Events
- 18 January - The Third Pacific expedition of James Cook, with ships HMS Resolution (1771) and HMS Discovery (1774), first views Oahu then Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands, which he names the "Sandwich Islands".
- 6 February - American Revolutionary War: Britain declares war on France, for aiding the Americans.
- 17 & 23 April - American Revolutionary War: John Paul Jones in USS Ranger (1777) attempts to raid Whitehaven.
- 24 April - American Revolutionary War: North Channel Naval Duel: John Paul Jones in USS Ranger captures HMS Drake (1777) in the North Channel.
- May - HMS Victory is commissioned and remains in active service for the following 32 years, most notably at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805).
- 16 June - American Revolutionary War: Spain declares war on Britain.
- 28 June - American Revolutionary War: The Battle of Monmouth takes place in Monmouth, New Jersey.
- 3 July - American Revolutionary War: The Wyoming Valley battle and massacre takes place near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, ending in a defeat of the local colonists.
- 10 July - American Revolutionary War: Louis XVI of France declares war on Great Britain.
- 27 July - American Revolution: First Battle of Ushant - British and French fleets fight to a standoff.
- September - First St. Leger Stakes horse race held at its present location, Town Moor, Doncaster.
- 26 November - In the Hawaiian Islands, James Cook becomes the first European to discover Maui.
Read more about this topic: 1778 In Great Britain
Famous quotes containing the word events:
“If I have renounced the search of truth, if I have come into the port of some pretending dogmatism, some new church, some Schelling or Cousin, I have died to all use of these new events that are born out of prolific time into multitude of life every hour. I am as bankrupt to whom brilliant opportunities offer in vain. He has just foreclosed his freedom, tied his hands, locked himself up and given the key to another to keep.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Man is a stream whose source is hidden. Our being is descending into us from we know not whence. The most exact calculator has no prescience that somewhat incalculable may not balk the very next moment. I am constrained every moment to acknowledge a higher origin for events than the will I call mine.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“By many a legendary tale of violence and wrong, as well as by events which have passed before their eyes, these people have been taught to look upon white men with abhorrence.... I can sympathize with the spirit which prompts the Typee warrior to guard all the passes to his valley with the point of his levelled spear, and, standing upon the beach, with his back turned upon his green home, to hold at bay the intruding European.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)