Deaths on October 17

William Cookworthy

Died on October 17, 1780

William Cookworthy, English pharmacist and minister (b. 1705)

William Cookworthy (12 April 1705 – 17 October 1780) was an English Quaker minister, a successful pharmacist and an innovator in several fields of technology. He was the first person in Britain to discover how to make hard-paste porcelain, like that imported from China. He subsequently discovered china clay in Cornwall. In 1768 he founded a works at Plymouth for the production of Plymouth porcelain; in 1770 he moved the factory to Bristol, to become Bristol porcelain, before selling it to a partner in 1773.

References

William Cookworthy

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Events on 1780

16 Jan

Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)
American Revolutionary War: Battle of Cape St. Vincent.
17 Mar

Saint Patrick's Day
American Revolution: George Washington grants the Continental Army a holiday "as an act of solidarity with the Irish in their fight for independence".
21 Sep

Benedict Arnold
American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold gives the British the plans to West Point.
23 Sep

Benedict Arnold
American Revolution: British Major John André is arrested as a spy by American soldiers exposing Benedict Arnold's change of sides.
24 Sep

West Point
Benedict Arnold flees to British Army lines when the arrest of British Major John André exposes Arnold's plot to surrender West Point.

Deaths on October 17

William Cookworthy

Died on October 17, 1780

References

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Events on 1780

Battle of Cape St. Vincent (1780)

Saint Patrick's Day

Benedict Arnold

Benedict Arnold

West Point