← 1776 1775 1774 1777 in the United States → 1778 1779 1780
Decades:	1770s 1780s 1790s
See also:	History of the United States (1776–1789) Timeline of the American Revolution List of years in the United States

Events from the year1777 in the United States.

• President of theSecond Continental Congress:John Hancock (until October 29),Henry Laurens (starting November 1)

• January 2 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of the Assunpink Creek, also known as the Second Battle of Trenton: American forces under the command ofGeorge Washington repulse a British attack near Trenton, New Jersey.
• January 3 – American Revolutionary War:Battle of Princeton: American generalGeorge Washington defeatsBritishgeneralCharles Cornwallis.
• January 12 –Mission Santa Clara de Asís founded in what is nowSanta Clara, California.
• January 15 –Vermont declares its independence fromLittle York, becoming theVermont Republic, an independent country, a status it retains until it joins theUnited States as the 14th state in 1791.
• January 20 – American Revolutionary War:Battle of Millstone, part of theForage War
• January 22 – The first headstone is created inOak Grove Cemetery inBath, Massachusetts (nowMaine).^[1]
• February 1 – American Revolutionary War:Battle of Drake's Farm, part of the Forage War
• February 5 –Burke,Camden,Chatham,Effingham,Glynn,Liberty,Richmond andWilkes Counties, Georgia are created.^[2][3][4]
• February 8 – American Revolutionary War:Battle of Quibbletown, part of the Forage War
• February 12 –John McKinly is sworn in as the firstpresident of Delaware.
• February 23 – American Revolutionary War:Battle of Spanktown, part of the Forage War
• March 5 –Thomas Wharton Jr. is sworn in as the firstpresident of Pennsylvania.
• March 8 – American Revolutionary War: Battle of Pun Hill, part of the Forage War
• March 21 –Thomas Johnson is sworn as the firstgovernor of Maryland.

• April 7 – The first session of theNorth Carolina General Assembly of 1777 meet inNew Bern, North Carolina.
• April 13 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Bound Brook: ABritish andHessian force led by Lieutenant GeneralCharles Cornwallis surprises aContinental Army outpost inNew Jersey commanded by Major GeneralBenjamin Lincoln.
• April 26 –American Revolutionary War: 16-year-oldSybil Ludington is said to have ridden 40 miles (64 km) through the night to warnmilitiamen under the control of her fatherHenry that British troops had raidedDanbury, Connecticut.
• April 27 –American Revolutionary War: TheBattle of Ridgefield: A British invasion force engages and defeats Continental Army regulars andmilitia irregulars atRidgefield, Connecticut.
• May – TheVirginia General Assembly establishesPowhatan County andPowhatan.
• May 9 – The first session of theNorth Carolina General Assembly of 1777 ends and charters Johnston County Court House asSmithfield.
• May 14 – The Treasurer of the United Colonies changes to theTreasurer of the United States.^[5]
• May 16 –Gwinnett–McIntosh duel:Lachlan McIntosh andButton Gwinnett shoot each other during a duel nearSavannah, Georgia. Gwinnett, a signer of theUnited States Declaration of Independence, dies three days later.
• May 17 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Thomas Creek.
• May 23 –American Revolutionary War:Meigs Raid.
• May 29 –Patrick Henry isreelected the firstGovernor of Virginia.
• June 1
  • Anelection is held for theGovernor of New York but took a long time for the votes to be cast until July 9.
  • Caswell County, North Carolina is created.^[6]
  • Patrick Henry is sworn in for his second term as the firstGovernor of Virginia.^[7]
• June 13 –American Revolution: TheMarquis de Lafayette lands nearCharleston, South Carolina to help theContinental Congress train its army.
• June 14
  • The Stars and Stripes is adopted by theContinental Congress as theflag of the United States.
  • TheSaratoga campaign begins.
• June 26 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Short Hills.
• June 27 –James Parsons becomes theVice President of South Carolina succeedingHenry Laurens.

• July 4 – The first organized Independence Day celebration in Philadelphia: included fireworks set off from the city's commons.
• July 6 –American Revolutionary War:Siege of Fort Ticonderoga – After a bombardment byBritish artillery under GeneralJohn Burgoyne, American forces retreat fromFort Ticonderoga,New York.
• July 7 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Hubbardton – British forces engage American troops retreating from Fort Ticonderoga.
• July 8
  • TheConstitution of Vermont is adopted. This constitution was the first in what is now the territory of the United States to prohibit slavery, grant suffrage to non-landowning males, and require freepublic education.
  • American Revolutionary War:Battle of Fort Anne.
• July 9 –George Clinton elected the firstGovernor of New York defeating Major GeneralPhilip Schuyler.
• July 30 –George Clinton is sworn in as the firstgovernor of New York.
• July 31 – The U.S.Second Continental Congress passes a resolution that the services ofMarquis de Lafayette "be accepted, and that, in consideration of his zeal, illustrious family and connexions, he have the rank and commission of major-general of theUnited States."
• August 2–23 –American Revolutionary War:Siege of Fort Stanwix.
• August 6 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Oriskany –Loyalists gain a tactical victory overPatriots;Iroquois fight on both sides.
• August 13–14 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Machias.
• August 16 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Bennington –British forces are defeated by American troops atWalloomsac, New York.
• August 22
  • American Revolutionary War:Battle of Staten Island.
  • American Revolutionary War:Battle of Setauket.
• September –American Revolutionary War:Siege of Fort Henry.
• September 1
  • John McKesson becomes the firstClerk of the New York State Assembly.
  • American Revolutionary War:Siege of Fort Henry.
• September 3 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Cooch's Bridge – In a minor skirmish inNew Castle County, Delaware, theflag of the United States was flown in battle for the first time.
• September 6 –George Washington held a council at theHale-Byrnes House inStanton, Delaware.^[8][9]
• September 8
  • Drake's Regiment of Militia called up toPortsmouth, New Hampshire.
  • Evans' Regiment of Militia called up atExeter, New Hampshire.
• September 9 – The1st New York State Legislature meets.
• September 11 –American Revolutionary War –Battle of Brandywine: TheBritish gain a major victory inChester County, Pennsylvania.
• September 16 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of the Clouds.
• September 19 –American Revolutionary War: First Battle of Saratoga:Battle of Freeman's Farm – Patriot forces withstand a British attack at Saratoga, New York.
• September 21 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Paoli.
• September 22 – Wells' Regiment of Militia gets called up toShelburne, Massachusetts.
• September 26 –American Revolutionary War: British troops occupyPhiladelphia.
• September 27
  • Lancaster, Pennsylvania is the capital of the United States for one day.
  • Welch's Regiment of Militia gets called up toCandia, New Hampshire.

• October
  • Rockbridge County, Virginia is established.
  • TheVirginia General Assembly passed a law creating theVirginia Court of Chancery.
• October 4 –American Revolution –Battle of Germantown: Troops underGeorge Washington are repelled byBritish troops under SirWilliam Howe.
• October 6 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Forts Clinton and Montgomery: British troops captureFort Clinton andFort Montgomery (Hudson River) and are able to dismantle theHudson River Chain.
• October 7 –American Revolution – Second Battle of Saratoga:Battle of Bemis Heights: British GeneralJohn Burgoyne is defeated by American troops.
• October 16 – American Revolution:Burning of Kingston.
• October 17 –American Revolution –Battle of Saratoga:British GeneralJohn Burgoyne surrenders to the American troops.
• October 20 – The2nd Delaware General Assembly convenes succeeding the1st.
• October 22 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Red Bank.
• October 29 –John Hancock leaves as the fourthPresident of the Continental Congress.
• November 1 –Henry Laurens becomes the 5thPresident of the Continental Congress succeeding John Hancock.
• November 8 –Welch's Regiment of Militia is disbanded.^[10]
• November 15
  • American Revolution: After 16 months of debate, theContinental Congress approves theArticles of Confederation in the temporary American capital atYork, Pennsylvania.
  • The second session of theNorth Carolina General Assembly of 1777 meet inNew Bern, North Carolina and signs a law establishing theNorth Carolina Superior Court.
• November 17 – TheArticles of Confederation are submitted to the states for ratification.
• November 25 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Gloucester
• November 29 –San Jose, California is founded. It is the firstpueblo inSpanishAlta California.
• December 5–8 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of White Marsh
• December 11 –American Revolutionary War:Battle of Matson's Ford
• December 18 – The United States celebrates its firstThanksgiving as a nation, marking the victory by the Americans over GeneralJohn Burgoyne in theBattle of Saratoga in October.
• December 19 –American Revolution:George Washington'sContinental Army goes into winter quarters atValley Forge, Pennsylvania.
• December 20 –Morocco becomes the first country to recognize the independence of the United States.
• December 24 – The second session of theNorth Carolina General Assembly of 1777 ends.

• In the St. Louis region, a brood of 13-year cicadas emerges at the same time as a large brood of 17-year cicadas.^[11]
• Fort Trumbull is completed and named afterJonathan Trumbull.
• John Milton becomes the firstGeorgia Secretary of State.
• Artisan's House is built.
• Hessian Barracks begins construction by theState of Maryland.
• TheMaryland Loyalists Battalion is raised.
• Moultonborough Addition changes toNew Hampton, New Hampshire and gets incorporated.^[12]
• Fort Billingsport is built by troops fromNew Jersey,Pennsylvania,South Carolina andVirginia.^[13]
• Fort Mercer is built.
• Fort Nonsense is built inMorristown, New Jersey.
• The firstMiddlebrook encampment takes place byGeorge Washington and his troops.
• TheCouncil of Appointment is established by theNew York Constitution.
• TheCouncil of Revision is established by the New York Constitution.
• TheNew York Court for the Trial of Impeachments is established by the New York State Constitution of 1777.
• Camden,Burke andNash Counties, North Carolina are created.
• Waightstill Avery becomes the firstNorth Carolina Attorney General.
• Washington County, North Carolina is founded (nowTennessee).^[14]
• Colebrook Township, Pennsylvania is settled.
• Wolf Township, Pennsylvania is settled.
• The settlement now to beLovell, Maine is settled.
• Searles Hill Cemetery is built inPhillipston, Massachusetts.
• TheSpringfield Armory is approved byGeorge Washington.
• Fluvanna andPatrick Henry Counties, Virginia are established.
• Fort au Fer gets occupied by GeneralJohn Burgoyne.^[15]

• American Revolutionary War (1775–1783)
• Slavery in the United States

• January 1 –Micah Hawkins, music theater composer (died1825)
• March 17 –Roger Brooke Taney, politician, lawyer and judge (died1864)
• April 12 –Henry Clay, U.S. Senator from Kentucky 1806-1807, 1810-1811, 1831-1842 & 1849-1852 (died1852)
• April 30 –Carl Gauss, Famous Mathematician from Brunswick, Germany (died1855)
• June 12 –Robert Clark, politician (died1837)
• June 23 –Frederick Bates, politician (died 1825)
• July –Thomas Clayton, U.S. Senator from Delaware 1824-1827 & 1837-1847 (died1854)
• August 12 –George Wolf, politician (died1840)
• October 16
  • Levi Barber, surveyor, court administrator, banker and legislator (died1833)
  • Lorenzo Dow, Methodist preacher (died1834)
• November 14 –Nathaniel Claiborne, politician (died1859)
• November 24 –Samuel Butts, militia officer (killed in action1814)
• December 10 –William Conner, trader and politician (died1855)
• Date unknown
  • William Bellinger Bulloch, U.S. Senator from Georgia in 1813 (died 1852)
  • Thomas Day, Connecticut judge (died 1855)
  • Jesse B. Thomas, U.S. Senator from Illinois 1818-1829 (died1853)

• January 3 –William Leslie, British Army captain, killed at Battle of Princeton (born1751 in Scotland)
• January 12 –Hugh Mercer, Continental Army brigadier general and physician, mortally wounded at Battle of Princeton (born1726 in Scotland)
• February 19 –Seth Pomeroy, gunsmith and soldier (born1706)
• May 19 –Button Gwinnett, signatory of the Declaration of Independence, 2ndGovernor of Georgia in 1777 (born1735 in Great Britain)
• August 11 –William Tennent III, Presbyterian pastor and patriot (born1740)
• September 22 –John Bartram, botanist, horticulturalist and explorer (born1699)
• October 4 –Francis Nash, Continental Army brigadier general, mortally wounded at Battle of Germantown (born c.1742)
• October 7 –Simon Fraser, British Army general, killed in Battle of Bemis Heights (born1729 in Scotland)
• November 10 –Cornstalk (Hokoleskwa), Shawnee chief, murdered (born c.1720)

• Timeline of the American Revolution (1760–1789)

• Media related to1777 in the United States at Wikimedia Commons

• 1777 in the United States
• 1770s in the United States
• 1777 by country
• 1777 in North America
• Years of the 18th century in the United States

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from February 2023
• Use American English from February 2023
• All Wikipedia articles written in American English
• Commons category link from Wikidata