1754-1783: The Arts: Chronology

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1754-1783: The Arts: Chronology

IMPORTANT EVENTS OF 1754-1783

1754

Literature Jonathan Edwards, Freedom of the Will; Samuel Bownas, God’s Mercy Surmounting God’s Cruelty, Exemplified in the Captivity and Redemption of Elizabeth Hanson; Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard Improved: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris; John Woolman, Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes.
The poet Joel Barlow is born in Connecticut.

1755

Music Thomas Johnson, Rules for Singing, with a collection of about fifty tunes, for psalms and hymns.

1756

Literature Duncan Cameron, The Life, Adventures, and Surprising Deliverances, of Duncan Cameron, Private Soldier; Jacob Duche, Pennsylvania: A Poem; William and Elizabeth Fleming, A Narrative of the Sufferings and Surprising Deliverance of William and Elizabeth Fleming; Stephen Tilden, Tilden’s Miscellaneous Poems, On Divers Occasions; Chiefly to animate and rouse the soldiers.

1757

Literature Martha Brewster, Poems on Divers Subjects; Benjamin Church, The Choice: A poem, after the manner of Mr. Pomfret.
Music Isaac Watts, The Psalms of David imitated in the language of the New Testament (seventeenth edition); Divine Songs, attempted in easy language, for the use of children.
The American Magazine and Monthly Chronicle begins publication.

1758

Literature Benjamin Franklin, “The Way to Wealth”; Anne Bradstreet, Several Poems Compiled with Great Variety of Wit and Learning, Full of Delight; John Brown, An Estimate of the manners and Principles of the Times; David Fordyce, The Temple of Virtue. A Dream; Jonathan Swift, The Journal of a Gaming Lady of Quality; John Williams, The Redeemed Captive, Returning to Zion.
The American Magazine and Monthly Chronicle stops publication.
The lexicographer and author Noah Webster is born in Connecticut.

1759

Music Marburg Hymn Book (the first Lutheran Hymn book printed in the colonies).

1760

Literature Jean Lowry, A Journal of the Captivity of Jean Lowry and her children.
Music The American Mock-bird. A Collection of the most familiar Songs now in vogue; James Otis, The Principles of Latin Prosody.

1761

Literature John Banks, Cyrus the Great: A Tragedy; Richard Barford, The Virgin Queen: A Tragedy; Susannah Centlivre, The Basset-Table: A Comedy; Samuel Davies, An Ode on the Prospect of Peace; Samuel Nevill, The History of North America.
Music Francis Hopkinson, An Exercise, Containing a Dialogue and Ode Sacred to the memory of his late gracious Majesty, George II; James Lyon, Urania. Or a choice Collection of Psalm Tunes, Anthems, and Hymns, from the most approv’d authors.
The St. Cecilia Society, the oldest musical society in the United States, is founded in Charleston, South Carolina.

1762

Literature Thomas Godfrey, The Court of Fancy; James Forrester, The Polite Philosopher; Benjamin Franklin, Advice to a Young Tradesman; Solomon Gesner, The Death of Abel; Frances Hopkinson, Science: A Poem; William Livingston, Philosophic Solitude.
Music Robert Lloyd, Arcadia: or the Shepard’s Wedding; Benjamin Wallin, Evangelical hymns and Songs; Jemmy Carson, Jemmy Carson’s Collection of Ballads.
The novelist Susanna Rowson is born in Portsmouth, England.

1763

Literature The New England Primer Enlarged.
Music Frances Hopkinson, A Collection of Psalm Tunes, with a few anthems and Hymns; James Lyons, The Lawfulness, Excellency, and Advantage of Instrumental Musick.
James Bremer opens a music school in Philadelphia; his pupils include Francis Hopkinson, the future political leader and writer.
20 June Benjamin West arrives in London.
3 Aug. The poet and playwright Thomas Godfrey dies.

1764

Literature Thomas Hutchinson, History of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay; James Otis, Rights of British Colonies.
Music Josiah Flagg, A Collection of the Best Psalm Tunes (engraved by Paul Revere); The American Cock Robin: Or, A choice collection of English Songs...agreeable to the North-American Taste; Daniel Bayley, A New and Complete Introduction to the Grounds and Rules of Music.
Johann Snetzler sends an organ to Trinity Church in New York City.

1765

Literature Oppression: A Poem; Samuel Adams, Resolutions; Thomas Godfrey, Prince of Parthia and Juvenile Poems on Various Subjects.
Music The Whiteoak Anthem, taken from John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.
Charles Willson Peale arrives in Boston.
John Singleton Copley submits his Boy with Squirrel for exhibition in London.
David Douglass arrives in Charleston with his theatrical company.

1766

Literature Robert Rogers, Ponteach.
Music Martin Madan, A Collection of Hymns, for Social Worship.
The first “Concert of Musick” is performed in Savannah, Georgia.
David Douglass opens the new Southwark Theater in Philadelphia.
William Dunlap, the painter, playwright, and historian, is born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

1767

Literature Elizabeth Rowe, The History of Joseph: A Poem, in Ten Books.
Music The Masque, A New Song Book; Andrew Barton, The Disappointment, or the Force of Credulity (the first American comic ballad libretto); William Tansur, The Royal Melody Complete (first American edition).
Benjamin West exhibits Agrippina Landing at Brundisium with the Ashes of Germanicus.
Jan. Samuel Greville, the first professional American actor, makes his debut in Nicholas Rowe’s play Tamerlane (1702).
David Douglass produces The Prince of Parthia in Philadelphia, the first American drama to be professionally produced on the American stage.

1768

Literature John Dickinson, Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania; “Rusticus,” Liberty. A Poem.
Music George Whitefield, A Collection of Hymns, for social worship.
July The Virginia Gazette prints John Dickinson’s “Liberty Song.”

1769

Literature Thomas Hopkinson, Liberty, A Poem; Alexander Martin, America, A Poem.
Music John Mason, Spiritual Songs.

1769

The first known American sculptor, Mrs. Patricia Lovell Wright of New Jersey, leaves America for London.
The first issue of The American Magazine (Philadelphia) appears.
Mar. British troops riot at James Joan’s concert in Boston.
June Charles Willson Peale returns from England to Maryland.
Sept. The Boston Gazette advertises “a very curious spinnet, being the first ever made in America,” by John Harris.

1770

Literature William Livingston, America: Or, a Poem on the Settlement of the British Colonies; John Trumbull, An Essay on the Use and Advantages of the Fine Arts.
Music William Billings, The New England Psalm Singer.
The Massachusetts Spy begins publication.
16 Jan. William Tuckey gives an overture and sixteen pieces from Handel’s Messiah (1742), in New York.
26 Mar. Boston newspapers advertise Paul Revere’s engraving of the Boston Massacre.
10 July A pipe organ is played for the first time in an American Congregational church in Providence.

1771

Literature Mary Somerville, A Tale.
Music Miss Ashmore, The New Song Book Being Miss Ashmore’s Favorite Collection of Songs, As Sung in the Theatres and Public Gardens in London.
Benjamin Franklin begins writing his Autobiography.
The novelist Charles Brockden Brown is born in Philadelphia.
Benjamin West’s Death of General Wolfe is exhibited to critical acclaim at the Society of Artists in London.

1772

Literature Philip Freneau, The American Village, A Poem; Freneau and Henry Brackenridge, The Rising Glory of America; Jonathan Trumbull, Progress of Dulness; Richard Cumberland, The Fashionable Lover. A Comedy; Samson Occom, A Sermon, Preached at the Execution of Moses Paul, An Indian.
Music Lemuel Hedge, The Duty and Manner of Singing in Christian Churches Considered and Illustrated; John Willison, Scripture Songs for Zion’s Travellers.

1773

Literature Mercy Otis Warren, The Adulateur; Hannah More, Search After Happiness: A Pastoral Drama; Phillis Wheatley, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral.
James Rivington’s New York Gazetteer begins publication.

1774

Literature The Child of Nature, a Philosophical Novel; Alexander Dow, Sethona, A Tragedy; Robert Hitchcock, The Macaroni, A Comedy; Hugh Kelly, The School for Wives; Frances Lopkinson, A Pretty Story; Jacob Duché, Caspipinas Letters; John Trumbull, An Elegy on the Times; Robert Wells, The Story of Aeneas and Dido Burlesqued.
Music Samson Occom, A Choice Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs; John Stickney, The Gentleman and Ladies Musical Companion.
10 June John Singleton Copley sails for Europe.

1775

Literature John Burgoyne, The Blockade; Philip Freneau, American Liberty, A Poem; Mercy Otis Warren, The Group; Jonathan Sewell, Cure for the Spleen.
Music Samuel Mills, The Nature and Importance of Singing Praise to God.
John Behrent makes the first piano in America.
The first architecture book published in America is Abraham Swann’s A Collection of Designs in Architecture.
Yankee Doodle, or (as now Christened by the Saints of New England) The Lexington March is published in London.

1776

Literature Hugh Henry Brackenridge, Battle of Bunkers-Hill; Philip Freneau, “The Beauties of Santa Cruz”; John Leacock, The Fall of British Tyranny; Thomas Paine, Common Sense; Jonathan Trumbull, M’Fingal: A Modern Epic Poem; Elisha Rich, A Poem on the Late Distress of the Town of Boston; Mercy Otis Warren, The Blockheads: Or, the Affrighted Officers. A Farce.
Music A Complet Tutor for the Fife.
8 Jan. A British performance of The Blockade of Boston is interrupted by news of an American raid on Charlestown, Massahusetts.
Feb. The Farmer and his Son’s Return from a visit to the CAMP, the classic text of the song “Yankee Doodle,” is published.
May The Continental Congress commissions Charles Willson Peale to paint a portrait of George Washington.

1777

Literature Hugh Henry Brackenridge, The Death of General Montgomery; John Burgoyne, The Maid of the Oaks: A New Dramatic Entertainment; Robert Dodsley, The Blind Beggar of Bethal Green; Jane Marshall, Sir Harry Gaylove, or Comedy in Embryo; Hugh Kelly, The Romance of an Hour; a New Comedy.
Music George Stevens, Songs, Comic, Satyrical, and Sentimental.
A British military theater opens in occupied New York and operates until 1783.
Oct. Fifers and drummers of Gen. John Burgoyne’s army play “Yankee Doodle” during surrender ceremonies at Saratoga, New York.

1778

Literature Francis Hopkinson, “The Battle of the Kegs”; Joel Barlow, The Prospect of Peace; Wheeler Case, Poems, Occasioned by Several Circumstances and Occurences in the Present Grand Struggle of America for Liberty.
Music William Billings, The Singing Master’s Assistant.
Jan. British officers begin their first play at the Southwark Theater in occupied Philadelphia.
May American troops at Valley Forge stage Joseph Addison’s Cato (1713).

1779

Literature Jupiter Hammon, An Essay on the Ten Virgins; Mercy Otis Warren, The Motley Assembly, A Farce; Philip Freneau, “The House of Night.”
Music William Billings, Music in Miniature, Containing a Collection of Psalm Tunes; A Collection of the Most Approved Tunes and Anthems, for the Promotion of Psalmody; Loyal and Humorous Songs, on Recent Occasions; “The Liberty Song.”
The lawyer and poet Francis Scott Key is born in Maryland.
The Supreme Council of Pennsylvania commissions Charles Willson Peale to paint a portrait of George Washington.
Jan. The first issue appears of the United States Magazine, edited by Philip Freneau and Hugh Henry Brackenridge.

1780

Literature Ethan Allen, A Narrative of Colonel Ethan Allen’s Captivity; Timothy Dwight, America; David Humphreys, A Poem, Addressed to the Armies of the United States of America.

1781

Literature Philip Freneau, The British Prison Ship; William Hayley, The Triumphs of Temper; A Poem (with Plates); Abbe Raynal, The Revolution in America.
Music William Billings, The Psalm-Singer’s Amusement.
11 Dec. Francis Hopkinson’s, The Temple of Minerva, the first grand opera staged in America, is performed in Philadelphia.

1782

Literature J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur, Letters from an American Farmer; Jupiter Hammon, A Winter Piece: Being a Serious Exhortation; Thomas Mercer, The Sentimental Sailor; Samuel Pratt, Emma Corbett: Exhibiting Henry and Emma, the Faithful Modern Lovers.
Music James Hart, Hymns, composed on various subjects; Simeon Jocelin, The Chorister’s Companion; Or, Church Music Revised; Andrew Law, A Collection of Hymns for Social Worship; James and John Relly, Christian Hymns, Poems, and Spiritual Songs.
The Aitken Bible becomes the first complete English Bible to be printed in America.

1783

Literature Jupiter Hammon, An Evening’s Improvement.
Music Oliver Brownson, Select Harmony: Containing the Necessary Rules of Psalmody; Andrew Law, The Rudiments of Music.
The Boston Magazine begins publication.
The author Washington Irving is born in New York City.
Noah Webster publishes his American Spelling Book.