Year by year · 18th century

1790

1790 in world history: 6 events, 8 births, 6 deaths, 1 state founded and 2 that came to an end. 1,287 recorded states existed that year.

Events

  1. 1 February

    US Supreme Court gathers for its first session

    The Supreme Court convened at the Merchants' Exchange in New York, though too few justices had arrived to begin business until the next day. It heard no cases in its first year.

    New York

  2. 31 May

    George Washington signs the first US copyright law

    The Copyright Act protected books, maps and charts for 14 years, renewable once. It drew on Britain's Statute of Anne and founded American copyright law.

  3. 31 July

    The first US patent is issued to Samuel Hopkins

    Samuel Hopkins received the first patent under the new US Patent Act, for an improved way of making potash. It was signed by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

  4. 26 December

    Louis XVI assents to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy

    Having first opposed it, King Louis XVI gave his public assent to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, which sought state control of the Catholic Church in France. The clergy's oaths followed, and the resulting schism lasted until 1801.

    Louis XVIFrench Revolution
ProfileState1104 states with a known seat in 1790Open the atlas at 1790 →

Wars and longer events

Born in 1790 8

Died in 1790 6

States founded 1

States that came to an end 2

All years → The 18th century →

Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). 1790. In The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1790
MLA
“1790.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1790. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “1790.” The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1790.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘1790’, The Epoch Institute, Year by Year. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/years/1790 (Accessed: ).