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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Joseph Priestley, English chemist, scientist and clergyman, is born in Birstall Field head, Yorkshire. Due to his controversial political views supporting the French Revolution, his home was burned in 1791, and he was forced to move to Pennsylvania in 1794.
He is best known for discovering oxygen in 1774, and other gases, and inventing soda water. A prominent intellectual in Americq, he was a friend of Benjamin Franklin and a staunch defender of liberal political and religious views.
The Battle of Chandannagar takes place on March 23, 1757, leading to the capture of the French fort by the British during the Seven Years' War, effectively ended the French influence in Bengal, preceding the Battle of Plassey.
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 occurs on March 5, 1570, when British soldiers fire into a crowd, killing five civilians, in Boston, Massachusetts.
British troops kill five colonists on March 5, 1770 in Boston, Massachusetts. The event often referred to as the "Boston Massacre" took place in the midst of over colonial taxation and military occupation is often considered the first bloodshed of the American Revolution and was heavily publicized to stir anti-British sentiment by Paul Revere.
The incident took place when a crowd of colonists surrounded a British sentry, throwing snowballs, ice, and sticks. Amidst the confusion, soldiers fired into the crowd without orders killing Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Samuel Maverick, and Patrick Carr. Attucks, an African/Native American, was believed to be the the first casualty.John Adams defended the British soldiers to ensure a fair trial, resulting in the acquittal of Captain Preston and six others, while two were convicted of manslaughter. The event was used as propaganda by Patriots to highlight British oppression, accelerating colonial unity and the Revolutionary War.
During a speech before the second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775, 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 rousing speech to the Virginia delegation is credited with convincing the convention to pass a resolution to provide Virginia troops for the Revolutionary War. Patrick Henry served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia. More
King George III signed on March 30, 1775. the "New England Restraining Act." The new law, effective on July 1, 1775, forbade, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island from trading with any nation other than Great Britain, Ireland, and the British West Indies.
The act was later expanded to ban New Englanders from the North Atlantic fisheries and added Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, and South Carolina to the trading restrictions. The act accelerated the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
British forces evacuate Boston during the American Revolutionary War.
The Congressional Gold Medal was established on March 25, 1776, by the Continental Congress. It was initially intended to recognize military leaders during the American Revolution. but broadened later to include civilians, explorers, scientists, and humanitarians.
The first medal was authorized for General George Washington to honor his "wise and spirited conduct" in forcing the British evacuation of Boston. It was later broadened to include civilians, explorers, scientists, and humanitarians. Congressional Gold Medals are awarded through a specific Act of Congress that must be passed by both the House and Senate and signed into law by the President. Each medal is uniquely designed and struck by the U.S. Mint to specifically honor the particular individual, institution, or event for which it was awarded. Gold Medal Recipients List
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 officially came into force on March 1, 1781 when Maryland became the 13th and final State to ratify the document. The Continental Congress had adopted the resolution in 1777, but it took nearly four years to get the ratification because of disputes over western land claims, which were ultimately resolved.
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 on March 8, 1782, when Pennsylvania militiamen, led by Col. David Williamson, murdered 96 pacifist Christian Indians including 39 children, 29 women and 28 me at the Moravian missionary village of Gnadenhutten, Ohio Country.
The attack took place during the American Revolutionary War. The unarmed, Native Americans, who by all accounts held no allegiance in the war and had played no role in any attack. More
The USS Alliance commanded by Captain John Barry, defeats the HMS Sybil on March 10, 1783, off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, in the last naval action of the American Revolutionary War. The battle was fought to protect a shipment of Spanish silver dollars meant for the Continental Army.
The first session of the U.S. Congress is held in New York City March 4, 1789, marking the official start of the Federal Government under the Constitution and replacing the interim general government.
Vermont is admitted to the United States Union as the 14th State.
King Gustav III of Sweden is shot by Count Jacob Johan Anckarström on March 16, 1792 during a masked ball at the Opera; motivated by political opposition to the King. He died on March 29.
On February 1, 1793, the French National Convention declared war on Great Britain and the Dutch Republic (Netherlands), following the execution of King Louis XVI on January 21, 1793 and the formation of the First Coalition against France.
George Washington’s is inaugurated for his second term in office, on March 4, 1793, in the Senate Chamber of Congress Hall in Philadelphia, PA. then the nation's capital, in a simple and brief ceremony featuring the shortest inaugural address in U.S. history at only 135 words.
