1779
Cook Killed at Kealakekua Bay
A stolen cutter led to a dispute on the beach.
Crompton Invents the Spinning Mule
Samuel Crompton, working in Bolton by night to keep the design secret, combined Arkwright's water frame with Hargreaves's jenny to make a machine that spun…
Spain Enters the American War
Charles III declared war on Britain, hoping to recover Gibraltar and Florida.
Hawaiian Priests Return Cook's Bones
In the days after the killing, the Hawaiians - honoring a fallen chief by ancient custom - distributed Cook's body among the ariki.
Want 1779 in context? Print the whole 18th century as a one-sheet timeline chart.
Frequently asked
What happened in the year 1779?
Saeculum lists 4 events from 1779. The most significant is Cook Killed at Kealakekua Bay: A stolen cutter led to a dispute on the beach. Cook fired at the crowd; Hawaiians stabbed and clubbed him in the surf.
What era was 1779 part of?
1779 falls within the Enlightenment (1651-1800). Reason, revolution, and the first global wars.
Which regions saw notable events in 1779?
The events from 1779 span Oceania and Europe.