Year by year · 18th century

1781

1781 in world history: 10 events, 8 births, 7 deaths and 1 state that came to an end. 1,284 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 17 January

    Daniel Morgan routs Tarleton at the Battle of Cowpens

    In South Carolina, Daniel Morgan's Continentals and militia destroyed Banastre Tarleton's British force with a skilful double envelopment. The victory was a turning point in the southern campaign.

  2. 1 March

    Articles of Confederation come into force

    Maryland's ratification brought into effect the first constitution of the United States. The weak confederation lacked powers to tax and was replaced by the Constitution in 1789.

    United States

  3. 13 March

    William Herschel discovers Uranus

    From his garden in Bath, Herschel spotted an object he first took for a comet. It proved to be a new planet, the first discovered with a telescope, doubling the known size of the solar system.

  4. 4 September

    Spanish settlers found the pueblo of Los Angeles

    Forty-four settlers of mixed Spanish, Native and African ancestry founded a farming town near the Porciúncula River. El Pueblo de la Reina de los Ángeles grew into the second-largest US city.

  5. 28 September

    American and French armies begin the siege of Yorktown

    Washington and Rochambeau's forces closed in on Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, while a French fleet blocked escape by sea. Cornwallis surrendered on 19 October, effectively ending the war.

    Virginia

  6. 19 October

    Cornwallis's army surrenders at Yorktown

    Besieged by American and French forces, Lord Cornwallis's army of about 8,000 surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia. The defeat effectively ended major fighting in the American Revolutionary War.

    Virginia

  7. Battle

    Battle of Jersey

    The Battle of Jersey was fought on 6 January 1781, when a French force under Baron Philippe de Rullecourt landed at night and seized Saint Helier in an attempt to take the island during the American War of Independence.

  8. Revolt

    Revolt of the Comuneros (New Granada)

    The Revolt of the Comuneros was a popular uprising in the Viceroyalty of New Granada in 1781, which began at Socorro against new taxes and royal monopolies imposed under the Bourbon reforms.

ProfileState1099 states with a known seat in 1781Open the atlas at 1781 →

In the profiles

Born in 1781 8

Died in 1781 7

States that came to an end 1

All years → The 18th century →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1781. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1781
MLA
“1781.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1781. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1781.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1781.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1781’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1781 (Accessed: ).