2015 Event Ukraine and Russia negotiate a ceasefire with the support of Germany and France; the agreement calls for an end to fighting, removal of large artillery from the sites of conflict, and greater independence for eastern Ukraine 2014 Event The Spanish region of Catalonia holds a referendum on independence, despite the ruling by the Spanish court that the vote is unconstitutional; though the government did not interfere with the vote, it will not recognize the results 2014 Event Hong Kong protesters continue to clash with police a day after Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying offers to engage in discussion; Leung said that he will not concede to demands for greater independence from central control, a key reason for the protest 2014 Event An independence referendum for the Spanish region of Catalonia has been cancelled after the nation's constitutional court accepted the case for legal decision, effectively suspending the move until a ruling is given 2014 Event The Spanish region of Catalonia plans to hold a referendum on independence; the Spanish government is moving to challenge the legality of such a move in the nation's Constitutional Court 2014 Event Scottish citizens reject independence of Scotland from the U.K.; 45 percent voted for and 55 percent voted against independence in a national referendum 2014 Event A 12-page letter written by Robert R. Livingston in 1775 is found by an archivist at the Morris-Jumel Mansion, George Washington's headquarters during the Revolutionary War; the letter explains why Livingston was chosen to help draft the Declaration of Independence 2013 Event Following an elaborate two-day state funeral, national independence hero of Vietnam, General Vo Nguyen Giap, is buried 2013 Event In Camp Nou, located in Barcelona, Catalonia, over 90,000 people attend the 'Concert per la llibertat' (Concert for freedom) for the independence of Catalonia 2013 Event In preparation for the Scottish independence referendum, the Scottish Government agrees to alter the wording in its referendum because members expressed concerns that it might lead people to vote for it 2012 Event A referendum on Scottish independence causes a clash between the United Kingdom's Westminster and Scottish governments 2011 Event In the Papuan capital of Jayapura, about 10,000 Papuan people demonstrate in support of independence from India 2011 Event Venezuelans celebrate 200 years of independence from Spain with a military parade and parties in the streets 2011 Event Queen Elizabeth II visits Ireland's Croke Park in Dublin, where the Bloody Sunday massacre of 1920 occurred during the Irish War of Independence 2011 Event In a referendum based on official figures, nearly 99% of South Sudanese voted for independence from the north 2010 Event Chileans celebrate the 200th anniversary of their independence 2010 Event Mexico celebrates its 200-year anniversary marking its independence from Spain 2009 Event Kosovo holds its first local election since declaring independence from Serbia 2008 Event Kosovo declares independence from Serbia 1993 Event Eritrea achieved independence from Ethiopia after 30-year civil war 1991 Event Ukrainian people vote for independence 1991 Event Macedonia votes for independence from Yugoslavia 1991 Event Soviet Union recognizes Estonian independence 1991 Event U.S.S.R. recognizes independence of the 3 Baltic republics 1991 Event U.S. officially recognizes independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania 1991 Event Moldavia declares independence from U.S.S.R. 1991 Event Norway and Denmark recognize independence of former U.S.S.R. Baltic reps 1991 Event Ukraine declares independence from U.S.S.R. 1991 Event Latvia declares it's independence from U.S.S.R. 1991 Event Estonia declares it's independence from U.S.S.R. itself independent 1991 Event Slovenia and Croatia declare independence from Yugoslavia 1991 Event Croatia declares independence 1991 Event Soviet Republic of Georgia endorsed independence, Warsaw Pact dissolves 1991 Event Iceland recognizes Lithuania's independence 1991 Event Lithuania votes for independence from U.S.S.R. 1991 Event Soviets storm buildings in Vilnius to block Lithuania independence 1990 Event Armenia declares independence 1990 Event Bosnia-Hercegovina declares independence 1990 Event Ukraine declares independence 1990 Event Moldavia declares independence 1990 Event Latvia's parliament votes 138-0 (1 abstention) for Independence 1990 Event Lithuania declares it's Independence 1990 Event 200,000 demand return of Lithuania's independence 1989 Event Zimbabwe gains independence 1988 Event South Africa signs accord granting independence to South West Africa 1983 Event Brunei gains complete independence from Britain 1983 Event St. Kitts and Nevis declares independence from U.K. 1982 Death Bess Truman, 1st lady (1945-53), dies in Independence, Mo at 97 1981 Event According to South Africa, Ciskei gains independence Not recognized as an independent country outside South Africa 1981 Event Antigua and Barbuda gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1981 Event Belize (British Honduras) gains independence from U.K. 1981 Event Belize declares independence 1980 Event Vanuatu (New Hebrides) gains independence from Britain and France 1980 Event Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) declares independence from UK 1979 Event Great Britain grants independence to Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) 1979 Event South Africa grants Venda independence (Not recognized out of South Africa) 1979 Event Kiribati (formerly Gilbert Islands) declares independence from U.K. 1979 Event Zimbabwe proclaims independence 1979 Event St. Lucia gains independence from Britain 1978 Event Dominica gains independence from U.K. and adopts constitution 1978 Event Tuvalu (formerly Ellice Islands) declares independence from U.K. 1978 Event Solomon Islands declares independence from U.K. 1977 Event Dutch Antilles: premier Boy Rozendal points independence off 1977 Event South Africa grants Bophuthatswana independence 1977 Event Djibouti (Afars and Issas) claims Independence from France 1976 Birthday Scott Vermillion, Independence, Missouri, soccer defender, 1996 Olympics gold 1976 Event Transkei gains independence, not recognized outside of South Africa 1976 Event Seychelles Independence, Independence day 1976 Event Seychelles gains independence from Britain 1976 Event Liberty Bell moves to new home behind Independence Hall 1975 Event Netherlands grants Suriname independence (National Day) 1975 Event Angola gains independence from Portugal (National Day) 1975 Event Papua New Guinea gains independence from Australia (National Day) 1975 Event Guinee-Bissau declares independence from Portugal 1975 Event Sao Tome e Principe gains independence from Portugal (National Day) 1975 Event Comoros declare independence from France 1975 Event Cape Verde Is gain independence after 500 years of Portuguese rule 1975 Event Mozambique gains independence from Portugal (National Day) 1975 Event Portugal signs accord for Angola's independence 1974 Event Referenda in Comoros-3 islands for independence, 1 stays French 1974 Event U.N. affirms independence of Cyprus 1974 Event Portugal recognizes independence of Rep of Guinea-Bissau 1974 Event Grenada gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1973 Event Guinea-Bissau declares independence 1973 Event Bahamas declares Independence from U.K. and adopts constitution 1973 Death Amilcar L Cabral, fought for Guinea Bissau independence, murdered 51 1971 Event Bangladesh (East Pakistan) declares independence from Pakistan 1971 Event United Arab Emirates, (Trucial States) declares independence from UK 1971 Event Qatar regains complete independence from Britain 1971 Event Qatar declares independence from Britain 1971 Event Bahrain proclaims independence after 110 years of British rule 1971 Event Bangladesh (East Pakistan) declares its independence 1970 Event Fiji gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1970 Event Khmer Republic (Cambodia) declares independence 1970 Event Tonga, formerly Friendly Islands, declares independence from U.K. 1970 Event Qatar gains independence from Britain 1970 Event White government of Rhodesia declares independence from Britain 1968 Event Equatorial Guinea (Spanish Guinea) declares independence from Spain 1968 Event Swaziland gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1968 Event Mauritius gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1968 Event Nauru (formerly Pleasant Island) declares independence from Australia 1967 Event Democratic People's republic of Yemen gains independence 1967 Event People's Democratic Republic of Yemen declares independence from U.K. 1967 Event People's Rep of South Yemen (Aden) gains independence from Britain 1967 Event Biafra declares independence from Nigeria 1967 Event Grenada gains partial independence from Britain 1967 Event Dominica and St. Lucia gain independence from Britain 1967 Event Dominica gains independence from England 1966 Event Barbados gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1966 Event Lesotho (Basutoland) gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1966 Event Botswana (Bechuanaland) gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1966 Event Bechuanaland gains independence from England, becomes Botswana 1966 Event Guyana (formerly British Guiana) declares independence from UK 1965 Event Rhodesia proclaimed independence from Britain by Prime Minister Ian D Smith 1965 Event Singapore gains independence from Malaysia, National Day 1965 Event Republic of Maldives gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1965 Event Gambia gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1964 Event Zambia (N Rhodesia) gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1964 Event Malta gains independence from Britain 1964 Event Malawi (formerly Nyasaland) declares independence from U.K. 1964 Event Revolution overthrows Sultan of Zanzibar, 1 month after independence 1963 Event Kenya (formerly British East Africa) declares independence from UK 1963 Event Zanzibar gains independence from Britain 1963 Event Independence is restored to Dominican Republic 1962 Event Uganda declares independence from Great Britain 1962 Event Trinidad and Tobago gain independence from Britain (National Day) 1962 Event Algeria gains independence after 132 years of French rule 1962 Event Algeria votes for independence 1962 Event Burundi and Rwanda gain independence from Belgium (National Days) 1962 Event French President de Gaulle calls for Algeria's independence 1962 Birthday Julie Moran, TV hostess, Entertainment Tonight, Independence Day 1962 Event Western Samoa gains independence from New Zealand, Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II becomes co-chief of Western Samoa 1961 Event Tanganyika gains independence from Britain takes name Tanzania 1961 Event Kuwait declares independence from U.K. 1961 Event Sierra Leone declares independence from U.K. 1960 Event Ivory Coast claims independence from France 1960 Event Mauritania gains independence from France (National Day) 1960 Event France grants Mauritania independence 1960 Event Nigeria gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1960 Event Mali, formerly French Sudan, declares independence from France 1960 Event Senegal breaks from Mali federation, declaring independence 1960 Event Gabon gains independence from France, National Day 1960 Event Britain grants independence to crown colony of Cyprus 1960 Event Congo (formerly Congo/Brazzaville) declares Independence from France 1960 Event Central African Republic and Chad proclaim independence from France 1960 Event Chad declares Independence from France 1960 Event Ivory Coast, Cote d'Ivoore, gains independence from France 1960 Event Burkina (formerly Upper Volta) declares independence from France 1960 Event Niger gains independence from France 1960 Event Benin (Dahomey) gains independence from France 1960 Event Congo, Chad and Central African Republic declare independence 1960 Event Ivory Coast, Dahomey, Upper Volta and Niger declare independence 1960 Event Moise Tsjombe declares Congolese county Katanga independence 1960 Event Italian Somaliland gains independence, unites with Somali Republic 1960 Event Zaire (formerly Belgian Congo) declares independence from Belgium 1960 Event British Somaliland (now Somalia) gains independence from Britain 1960 Event Italian Somaliland declares independence from Italian-administration 1960 Event Madagascar (formerly Malagasy Rep) declares independence from France 1960 Event Madagascar gains independence of France 1960 Event Togo (formerly French Togo) declares independence from French Admiral 1960 Event Senegal declares independence from France 1960 Event Chad declares independence from France 1960 Event French Cameroon gains independence from France 1959 Event Dom Mintoff demands independence for Malta 1959 Event Britain, Turkey and Greece sign agreement granting Cyprus independence 1959 Event King Boudouin promises Belgian Congo independence 1958 Event Guinea (French Guinea) gains independence from France (National Day) 1958 Event Guinea votes for independence from France 1958 Birthday Dan McVicar, born in Independence, Missouri, actor, Clarke-Bold and Beautiful 1957 Event Malayasia (formerly Malaya) gains independence from Britain 1957 Event Harry S. Truman Library forms in Independence, Missouri 1957 Birthday Margaret Colin, actress, Independence Day, Three Men and a Baby 1957 Event Ghana (formerly Gold Coast) declares independence from U.K. 1956 Event Morocco gains independence 1956 Event France recognizes Tunisia's independence 1956 Event Independence National Historical Park forms in Philadelphia 1956 Event Tunisia gains independence from France 1956 Event Morocco gains independence from France (Anniversary of throne) 1956 Event Morocco tears up the Treaty of Fez, declares independence from France 1956 Event Sudan (Anglo-Egyptian Sudan) declares independence from Egypt and U.K. 1955 Event Austria regains full independence after 4-power occupation 1955 Event Vienna Treaty: Brit, France, U.S. and U.S.S.R. restores Austria's independence 1954 Event Laos gains its independence 1954 Birthday Bill Pullman, actor, Sommersby, League of their Own, Independence Day 1954 Event At Geneva, France agrees to independence of North and South Vietnam 1954 Event France grants Vietnam independence inside French Union 1953 Event Cambodia (now Kampuchea) gains independence within French Union 1953 Event Laos gains full independence from France 1952 Birthday Jeff Goldblum, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, actor, Fly, Jurassic Park, Independence Day 1952 Birthday Mary McDonnell, born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, actress, Sneakers, Independence Day 1951 Event United Kingdom of Libya gains independence from Italy via United Nations 1950 Event Indonesia gains independence from Netherlands 1949 Event United States of Indonesia gains independence from Netherlands 1949 Event Israel's 19 month war of independence ends 1949 Event Bao Dai's Republic of Vietnam gains independence from France 1949 Event British government grants Cyrenaica (East-Libya) independence 1948 Event State of Eire, formerly Irish Free State, declares its independence 1948 Event Ireland votes for independence from UK 1948 Birthday Robert Spink, born in Haworth, Worth Valley, Yorkshire, England, Robert Michael Spink, politician, Independence Party, former Conservative Party member, became Member of Parliament for Castle Point in June, 2001 1948 Event Israel declares independence from British administration 1948 Event Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) declares independence from UK 1948 Event Burma declares independence from UK 1947 Event India declares independence from UK, Islamic part becomes Pakistan 1947 Event Pakistan, formerly West Pakistan, declares independence from UK 1947 Event India granted independence within British Commonwealth 1947 Event Pakistan gains independence from Britain 1947 Event King George VI signs Indian Independence Bill 1947 Event British stop ships Independence and In-Gathering from landing in Israel 1946 Event Philippines gains independence from U.S. 1946 Event Jordan gains independence from Britain (National Day) 1946 Event Syria declares independence from French administration 1946 Event Syria gains independence from France 1946 Event Britain signs treaty granting independence to Jordan 1946 Event British premier Attlee agrees with India's right to independence 1945 Event Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam independence from France (National Day) 1945 Event Indonesia (Dutch E Indies) declares independence from Netherlands 1945 Event Japan declares Vietnam Independence 1945 Event Japanese proclaim "independence" of Indo-China 1944 Event Iceland declares independence from Denmark at Thingvallir, Iceland 1943 Event Lebanon declares independence from French administration 1943 Event Japan declares Philippine Independence (premier/president Jose Laurel) 1943 Event Japan declares Burma Independence under U Ba Maw 1941 Event Lebanon gains independence from France 1941 Event Pro-nazi group declares Ukraine independence 1941 Event Former Dutch Prime Minister Colijn says Netherlands Indies not ready for independence 1935 Event Plebiscite in Philippines ratifies independence agreement 1934 Event Tunisia began its move for independence 1934 Event Philippine legislature accepts U.S. proposal for independence 1934 Event U.S. Congress accepts Philippines independence in 1945 1933 Event U.S. Congress recognize independence Philippines 1932 Event Iraq gains full independence from Britain, joins League of Nations 1931 Event British Statute of Westminster gives complete legislative independence to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, Newfndlnd 1930 Event Great Britain signs accord for Independence of Iraq 1930 Event 1st night organized baseball game Independence. Kansas 1929 Event Indian National Congress proclaims goal for India's independence 1928 Event Jawaharlal Nehru requests independence of India 1927 Event Iraq gains independence from Britain, but British troops remain 1926 Event Philippines government asks U.S. to plebiscite for independence 1923 Event Turkey declares independence (successor state to Ottoman Empire) 1922 Event Protocol of Genevia signed: Austria gains independence 1922 Event Egypt regains independence from Britain, but British troops remain 1922 Event Great Britain grants Egypt independence 1921 Birthday Amilcar Cabral, worked for independence of Portuguese Africa 1921 Event Mongolia gains independence from China (National Day) 1921 Event Mongolia (formerly Outer Mongolia) declares independence from China 1920 Event 1st peace of Riga-Soviet Union recognizes Independence of Latvia 1920 Event U.S.S.R. recognizes Georgia's independence 1920 Event Pogrom leader Petljoera declares Ukraine Independence 1920 Event Greek Independence Day 1920 Event Peace treaty gives Estonia independence 1920 Event Estonia declares its Independence from Russia (Dorpat Peace) 1920 Event Tarto/Dorpat peace treaty: U.S.S.R. recognizes Estonian independence 1920 Event Georgia declares independence 1919 Event Fiume (Rijeka) declares its Independence 1919 Event Afghanistan declares independence from U.K. 1919 Event Treaty of Rawalpindi, British recognize Afghanistan's independence 1919 Event Harry S Truman marries Elizabeth Virginia Wallace in Independence 1919 Event Armenia declares it's Independence 1919 Event Demonstrations for Korean independence from Japan begin 1919 Event Lithuania gains independence 1918 Event Danish parliament passed an act to grant Iceland independence 1918 Event Yugoslavia declares independence; monarchy established 1918 Event Latvia declares independence from Russia 1918 Event Poland declares independence 1918 Event Independence of Poland proclaimed by Jozef Pilsudski 1918 Event Poland proclaims independence from Russia after WW I 1918 Event Czechoslovakia gains independence as Austria-Hungary breaks up 1918 Event Czechoslovakia declares Independence from Austro-Hungarian Empire 1918 Event Czechoslovakia forms independence republic 1918 Event Georgian Social Democratic Republic declares independence from Russia 1918 Event Latvia proclaims independence 1918 Event Lithuania proclaims independence 1918 Event Estonia declares independence from Russia 1918 Event Lithuania declares independence from Russia and Germany (National Day) 1917 Event Flanders declares it's independence, under Pieter Tack 1917 Event Moldavian Republic declares independence from Russia 1917 Event German-occupied Lithuania proclaims independence from Russia 1917 Event Finland declares independence from Russia (National Day) 1916 Event U.S. Congress accept Jones Act: Philippines independence 1915 Event Thomas Masaryk demands independence for Czechoslovakia 1915 Event Thomas Masaryk claims independence for Czechoslovakia 1912 Event Albania declares independence from Turkey 1911 Birthday Ginger Rogers, Independence, Missouri, dancer, Gay Divorcee 1910 Event Union of South Africa declares independence from U.K. 1909 Event Colombia recognizes Panama's independence 1908 Event Bulgaria declares independence from Turkey, Ferdinand I becomes Tsar 1908 Event Bulgaria declares independence from Ottoman Empire (Turkey) 1907 Event New Zealand declares independence from U.K. 1906 Event Great Britain, France and Italy grant Independence to Ethiopia 1904 Event France and Spain sign treaty for Morocco Independence 1903 Event USA recognizea independence of Panama 1903 Event Colombia grants Panama independence 1902 Event Cuba gains independence from Spain 1901 Event Australia declares independence from federation of U.K. colonies 1898 Event Philippine nationalists declares independence from Spain to U.S. control 1895 Event Cuban war for independence begins 1894 Event Korea declares independence from China, asks for Japanese aid 1889 Event Players League begins, declaring independence from baseball's NL 1883 Event Northern Pacific RR's last spike driven at Independence Creek, Mont 1881 Event Transvaal regains independence under British suzerainty 1868 Event Cuba revolts for independence against Spain 1868 Event Grito de Lares proclaims Puerto Rico's independence (crushed by Spain) 1867 Event Luxembourg gains independence 1862 Event Great Britain and France recognizes independence of Zanzibar 1861 Event Italy declares independence; Kingdom of Italy proclaimed 1854 Event British recognize independence of Orange Free State (South Africa) 1853 Event Buenos Aires gains independence from Argentina (reunited 1859) 1852 Event British recognize independence of Transvaal (in South Africa) 1849 Event Venice under Daniele Manin surrenders to Austrians under Radetsky, after been under siege since July 20 after proclaiming independence 1848 Event Battle of Custoza-Italian War of Independence, starts 1848 Event Neufchatel declares independence of Switzerland 1847 Event Liberia declares independence from American Colonization Society 1847 Birthday Alice Sophia Stopford Green, Ireland, proponent of Irish independence 1846 Event California declares independence from Mexico in Sonoma 1846 Event Yucatan declares independence from Mexico 1844 Event Spain grants Dominican Rep independence 1844 Event Dominican Republic gains independence from Haiti (National Day) 1843 Event 1st wagon train, 1000+ depart Independence Missouri for Oregon 1842 Event U.S. recognizes independence of Hawaii 1841 Event 1st emigrant wagon train leaves Independence, Missouri for California 1838 Event Honduras declares independence of Central American Federation 1838 Event Nicaragua declares independence from Central American federation 1836 Event Spain recognizes independence of Mexico 1836 Event Battle of San Jacinto, in which Texas wins independence from Mexico 1836 Event Republic of Texas declares independence from Mexico 1832 Death Charles Carroll, large landowner, signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 95 1831 Event Belgium gains independence from Netherlands, Leopold I made king 1828 Event Uruguay gains independence during Brazil-Argentina peace talk 1828 Event Russia declares war on Turkey to support Greece's independence 1825 Event Uruguay declares independence from Brazil (National Day) 1825 Event Bolivia gains independence from Peru (National Day) 1823 Event United Provinces of Central America gain independence from Mexico 1822 Event Brazil declares independence from Portugal (National Day) 1822 Event Pedro I, son of king Joao VI, declares Brazil independence 1822 Event Battle of Pichincha, Bolivar secures independence of Quito from Spain 1821 Event Santo Domingo (Dominican Rep) proclaims independence from Spain 1821 Event Panama declares independence from Spain 1821 Event Mexican Empire declares its independence 1821 Event Mexico declares independence 1821 Death William Floyd, U.S. soldier/signer of Declaration of Independence, dies at 86 1821 Event Peru declares independence from Spain (National Day) 1821 Event Greece gains independence from Turkey (National Day) 1821 Event Mexico gains independence from Spain 1820 Event Cuenca Ecuador declares independence 1820 Death William Ellery, U.S. attorney signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 92 1819 Event Congress of Angostura establishes Colombia's independence from Spain 1818 Event Chile gains independence from Spain 1817 Death Thomas McKean, U.S. attorney/signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 83 1816 Event Argentina declares independence from Spain 1814 Death Elbridge Gerry, U.S. merchant and signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 70 1814 Death Robert Treat Paine, U.S. judge, signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 83 1814 Event Norway's independence proclaimed 1813 Death Benjamin Rush, physician and abolotionist, signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 67 1813 Death Robert R Livingston, U.S. diplomat signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 66 1813 Death George Clymer, U.S. merchant signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 73 1811 Event Cartagena Colombia declares independence from Spain 1811 Event El Salvador's 1st battle against Spain for independence 1811 Death William Williams, U.S. merchant and signer, Declaration of Independence, dies at 80 1811 Event Venezuela, 1st South American country to gain independence from Spain 1811 Death Samuel Chase, U.S. judge signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 70 1811 Event Paraguay gains independence from Spain (National Day) 1810 Event Chile declares independence from Spain (National Day) 1810 Event Mexico issues Grito de Dolores, which called for the end of Spanish rule Mexican Independence Day celebrates this event 1810 Event Colombia declares independence from Spain 1810 Event Argentina declares independence from Napoleonic Spain (National Day) 1809 Event Ecuador declares independence from Spain (National Day) 1809 Event Sweden declares independence, constitutional monarchy established 1806 Death James Smith, Irish / U.S. attorney and signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 87 1806 Death George Wythe, U.S. attorney, signed Declaration of Independence, dies at about 79 1804 Death Caesar Rodney, U.S. judge signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 62 1804 Event Haiti gains independence from France (National Day) 1803 Death Matthew Thornton, Irish / U.S. physician and signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 88 1802 Death Francis Lewis, Welsh / U.S. merchant and signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 89 1801 Event Toussaint L'Ouverture declares Haitian independence 1800 Death Edward Rutledge, U.S. attorney, signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 50 1799 Death William Paca, U.S. judge/signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 58 1798 Death George Read, U.S. judge/signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 65 1798 Death James Wilson, Scottish lawyer, U.S. judge, signer of the Declaration of Independence, dies at 55 1798 Death Lewis Morris, U.S. farmer signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 71 1797 Death Oliver Wolcott, U.S. judge/signer of Declaration of Independence, dies at 71 1797 Death Carter Braxton, U.S. boer/signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 61 1797 Death Francis Lightfoot Lee, U.S. farmer, signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 62 1796 Event 1st Independence Day celebration is held 1796 Death Samuel Huntington, U.S. judge signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 64 1795 Death Josiah Bartlett, U.S. physician and judge, signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 65 1794 Death Richard H Lee, U.S. farmer signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 62 1793 Death John Hancock, U.S. merchant and signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 56 1793 Death Thomas Mckean, U.S. attorney/signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 72 1790 Death Lyman Hall, U.S. physician and signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 66 1790 Death William Hooper, U.S. attorney and signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 48 1788 Death John Penn, U.S. attorney, signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 47 1787 Death Arthur Middleton, U.S. farmer signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 44 1785 Death William Whipple, merchant, judge, and signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 55 1785 Death Stephen Hopkins, U.S. judge/signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 78 1784 Death Caesar Rodney, U.S. judge/singer Declaration of Independence, dies at 55 1783 Event Sweden recognizes U.S. independence 1783 Event Spain recognizes U.S. independence 1782 Event Britain signs agreement recognizing U.S. independence 1781 Death Richard Stockton, U.S. attorney, signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 50 1779 Death Joseph Hewes, U.S. merchant and signer Declaration of Independence, dies at 49 1779 Death George Ross, U.S. judge/signer (Declaration of Independence), dies at 49 1779 Death John Heart, U.S. farmer signed Declaration of Independence, dies at about 68 1778 Birthday Bernardo O'Higgins, won independence for Chile 1778 Death Philip Livingston, U.S. merchant, signed Declaration of Independence, dies at 62 1777 Event France recognizes independence of English colonies in America 1777 Event Vermont declares independence from NY 1777 Event People of New Connecticut, Vermont, declare independence from England 1776 Event Formal signing of Declaration of Independence 1776 Event Declaration of Independence is read to George Washington's troops, New York 1776 Event John Nixon gave 1st public reading of Decleration of Independence in Philadelphia 1776 Event Declaration of Independence announced on front page of "Pennsylvania Evening Gazette" 1776 Event Declaration of Independence - U.S. gains independence from Britain 1776 Event 1st vote on Declaration of Independence 1776 Event Final draft of Declaration of Independence submitted to U.S. Congress 1776 Event Continental Congress create a committee to draft Declaration of Independence 1776 Event Continental Congress appoints a committee to write a Declaration of Independence 1776 Event Richard Lee moves Declaration of Independence in Continental Congress 1776 Event Rhode Island declares independence from England 1776 Event Halifax resolution for independence adopted by North Carolina 1775 Event Citizens of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina declare independence of Britain 1774 Event Citizens of Carlisle Penn, pass a declaration of independence 1756 Birthday John Trumbull, U.S. painter, Declaration of Independence 1753 Birthday Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla, father of Mexican independence 1749 Birthday Edward Rutledge, Gov-SC, attorney/signer Declaration of Independence 1749 Birthday Thomas Lynch, signer, Declaration of Independence 1746 Birthday Thomas Heyward, soldier, signed Declaration of Independence 1745 Birthday Benjamin Rush, Byberry, Pennsylvania, physician, general and signer, Declaration of Independence 1742 Birthday James Wilson, Scottish lawyer, U.S. judge, signer of the Declaration of Independence 1742 Birthday Arthur Middleton, signer, Declaration of Independence 1742 Birthday William Hooper, U.S. attorney signed Declaration of Independence 1741 Birthday John Penn, U.S. attorney, signed Declaration of Independence 1741 Birthday Samuel Chase, judge, signed Declaration of Independence 1740 Birthday William Paca, U.S. judge/signer, Declaration of Independence 1739 Birthday George Clymer, U.S. merchant, signed Declaration of Independence 1738 Birthday Thomas Nelson, merchant, signer of Declaration of Independence 1737 Birthday Charles Carroll, signed Declaration of Independence 1737 Birthday John Hancock, patriot, 1st to sign Declaration of Independence 1736 Birthday Carter Braxton, U.S. farmer/signer, Declaration of Independence 1734 Birthday William Floyd, U.S. soldier/signer, Declaration of Independence 1734 Birthday Francis Lightfoot Lee, U.S. farmer/signer Declaration of Independence 1734 Birthday Robert Morris, merchant, signed Declaration of Independence 1733 Birthday George Read, U.S. judge/signer, Declaration of Independence 1732 Birthday Richard H Lee, U.S. farmer, signed Declaration of Independence 1731 Birthday William Williams, U.S. merchant signed Declaration of Independence 1731 Birthday Robert Treat Paine, judge, signer, Declaration of Independence 1730 Birthday Richard Stockton, U.S. attorney/signer Declaration of Independence 1730 Birthday George Ross, U.S. judge, signed Declaration of Independence 1730 Birthday Joseph Hewes, U.S. merchant, Declaration of Independence signer 1730 Birthday William Whipple, merchant/judge, Declaration of Independence signer 1729 Birthday Josiah Bartlett, U.S. physician/judge/signer Declaration of Independence 1728 Birthday Caesar Rodney, Delaware, judge/signer, Declaration of Independence 1727 Birthday William Ellery, U.S. attorney/signer Declaration of Independence 1726 Birthday Oliver Wolcott, U.S. judge/signer Declaration of Independence 1726 Birthday Oliver Wolcott, Ct-Gov, signed Declaration of Independence 1726 Birthday Lewis Morris, U.S. farmer signed Declaration of Independence 1726 Birthday Abraham Clark, farmer/lawyer, signed Declaration of Independence 1724 Birthday Lyman Hall, U.S. physician, signed Declaration of Independence 1723 Birthday John Witherspoon, clergyman/signed Declaration of Independence 1721 Birthday Roger Sherman, signer, Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution 1719 Event Liechtenstein declares independence from German empire 1716 Birthday Philip Livingston, merchant, signed Declaration of Independence 1713 Birthday Francis Lewis, signer, Declaration of Independence 1707 Birthday Stephen Hopkins, Governor of Rhode Island signed Declaration of Independence 1682 Event Nationally Council accept independence of French church 1648 Event Switzerland's independence recognized 1640 Event Portugal regains independence after 60 years of Spanish rule 1598 Event Deed of Transfers proclaims Netherlands independence 1385 Event Portuguese defeat Castilians at Aljubarrota, retain independence 1322 Event Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeats King Edward II of England at Byland, forcing Edward to accept Scotland's independence 1314 Event Battle of Bannockburn; Scotland regains independence from England 1291 Event Everlasting League forms, basis of Swiss Confederation (Independence)
