A Year In History: 1759

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This Year in History:

1759

Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

January 6

Two future presidents marry respective sweethearts

January 6 is a wedding anniversary for two presidents: George Washington and George H.W. Bush. In 1759, a 26-year-old George Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis. The recently widowed, Virginia-born Martha was an educated mother of two. George Washington–then a rising young officer in the colonial British army–moved his new bride and family to his estate […]

January 25

Scottish poet Robert Burns is born

Scottish poet Robert Burns is born on January 25, 1759. The day is still celebrated by Burns fans across the English-speaking world, with high-spirited “Robert Burns Night” feasts, featuring haggis and other Scottish delicacies, as well as enthusiastic drinking, toasting and speechmaking. Burns, the son of a poor farmer, received little formal schooling but read […]