What happened in 1789

17 entries recorded for 1789, listed by date. That was 237 years ago.

1789 at a glance

January 23
John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore)
Historical event
Bishop John Carroll purchased a plot of land that would become the home of the future Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the United States.

April 21
George Washington's reception at Trenton
Historical event
The Ladies of Trenton social club hosted a reception for President-elect George Washington as he journeyed to New York City for his first inauguration.
April 28
Fletcher Christian
Historical event
Fletcher Christian, the acting lieutenant on board the Royal Navy ship Bounty, led a mutiny against the commander William Bligh in the South Pacific.
April 30
George Washington
Historical event
George Washington (pictured) took the oath of office as the first president of the United States at Federal Hall in New York City.

May 4
Boydell Shakespeare Gallery
Historical event
The Boydell Shakespeare Gallery, part of a cultural project initiated by engraver John Boydell, opened in London.

July 11
French Revolution
Historical event
French Revolution: Jacques Necker was dismissed as Director-General of Finances of France, sparking public demonstrations in Paris that led to the storming of the Bastille.
July 14
Bastille
Historical event
The Bastille, a fortress and prison in Paris, was stormed by a crowd during the flashpoint of the French Revolution.

August 21
National colours of Italy
Historical event
The national colours of Italy first appeared on a tricolour cockade in Genoa.
August 26
French Revolution
Historical event
French Revolution: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (pictured), defining a set of individual and collective rights of the people, was approved by the National Constituent Assembly.
August 28
William Herschel
Historical event
With the first use of his 1.2-metre (3.9 ft) telescope, then the largest in the world, William Herschel discovered a new moon of Saturn, later named Enceladus (pictured).

September 2
United States Department of the Treasury
Historical event
The United States Department of the Treasury was founded following financial concerns in the new nation.
September 11
Alexander Hamilton
Historical event
Alexander Hamilton (pictured), co-writer of The Federalist Papers, became the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
September 22
United States Postmaster General
Historical event
The office of United States Postmaster General was formally established.
September 24
Judiciary Act of 1789
Historical event
The Judiciary Act of 1789 was signed into law, establishing the U.S. federal judiciary and setting the number of Supreme Court justices at six.

October 5
French Revolution
Historical event
French Revolution: Upset about the high price and scarcity of bread, thousands of Parisian women and allies marched (pictured) on the Palace of Versailles.
October 24
Brabant Revolution
Historical event
The Brabant Revolution, sometimes considered to be the first expression of Belgian nationalism, began with the invasion of the Austrian Netherlands by an émigré army from the Dutch Republic.

December 11
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Historical event
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (structure pictured), one of the oldest public universities in the United States and the only one to award degrees in the 18th century, was chartered.

This site records 17 entries for 1789, including John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore) on January 23. They are listed below by date.

237 years ago, counting from 2026. Anyone born in 1789 turns 237 this year.

1789 falls in the 18th century, in the 1780s.

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