21st January » The first American novel, The Power of Sympathy named 'The Power of Sympathy or the Triumph of Nature Founded in Truth', is printed in Boston, Massachusetts.
23rd January » Georgetown University named Georgetown College, the first Catholic University in the United States, is founded in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. or Georgetown, Maryland (now a part of Washington, D.C.)
4th February » George Washington is unanimously elected as the first President of the United States by the U.S. Electoral College.
4th March » In New York City, the 1st United States Congress e.g first Congress of the United States meets, putting the United States Constitution into effect. The United States Bill of Rights is written and proposed to Congress.
1st April » In New York City, the United States House of Representatives holds its first quorum and elects Frederick Muhlenberg of Pennsylvania as its first House Speaker.
28th April » Mutiny on the Bounty called Mutiny on the 'Bounty': Lieutenant William Bligh and 18 sailors are set adrift and the rebel crew returns to Tahiti briefly and then sets sail for Pitcairn Island.
30th April » On the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City, George Washington takes the oath of office to become the first elected President of the United States.
5th May » In France, the Estates-General of 1789 known as Estates-General convenes for the first time since 1614.
8th June » James Madison introduces twelve proposed List of amendments to the United States Constitution amendments to the United States Constitution in the United States House of Representatives House of Representatives; by 1791, ten of them are Ratification ratifi
14th June » Mutiny on the Bounty: HMS Bounty mutiny survivors including Captain William Bligh and 18 others reach Timor after a nearly convert 7,400 km mi abbr=on journey in an open boat.
14th June » Whiskey distilled from maize is first produced by American clergyman the Rev Elijah Craig. It is named Bourbon whiskey or Bourbon because Rev Craig lived in Bourbon County, Kentucky.
17th June » In France, the Estates of the realm known as Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly (French Revolution) or National Assembly.
20th June » Deputy (legislator) Deputies of the History of France French Estates-General of 1789 Third Estate take the Tennis Court Oath.
9th July » In Versailles (city) Versailles, the National Assembly (French Revolution) National Assembly reconstitutes itself as the National Constituent Assembly and begins preparations for a Constitution of France French constitution.
10th July » Alexander Mackenzie (explorer) e.g Alexander Mackenzie reaches the Mackenzie River delta.
14th July » French Revolution: Citizens of Paris Storming of the Bastille e.g storm the Bastille.
14th July » Alexander Mackenzie (explorer) or Alexander Mackenzie finally completes his journey to the mouth of the great river he hoped would take him to the Pacific, but which turns out to flow into the Arctic Ocean. Later named after him, the Mackenzie River calle
15th July » Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, is named by acclamation Colonel General of the new National Guard (France) named National Guard of Paris.
27th July » The first United States U.S. Federal government of the United States federal government agency, the United States Department of State History Department of Foreign Affairs, is established (it will be later renamed United States Department of State Departm
4th August » In France members of the National Constituent Assembly take an oath to end feudalism and abandon their Law of Privilege called privileges.
7th August » The United States Department of War is established.
26th August » The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is approved by the National Constituent Assembly of France.
28th August » William Herschel discovers a new moon of Saturn: Enceladus.
2nd September » The United States Department of the Treasury is founded.
11th September » Alexander Hamilton is appointed the first United States Secretary of the Treasury.
15th September » The United States "Department of Foreign Affairs", established by law in July, is renamed the United States Department of State or Department of State and given a variety of domestic duties.
22nd September » The office of United States Postmaster General is established.
22nd September » Battle of Rymnik establishes Alexander Suvorov as a pre-eminent Russian military commander after his allied army defeat superior Ottoman Empire forces.
24th September » The United States Congress passes the Judiciary Act of 1789 or Judiciary Act which creates the office of the United States Attorney General and the federal judiciary system, and orders the composition of the Supreme Court of the United States.
25th September » The United States Congress passes twelve amendments to the United States Constitution: the Congressional Apportionment Amendment (which was never ratified), the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution named Congressional Compensation Am
26th September » Thomas Jefferson is appointed the first United States Secretary of State, John Jay is appointed the first United States Supreme Court/Chief Justice known as Chief Justice of the United States, Samuel Osgood is appointed the first United States Postmaster
29th September » The United States Department of War first establishes a regular United States Army named army with a strength of several hundred men.
29th September » The 1st United States Congress adjourns.
2nd October » George Washington sends proposed Constitutional amendments (The United States Bill of Rights) to the States for ratification.
3rd October » George Washington makes the first Thanksgiving (United States) named Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government of the United States of America.
6th October » French Revolution: Louis XVI of France named Louis XVI returns to Paris from Palace of Versailles e.g Versailles after being confronted by the Parisian women on 5 October
19th October » Chief Justice John Jay is sworn in as the first Chief Justice of the United States.
6th November » Pope Pius VI appoints Father John Carroll (bishop) e.g John Carroll as the first Roman Catholic Church or Catholic bishop in the United States.
20th November » New Jersey becomes the first U.S. state to ratify the United States Bill of Rights or Bill of Rights.
21st November » North Carolina ratifies the United States Constitution and is admitted as the 12th U.S. state.
26th November » A national Thanksgiving (United States) Thanksgiving Day is observed in the United States as recommended by President of the United States President George Washington and approved by U.S. Congress Congress.
11th December » The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or University of North Carolina is chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly.