1779 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar).

Events

• The Iron Bridge is completed across the River Severn in Shropshire; the first all cast-iron bridge ever constructed.
• Boulton and Watt's Smethwick Engine, now the oldest working engine in the world, is brought into service.
• The city of Tampere is founded in Finland.
• May 13 - War of Bavarian Succession : Russian and French mediators at the Congress of Teschen negotiate an end to the war. In the agreement Austria receives a part of its territory that was taken from them (the Inn District).
• June 1 - American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold is court-martialed for malfeasance in his treatment of government property.
• July 16 - American Revolutionary War: United States forces led by General Anthony Wayne capture Stony Point, New York| from British troops.
• December 13 - Marriage of Alexandre, Vicomte de Beauharnais to Joséphine Tascher de la Pagerie.
• December 25 - Fort Nashborough, later to become Nashville, Tennessee, founded by James Robertson.

Births

• January 5 - Stephen Decatur, American naval officer
• January 18 - Peter Roget, lexicographer (+ 1869)
• March 6 - Antoine-Henri Jomini, General (d. 1869)
• March 15 - Lord Melbourne, British Prime Minister.
• May 28 - Thomas Moore, poet (+ 1852)
• August 20 - Jöns Jakob Berzelius, Swedish chemist.
• November 14 - Adam Gottlob Oehlenschläger, Danish poet

Deaths

• January 20 - David Garrick, actor
• February 14 - James Cook, British naval captain and explorer (b. 1728)
• June 7 - William Warburton, English critic, Bishop of Gloucester (b. 1698)
• December 6 - Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, French painter
• Emperor Go-Momozono of Japan

Deaths

• January 20 - David Garrick, actor
• February 14 - James Cook, British naval captain, and explorer (b. 1728)
• June 7 - William Warburton, English critic, Bishop of Gloucseter (b. 1698)
• December 6 - Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin, French painter
• Emperor Go-Momozono of Japan