1779 in the United States
Centuries:	17th century – 18th century – 19th century
Decades:	1750s  1760s  – 1770s –  1780s  1790s
Years:	1776 1777 1778 – 1779 – 1780 1781 1782
Flag:	13 stars, the Betsy Ross version (1777 – 1795)

Events from the year 1779 in the United States.

[edit] Events

[edit] January–March

• January 22 – American Revolutionary War: Claudius Smith is hanged at Goshen, Orange County, New York for supposed acts of terrorism upon the people of the surrounding communities.
• January 29 – After a second petition for partition from its residents, the North Carolina General Assembly abolishes Bute County, North Carolina (established 1764) by dividing it and naming the northern portion Warren County (for Revolutionary War hero Joseph Warren) and the southern portion Franklin County (for Benjamin Franklin). The General Assembly also establishes Warrenton (also named for Joseph Warren) to be the county seat of Warren County and Louisburg (named for Louis XVI of France) to be the county seat of Franklin County.
• February 14: Captain James Cook dies on the Sandwich Islands on his third and last voyage.

[edit] April–June

• June 1 – American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold is court-martialed for malfeasance in his treatment of government property.
• June 16 – American Revolutionary War: In support of the U.S., Spain declares war on England.

[edit] July–September

• July 16 – American Revolutionary War: United States forces led by General Anthony Wayne capture Stony Point, New York from British troops.
• July 22 – Battle of Minisink: The Goshen Militia is destroyed by Joseph Brant's forces.
• July 24 – American Revolutionary War: American forces led by Commodore Dudley Saltonstall launch the Penobscot Expedition in what is now Castine, Maine, resulting in the worst naval defeat in U.S. history until Pearl Harbor.
• September – Battle of Baton Rouge: Spanish troops under Bernardo de Galvez capture the city from the British.
• September 23 – American Revolution – Battle of Flamborough Head: The American ship Bonhomme Richard, commanded by John Paul Jones, engages the British ship Serapis. The Bonhomme Richard sinks, but the Americans board the Serapis and other vessels, and are victorious.

[edit] October–December

• October 4 – The Fort Wilson Riot takes place.
• November 2 – The North Carolina General Assembly carves a new county from Dobbs County, North Carolina and names it Wayne County in honor of United States General Anthony Wayne.
• December 25 – Fort Nashborough, later to become Nashville, Tennessee, is founded by James Robertson.