8 March – American Revolutionary War: the
League of Armed Neutrality is formed by
Russia with Denmark and Sweden to try to prevent the
Royal Navy from searching neutral vessels for contraband.[2]
7 June – the
Gordon Riots are ended by the intervention of troops. About 285 people are shot dead, with another 200 wounded and around 450 arrested, of whom around 25 will be executed.
9–20 October –
Great Hurricane of 1780 in the
Caribbean: At least a dozen ships of the
Royal Navy, stationed in the area because of the American Revolutionary War, are totally lost, many with all (or most) hands, and others damaged; hundreds of sailors are killed.
20 November – American Revolutionary War: Britain declares war on the
Dutch Republic to stop it from joining the League of Armed Neutrality.[2]
30 November – American Revolutionary War: The
San Juan Expedition is forced to withdraw.
^
abcPenguin Pocket On This Day. Penguin Reference Library. 2006.
ISBN0-14-102715-0.
^Berry, George (1970). Discovering Schools. Tring: Shire Publications.
ISBN0-85263-091-3.
^Hattendorf, John (2000). Naval Policy and Strategy in the Mediterranean: past, present, and future. Taylor & Francis. p. 37.
ISBN0-7146-8054-0.
^Harbron, John (1988). Trafalgar and the Spanish Navy. Conway Maritime Press. p. 84.
ISBN0-85177-477-6.
^Edler, Friedrich (2001) [1911]. The Dutch Republic and The American Revolution. Honolulu: University Press of the Pacific. pp. 163–166.
ISBN0-89875-269-8.