

Despite victory Cornwallis cannot hold Georgia & the Carolinas

Defeats General Lafayette at Jamestown Ford, Virginia

Haidar Ali confronts an East India Company army at Porto Novo but is forced to withdraw after heavy fighting.

Defeated by the Dutch on his way to attack the Dutch colony of Cape of Good Hope

Destroys 3 British ships & has the better of the engagement but retreats to Newport

Surrenders 7,000 soldiers ending the American Revolution & the War of Independence

Defeats the British enabling 16,000 Continental & Allied troops to besiege Yorktown