1783 Facts for Kids

The year 1783 was a time of big changes around the world, especially with the end of the American Revolutionary War. It also saw exciting new inventions like the hot air balloon! Many important events happened, from peace treaties being signed to volcanoes erupting and new cities being founded.

Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	17th century – 18th century – 19th century
Decades:	1750s 1760s 1770s – 1780s – 1790s 1800s 1810s
Years:	1780 1781 1782 – 1783 – 1784 1785 1786

Key Events of 1783
Famous People Born in 1783
Images for kids
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Key Events of 1783

End of the American Revolutionary War

On February 3, Spain officially recognized the United States as an independent country.
Just a day later, on February 4, Great Britain announced it would stop fighting with the United States of America. This was a huge step towards peace.
The war officially ended on September 3 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. This important agreement between the United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain was signed in Paris, making the United States a truly independent nation.
After the treaty, on November 25, the last British troops left New York City.
On November 2, US General George Washington gave his "Farewell Address to the Army" in Rocky Hill, New Jersey.
Later, on December 4, General George Washington said goodbye to his officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York City.

Hot Air Balloon Flights

A very exciting event happened on June 5 in Annonay, France. The Montgolfier brothers showed off their amazing invention, the montgolfière, which was an early hot air balloon. It was the first public demonstration of a hot air balloon!
Then, on November 21, in Paris, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent, marquis d'Arlandes, made history. They took the first ever untethered hot air balloon flight. This means the balloon wasn't tied down. Their flight lasted 25 minutes and went as high as 5 miles!

Natural Disasters and Their Impact

On February 4, a powerful earthquake hit Calabria, Italy, causing a lot of damage and sadly killing about 50,000 people.
A major volcanic eruption began on June 8 in Iceland. The volcano Laki started an eruption that lasted for eight months. This eruption was very serious, leading to the deaths of 9,350 people and causing a seven-year famine. Livestock died from eating contaminated grass, and crops failed, leading to widespread hunger.
On August 5, Mount Asama erupted in Japan, causing problems during the Edo period.

New Settlements and Changes

The city of Sevastopol was founded in 1783.
Many United Empire Loyalists, who were people loyal to Britain during the American Revolution, left the new United States. Some fled to Canada, and on May 18, the first Loyalists reached Parrtown (now Saint John, New Brunswick).
On July 16, land grants in Canada were announced for these American Loyalists.
Other Loyalists from New York settled in Great Abaco in The Bahamas.
The Treaty of Versailles was signed, which ended fighting between the Franco-Spanish Alliance (France and Spain) and England.

Famous People Born in 1783

January 23 – Stendhal, a famous French writer.
March 8 – Hannah Van Buren, who would later become the First Lady of the United States.
April 3 – Washington Irving, an American writer known for stories like "Rip Van Winkle."
April 10 – Hortense de Beauharnais, who became the Queen of Holland and was the mother of Napoleon III of France.
July 24 – Simón Bolívar, a very important Venezuelan patriot and revolutionary leader who helped many South American countries gain independence.
September 17 – Samuel Prout, an English painter.