13 January - The Prince Edward Islands are re-discovered by the French explorer Marc-Joseph Marion du Fresne, and named them Terre de l'Espérance (Marion) and Ile de la Caverne (Pr. Edward)^[1]

The Cape Colony boundary is extended to Buffels, Zak and Fish Rivers
Hendrik Jacob Wikar and Robert Jacob Gordon meet Khoikhoi, Geisiqua and Tswana tribes along lower and middle Gariep which Gordon names Orange River in honour of the Netherlands Stadtholder
6 February - France formally recognises the United States as a nation by signing a treaty of Friendship and Trade. An undeclared war with Britain soon erupted
27 July - French and British navies clash just off the coast of France
30 December - Britain captures the port of St. Lucia in the Caribbean Sea
British forces capture Pondicherry in the Bay of Bengal from the French, later recaptured
The Dutch port of St Eustatius in the West Indies became the world's busiest port handling the majority of supplies and arms bound for the United States

Xhosas clash with the settlers moving north, at the Fish River starting the first of nine Cape Frontier Wars over the next 100 years. Also known as Africa's 100 Years War.
12 April - Spain joins with France and America in the war against Britain

Events

Births