Deaths on December 23

Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol

Died on December 23, 1779

Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol, English admiral and politician, Chief Secretary for Ireland (b. 1724)

Admiral Augustus John Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol, PC (19 May 1724 – 23 December 1779) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. He commanded the sixth-rate HMS Phoenix at the Battle of Minorca in May 1756 as well as the third-rate HMS Dragon at the Capture of Belle Île in June 1761, the Invasion of Martinique in January 1762 and the Battle of Havana in June 1762 during the Seven Years' War. He went on to be Chief Secretary for Ireland and then First Naval Lord. He was known as the English Casanova, due to his colourful personal life.

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1779

14 Feb

Native Hawaiians
James Cook is killed by Native Hawaiians near Kealakekua on the Island of Hawaii.
24 Jun

Great Siege of Gibraltar
American Revolutionary War: The Great Siege of Gibraltar begins.
13 Aug

Attack on Pearl Harbor
American Revolutionary War: The Royal Navy defeats the Penobscot Expedition with the most significant loss of United States naval forces prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
23 Sep

Battle of Flamborough Head
American Revolution: John Paul Jones on board the USS Bonhomme Richard wins the Battle of Flamborough Head.
27 Sep

John Adams
The Continental Congress appoints John Adams to travel to France as minister plenipotentiary in charge of negotiating treaties of peace and commerce with Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War.

Deaths on December 23

Augustus Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol

Died on December 23, 1779

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1779

Native Hawaiians

Great Siege of Gibraltar

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Battle of Flamborough Head

John Adams