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.
July 25 » French and Indian War: In Western New York, British forces capture Fort Niagara from the French, who subsequently abandon Fort Rouillé.
September 18 » French and Indian War: The Articles of Capitulation of Quebec are signed.
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
January 1 » American Revolutionary War: Norfolk, Virginia is burned by combined Royal Navy and Continental Army action.
January 27 » American Revolutionary War: Henry Knox's "noble train of artillery" arrives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
April 6 » American Revolutionary War: Ships of the Continental Navy fail in their attempt to capture a Royal Navy dispatch boat.
August 2 » The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence took place.
August 27 » Battle of Long Island: In what is now Brooklyn, New York, British forces under General William Howe defeat Americans under General George Washington.
September 10 » American Revolutionary War: Nathan Hale volunteers to spy for the Continental Army.
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).
February 16 » First Barbary War: Stephen Decatur leads a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate USSPhiladelphia.
March 4 » Castle Hill Rebellion: Irish convicts rebel against British colonial authority in the Colony of New South Wales.
May 18 » Napoleon Bonaparte is proclaimed Emperor of the French by the French Senate.
July 11 » A duel occurs in which the Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr mortally wounds former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.
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 March 6, 2026), "Lydia Smith (1759-1804)".
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