April 4 » In London, Philip Astley stages the first modern circus.
May 10 » Rioting occurs in London after John Wilkes is imprisoned for writing an article for The North Briton severely criticizing King George III.
August 26 » Captain James Cook sets sail from England on board HMSEndeavour.
December 1 » The former slave ship Fredensborg sinks off Tromøya in Norway.
December 10 » The first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica is published.
December 28 » King Taksin's coronation achieved through conquest as a king of Thailand and established Thonburi as a capital.
Day of death August 31, 1778
The temperature on August 31, 1778 was about 12.0 °C. There was 44 mm of rainWind direction mainly north-northwest. Weather type: zeer betrokken regen. Source: KNMI
January 18 » James Cook is the first known European to discover the Hawaiian Islands, which he names the "Sandwich Islands".
May 12 » Heinrich XI, count of the Principality of Reuss-Greiz, is elevated to Prince by Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor.
June 18 » American Revolutionary War: British troops abandon Philadelphia.
June 28 » American Revolutionary War: The American Continentals engage the British in the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse resulting in standstill and British withdrawal under cover of darkness.
July 10 » American Revolution: Louis XVI of France declares war on the Kingdom of Great Britain.
August 26 » The first recorded ascent of Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Gilbert Pene, "Arbre Pene", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/arbre-pene/I2158.php : accessed January 15, 2026), "Pierre SEMPE (1768-1778)".
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