January 11 » The first American life insurance company, the Corporation for Relief of Poor and Distressed Presbyterian Ministers and of the Poor and Distressed Widows and Children of the Presbyterian Ministers (now part of Unum Group), is incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
January 15 » The British Museum opens to the public.
May 1 » Josiah Wedgwood founds the Wedgwood pottery company in Great Britain.
August 1 » Seven Years' War: The Battle of Minden, an allied Anglo-German army victory over the French. In Britain this was one of a number of events that constituted the Annus Mirabilis of 1759 and is celebrated as Minden Day by certain British Army regiments.
September 13 » Battle of the Plains of Abraham: the British defeat the French near Quebec City in the Seven Years' War, known in the United States as the French and Indian War.
November 25 » An earthquake hits the Mediterranean destroying Beirut and Damascus and killing 30,000-40,000.
Day of marriage May 4, 1776
The temperature on May 4, 1776 was about 12.0 °C. Wind direction mainly northwest by west. Weather type: zeer betrokken. Source: KNMI
March 2 » American Revolutionary War: Patriot militia units arrest the Royal Governor of Georgia James Wright and attempt to prevent capture of supply ships in the Battle of the Rice Boats.
August 2 » The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence took place.
August 31 » William Livingston, the first Governor of New Jersey, begins serving his first term.
September 16 » American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Harlem Heights is fought.
November 20 » American Revolutionary War: British forces land at the Palisades and then attack Fort Lee. The Continental Army starts to retreat across New Jersey.
December 7 » Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, arranges to enter the American military as a major general.
Day of death January 4, 1804
The temperature on January 4, 1804 was about -2.0 °C. Wind direction mainly east-southeast. Weather type: zeer betrokken. Source: KNMI
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De Republiek der Verenigde Nederlanden werd in 1794-1795 door de Fransen veroverd onder leiding van bevelhebber Charles Pichegru (geholpen door de Nederlander Herman Willem Daendels); de verovering werd vergemakkelijkt door het dichtvriezen van de Waterlinie; Willem V moest op 18 januari 1795 uitwijken naar Engeland (en van daaruit in 1801 naar Duitsland); de patriotten namen de macht over van de aristocratische regenten en proclameerden de Bataafsche Republiek; op 16 mei 1795 werd het Haags Verdrag gesloten, waarmee ons land een vazalstaat werd van Frankrijk; in 3.1796 kwam er een Nationale Vergadering; in 1798 pleegde Daendels een staatsgreep, die de unitarissen aan de macht bracht; er kwam een nieuwe grondwet, die een Vertegenwoordigend Lichaam (met een Eerste en Tweede Kamer) instelde en als regering een Directoire; in 1799 sloeg Daendels bij Castricum een Brits-Russische invasie af; in 1801 kwam er een nieuwe grondwet; bij de Vrede van Amiens (1802) kreeg ons land van Engeland zijn koloniën terug (behalve Ceylon); na de grondwetswijziging van 1805 kwam er een raadpensionaris als eenhoofdig gezag, namelijk Rutger Jan Schimmelpenninck (van 31 oktober 1761 tot 25 maart 1825).
January 1 » French rule ends in Haiti. Haiti becomes the first black-majority republic and second independent country in North America after the United States.
February 14 » Karađorđe leads the First Serbian Uprising against the Ottoman Empire.
February 16 » First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USSPhiladelphia.
April 25 » The western Georgian kingdom of Imereti accepts the suzerainty of the Russian Empire.
August 11 » Francis II assumes the title of first Emperor of Austria.
September 1 » Juno, one of the largest asteroids in the Main Belt, is discovered by the German astronomer Karl Ludwig Harding.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Charles Olson, "Olson's Tree", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/olsons-tree/P14881.php : accessed February 3, 2026), "Lydia Smith (1759-1804)".
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