1790

Events from the year **1790 in the United States**. Volume 1's in from January to June, and Volume 2's in from July to December.

## Incumbents

### Federal Government

* President: George Washington (F-VA)
* Vice President: John Adams (F-MA)
* Chief Justice: John Jay (NY)
* Speaker of the House of Representatives: Frederick Muhlenberg (Pro-Admin.-PA)
* Congress: 1st

Governors
* Governor of Connecticut: Samuel Huntington (Federalist)
* Governor of Delaware: Joshua Clayton (Federalist)
* Governor of Georgia: George Walton (Democratic-Republican) (until November 9), Edward Telfair (Democratic-Republican) (starting November 9)
* Governor of Maryland: John E. Howard (Federalist)
* Governor of Massachusetts: John Hancock (no political party)
* Governor of New Hampshire: John Sullivan (Federalist) (until June 5), Josiah Bartlett (Democratic-Republican) (starting June 5)
* Governor of New Jersey:
	+ until July 25: William Livingston (no political party)
	+ July 25-October 29: Elisha Lawrence (Federalist)
	+ starting October 29: William Paterson (Federalist)
* Governor of New York: George Clinton (Democratic-Republican)
* Governor of North Carolina: Alexander Martin (Anti-Federalist)
* Governor of Pennsylvania: Thomas Mifflin (no political party)
* Governor of Rhode Island: Arthur Fenner (Country) (starting May 29)
* Governor of South Carolina: Charles Pinckney (Federalist)
* Governor of Virginia: Beverley Randolph (no political party)

Lieutenant Governors
* Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut: Oliver Wolcott (Federalist)
* Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts: Samuel Adams (Democratic-Republican)
* Lieutenant Governor of New York: Pierre Van Cortlandt (political party unknown)
* Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island: Samuel J. Potter (Democratic-Republican) (starting May 29)
* Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina: Alexander Gillon (Federalist)

### January - March

* January 8 – President of the U.S. George Washington gives the first State of the Union address, in New York City.
* February 1 – In New York City the Supreme Court of the United States convenes for the first time.
* February 11 – Two Quaker delegates petition the United States Congress for the abolition of slavery.
* March 1 – The first United States census is authorized.
* March 21 – Thomas Jefferson reports to President George Washington in New York City as the new United States Secretary of State.

### April - June

* April 10 – The United States patent system is established.
* May 26 – Southwest Ordinance creates a Southwest Territory.
* May 29 – Rhode Island ratifies the United States Constitution and becomes the 13th state, last of the 13 original states to do so.
* June 20 – Compromise of 1790: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton come to an agreement: Madison agrees to not be "strenuous" in opposition for the assumption of state debts by the federal government; Hamilton agrees to support the capital site being above the Potomac.

**United States History: Volume 2**

### July - September

* July 10 – The House of Representatives votes on where to locate the national capital.
* July 16 – The signing of the Residence Act establishes a site along the Potomac River as the District of Columbia, the capital district of the United States.
* July 31 – Inventor Samuel Hopkins becomes the first to be issued a U.S. patent (for an improved method of making potash).
* August 2 – The first United States Census is taken.
* August 4 – A newly passed U.S. tariff act creates the United States Revenue Cutter Service, the forerunner of the Coast Guard.

## Memoriam

### United States History: Volume 1

* January 25 – Meriwether Smith, Continental Congressman for Virginia (aged 60; Essex County, VA, USA)
* January 31 – Thomas Lewis, Virginia settler (aged 71; Rockingham County, VA, USA)
* February 16 – John Hawks, architect (aged 59; New Bern, NC, USA)
* March 4 – Henry Wisner, Continental Congressman for New York (aged 70; Goshen, NY, USA)
* March 12 – William Grayson, Continental Congressman and U.S. Senator for Virginia (aged 54; Dumfries, VA, USA)
* April 2 – Robert H. Harrison, American Army officer, attorney, and judge (aged 45; Charles County, MD, USA)
* April 17 – Benjamin Franklin, publisher, inventor, congressman, ambassador, abolitionist and American icon (aged 84; Philadelphia, PA, USA)
* May 4 – Matthew Tilghman, Continental Congressman for Maryland (aged 72; Claiborne, MD, USA)
* May 9 – William Clingan, Continental Congressman for Pennsylvania (aged 69; Parkesburg, PA, USA)
* May 20 – Nathan Miller, Continental Congressman for Rhode Island (aged 47; Warren, RI, USA)
* May 26 – Nathaniel Folsom, Continental Congressman for New Hampshire and Revolutionary War major general (aged 63; Exeter, NH, USA)
* May 29 – Israel Putnam, Revolutionary War general (aged 72; Brooklyn, CT, USA)
* June 1 – Theodorick Bland, Continental Congressman and U.S. Representative for Virginia (aged 49; New York City, NY, USA)

### United States History: Volume 2

* July 25 – William Livingston, signer of the U.S. Constitution and Governor of New Jersey from 1776 to 1790 (aged 66; Elizabeth, NJ, USA)
* August 16 – David Brearley, Revolutionary War colonel, signer of the U.S. Constitution for New Jersey and federal judge (aged 45; Trenton, NJ, USA)
* October 14 – William Hooper, signer of the Declaration of Independence (aged 48; Hillsborough, NC, USA)
* October 19 – Lyman Hall, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Georgia from 1783 to 1784 (aged 66; Burke County, GA, USA)
* November 6 – James Bowdoin, Governor of Massachusetts (aged 64; Boston, MA, USA)
* November 16 – Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, Continental Congressman and signer of the U.S. Constitution for Maryland (aged 67; Annapolis, MD, USA)
* November 27 – Robert Livingston, member of the New York colonial assembly from 1737 to 1758 (aged 81; Clermont, NY, USA)
* December 16 – Benjamin Andrew, Continental Congressman for Georgia and member of the Georgia House of Representatives (aged 60; Augusta, GA, USA)