1778

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	17th century – 18th century – 19th century
Decades:	1740s  1750s  1760s  – 1770s –  1780s  1790s  1800s
Years:	1775 1776 1777 – 1778 – 1779 1780 1781

Events

• The term thoroughbred was first used in the United States in an advertisement in a Kentucky gazette to describe a New Jersey stallion called Pilgarlick.
• January 18 – Third Pacific expedition of Capt. James Cook, with ships HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery, first see O'ahu then Kaua'i in the Hawaiian Islands, which he names the "Sandwich Islands".
• February 5 – South Carolina becomes the first state to ratify the Articles of Confederation.
• February 6 – American Revolutionary War: In Paris the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce are signed by the United States and France beginning official recognition of the new republic.
• February 23 – American Revolutionary War: Baron von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and begins to train the Continental Army.
• July 10 – American Revolutionary War: Louis XVI of France declares war on the United Kingdom of Great Britain.
• July 27 – American Revolution: First Battle of Ushant – British and French fleets fight to a standoff.
• August 26 – Triglav, at 2,864 metres above sea level the highest peak of Slovenia, was ascended for the first time by four brave men: Luka Korošec, Matevž Kos, Štefan Rožič and Lovrenc Willomitzer on Sigismund Zois's initiative.
• September – The Massachusetts Banishment Act, providing punishment for Loyalists, is passed.
• November 26 – In the Hawaiian Islands, Captain James Cook becomes the first European to discover Maui.
• France introduced the first state-controlled brothel.
• The first settlement was made in the area of what is now Louisville, Kentucky by 13 families under Col. George Rogers Clark.
• Phillips Academy, the most prestigious secondary boarding school in the United States, was founded by Samuel Phillips Jr.

Births

for more information, see Category:1778 births.

Deaths

for more information, see Category:1778 deaths.