Browse Historical Events by Month:
The first Olympic games, the founding of dynasties, and legendary battles. Explore historic milestones from March that influenced today's world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The British Parliament repeals the Stamp Act of 1765 on March 18, 1766; a major concession following intense colonial protests, boycotts, and pressure from British merchants. However the Parliament simultaneously passed the Declaratory Act, asserting full authority to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever".
The repeal served as a temporary respite before tensions escalated again with the 1767 Townshend Acts.
The Boston Massacre: British troops kill five civilians in Boston, Massachusetts.
During a speech before the second Virginia Convention, Patrick Henry responds to the increasingly oppressive British rule over the American Colonies by declaring, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!. Patrick Henry served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia. More
British forces evacuate Boston during the American Revolutionary War.
Abigail Adams writes a letter to her husband John Adams. saying in part "...."I long to hear that you have declared an independency -- and by the way in the new Code of Laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make I desire you would Remember the Ladies, and be more generous and favourable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation....." More
The Articles of Confederation came into force after being ratified by all 13 states.
Astronomer William Herschel Identifies Uranus as the Seventh Planet. More
Battle of Guilford Courthouse: American forces under Nathanael Greene defeat the British in North Carolina.
The Gnadenhutten Massacre takes place. Pennsylvania militiamen, led by Col. David Williamson, murdered 96 Christian Indians including 39 children, 29 women and 28 men. The unarmed, Native Americans, who by all accounts were pacifists and held no allegiance in the war and had played no role in any attack. More
The USS Alliance defeats the HMS Sybil in the last naval action of the American Revolutionary War.
The first session of the U.S. Congress is held in New York City and the general government was replaced with the Federal government under the present Constitution.
Vermont is admitted to the United States Union as the 14th State.
King Gustav III of Sweden is shot by Count Jacob Johan Anckarström during a masked ball at the Opera; he died on March 29'.
French Revolutionary War: France declares war on Great Britain and the Netherlands.
Eli Whitney receives a patent for the cotton gin, revolutionizing the cotton industry.
Napoleon Bonaparte marries Josephine de Beauharnais in a civil ceremony in Paris. Napoleon was an up-and-coming general at the time, while Josephine was a wealthy widow with two children.
Sir Ralph Abercromby lands in Egypt with British troops during the French Revolutionary Wars.
Sir Ralph Abercromby lands in Egypt with British troops during the French Revolutionary Wars.
The British Royal Navy defeats the French fleet at the Battle of the Nile, led by Admiral Horatio Nelson.
The Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland is passed, merging the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland into a single state, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, effective January 1, 1801.
