What Happened in 1776 — Events, Births & Deaths

Empress Maria Theresa of Austria amends the Constitutio Criminalis Theresiana to include the abolition of torture throughout the Habsburg-ruled countries of Austria and Bohemia.

American Revolution: Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet Common Sense.

American Revolutionary War: Henry Knox's "noble train of artillery" arrives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

American Revolutionary War: The first amphibious landing of the United States Marine Corps begins the Battle of Nassau.

Scottish philosopher Adam Smith publishes The Wealth of Nations, ushering in the classical period of political economy.

American Revolutionary War: The British Army evacuates Boston, ending the Siege of Boston, after George Washington and Henry Knox place artillery in positions overlooking the city.

American Revolutionary War: American Patriots conduct a Raid on Tybee Island, primarily seeking to capture runaway slaves who sought refuge with British forces stationed there.

Juan Bautista de Anza finds the site for the Presidio of San Francisco.

American Revolution: The Continental Congress adopts the Lee Resolution severing ties with the Kingdom of Great Britain. The wording of the formal Declaration of Independence was agreed upon and publicly released two days later, on July 4.

John Nixon delivers the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence of the United States.

Captain James Cook begins his third voyage.

American Revolution: The signing of the United States Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress takes place.

American Revolutionary War: Nathan Hale volunteers to spy for the Continental Army.

Nathan Hale is hanged for spying during the American Revolution.

American Revolution: A fleet of American boats on Lake Champlain is defeated by the Royal Navy, but delays the British advance until 1777.

American Revolutionary War: British troops under General William Howe attack General George Washington's Continental Army and capture Chatterton Hill in the Battle of White Plains during the New York and New Jersey campaign.

During the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia, comes to an end with the arrival of British reinforcements.

Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest academic honor society in the U.S., holds its first meeting at the College of William & Mary.

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, arranges to enter the American military as a major general.