Peace
Parliament votes to abandon the American War of Independence
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1782 in Great Britain
Explore 42 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1782.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1782
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 42 unique records.
42Unique records
1 of 2Page
33Named events on this page
20Named people on this page
3Places on this page
February
Resignation of Frederick North
Resigns after Britains defeat
March
Peace
Parliament enacts legislation empowering the Crown to negotiate peace with the US
Home Secretary of Great Britain
Appointed Home Secretary
April
Battle of Saints
Rear-Admiral Sir Samuel Hoods flagship Barfleur, 98 guns. Hood is made an Irish peer for his role in the victory at the Battle of the Saintes
Battle of Saints
Final sea Battle of the War of American Independence fought between the British West Indies fleet commanded by Admiral Rodney
Battle of Saints
Introduces the tactic of breaking the line, this Rodney did against de Grasse as the two fleets passed on opposing courses and the French line was forced into more open order by a change of wind.
Battle of Saints
Rodney's flagship, Formidable has 98 guns. Restores control of Caribbean by defeating a French fleet under de Grasse off Dominica.
Battle of Saints
with 36 ships of the line and his French counterpart Vice Admiral the Comte de Grasse with 30 ships of the line. Captures 7 ships
Capture of Great Britain
Captures the French ship of the line, Pegase
June
Peerage
Created Baron Rodney of Rodney Stoke, Somerset, by patent, and the House of Commons vote him a pension of 2000 pounds a year
July
Prime Minister of Great Britain
Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain
Leader of House of Commons
Appointed Leader of the House of Commons
Secretary of State for Home Department
Appointed Secretary of State for the Home Department, 1st term
November
Birth of Frederick John Robinson
Birth of Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon
Other events (month unknown)
A history of the Corruption of Christianity
Publication of "A history of the Corruption of Christianity"
Administrative Reform Legislation
Burke helped secure economical reform measures intended to reduce Crown patronage and rationalize public administration.
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, 1st term
Charity Poem Appears
Cowper's Charity appeared in his first poetry collection and examined compassion as a Christian virtue.
Conversation Poem Appears
Cowper published Conversation in his first volume, criticizing the conduct and pretensions of social discourse.
Discovery of Globular Clusters
William Herschel begins a survey program in 1782 using larger telescopes and was able to resolve the stars in all 33 of the known globular clusters. When William Herschel began his comprehensive survey of the sky using large telescopes in 1782 there were 34 known globular clusters. Herschel discovered another 36 himself and was the first to resolve virtually all of them into stars
Expostulation Poem Appears
Cowper included Expostulation in his first poetry collection, addressing national morality through public verse.
Hope Poem Appears
The poem Hope appeared in Cowper's first volume, presenting a devotional treatment of despair and consolation.
Invasion of Jamaica
The French commander De Grasse, who had been responsible for the victory at Chesapeake is captured and taken back to Britain as a prisoner. Hood takes part in a British fleet under Rodney which defeats a combined French and Spanish fleet which was planning an invasion of Jamaica
John Gilpin Ballad Composed
Cowper composed The Diverting History of John Gilpin, a comic ballad recounting an unintended journey.
King's Astronomer
Appoined King's Astronomer
Kings Astronomer
Appointed "The King's Astronomer"
Letter to Abbe Raynal
Paine published a letter challenging Abbe Raynal's interpretation of the American Revolution.
Lord Privy Seal
Appointed Lord Privy Seal, 2nd term
Marries Catherine Boucher
Blake married Catherine Boucher, who later assisted in the production of his illuminated books.
Patent
James watt patents a double-acting rotary steam engine
Peerage
Raised to the peerage after the Battle of the Saints
Poems First Volume Published
Cowper published Poems by William Cowper of the Inner Temple, establishing himself as a poet in print.
Prime Minister of Great Britain
Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 2nd term
Privy Council
Appointed Privy Councillor
Quebec Convoy
Escorts convoy operations connected with Quebec and North America.
Retirement Poem Appears
Cowper included Retirement among his early poems, reflecting on withdrawal from worldly ambition.
Rule of Jamaica
Hood takes part in a British fleet under Rodney which defeats a combined French and Spanish fleet which was planning an invasion of Jamaica
Secretary of State
Serves under Rockingham but resigns when he is succeeded by Shelburne
Treasurer Navy
Appointed Treasurer of the Navy, 1st term
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.