January 11 » William Herschel discovers Titania and Oberon, two moons of Uranus.
May 13 » Captain Arthur Phillip leaves Portsmouth, England, with eleven ships full of convicts (the "First Fleet") to establish a penal colony in Australia.
May 25 » After a delay of 11 days, the United States Constitutional Convention formally convenes in Philadelphia after a quorum of seven states is secured.
August 6 » Sixty proof sheets of the Constitution of the United States are delivered to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
December 7 » Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the United States Constitution.
December 18 » New Jersey becomes the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
Day of death July 31, 1788
The temperature on July 31, 1788 was about 15.0 °C. Wind direction mainly southwest. Weather type: zeer betrokken. Source: KNMI
January 18 » The first elements of the First Fleet carrying 736 convicts from Great Britain to Australia arrive at Botany Bay.
January 26 » The British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sails into Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour) to establish Sydney, the first permanent European settlement on Australia. Commemorated as Australia Day.
February 9 » The Habsburg Empire joins the Russo-Turkish War in the Russian camp.
April 28 » Maryland becomes the seventh state to ratify the United States Constitution.
June 7 » French Revolution: Day of the Tiles: Civilians in Grenoble toss roof tiles and various objects down upon royal troops.
December 22 » Nguyễn Huệ proclaims himself Emperor Quang Trung, in effect abolishing on his own the Lê dynasty.
When copying data from this family tree, please include a reference to the origin: Leo Witkamp, "Family tree Witkamp", database, Genealogy Online (https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-witkamp/I0214.php : accessed February 22, 2026), "Cornelis Witkamp (-1788)".
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