Birth of Charles Darwin
Beethoven premieres his Fifth Symphony, Sixth Symphony, Fourth Piano Concerto and Choral Fantasy together in Vienna
Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of the French.
World population reaches 1 billion.
Matthew Flinders recommends that the newly discovered country, New Holland, be renamed \'Australia\'
Union Jack becomes the official British flag
Electric light first produced by Sir Humphrey Davy
Herschel discovers infra-red light
Volta makes first electrical battery
The name Australia is used by George Shaw and appears to be the first documented use.
The British Crown Colony of New South Wales started with the establishment of a settlement and penal colony at Port Jackson by Captain Arthur Phillip on 26 January 1788.
United States Declaration of Independence
American Revolutionary War
The Zuytdorp wrecked near Geraldton. Survivors are known to have landed, and the story of their welcome and preservation by local Aborigines was known as far south as Perth 122 years later.