What Happened in 1789 — Events, Births & Deaths
1789 brings together 17 events, 0 birthdays and 0 deaths recorded across history.
February 1
- February 4
George Washington is unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by the U.S. Electoral College.
April 2
- April 20
George Washington arrives at Grays Ferry, Philadelphia, while en route to Manhattan for his inauguration.
- April 28
The Mutiny on the Bounty occurs, with the ship's captain, Lieutenant William Bligh and 18 sailors, set adrift, and the rebel crew setting sail for Tahiti. Eventually the majority of rebels sail for Pitcairn Island.
June 1
- June 8
James Madison introduces twelve proposed amendments to the United States Constitution in Congress.
July 3
- July 12
In response to the dismissal of the French finance minister Jacques Necker, the radical journalist Camille Desmoulins gives a speech which results in the storming of the Bastille two days later.
- July 14
Storming of the Bastille in Paris. This event escalates the widespread discontent into the French Revolution. Bastille Day is still celebrated annually in France.
- July 27
The first U.S. federal government agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs, is established (it will be later renamed Department of State).
August 1
- August 26
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is approved by the National Constituent Assembly of France.
September 5
- September 22
The office of United States Postmaster General is established.
- September 22
Battle of Rymnik: Alexander Suvorov's Russian and allied army defeats superior Ottoman Empire forces.
- September 24
The United States Congress passes the Judiciary Act, creating the office of the Attorney General and federal judiciary system and ordering the composition of the Supreme Court.
- September 25
The United States Congress passes twelve constitutional amendments: the ten known as the Bill of Rights, the (unratified) Congressional Apportionment Amendment, and the Congressional Compensation Amendment.
- September 26
George Washington appoints Thomas Jefferson the first United States Secretary of State.
October 4
- October 2
The United States Bill of Rights is sent to the various States for ratification.
- October 3
George Washington proclaims Thursday November 26, 1789 as Thanksgiving Day.
- October 5
French Revolution: The Women's March on Versailles effectively terminates royal authority.
- October 6
French Revolution: King Louis XVI is forced to change his residence from Versailles to the Tuileries Palace.