Thirteen Colonies and threatens the East India Company with bankruptcy. June 22 – Somersett's Case: Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, delivers the decision that leads to the end of slavery in England. June 23–28 – Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774): First of two Russian occupations of Beirut, following a naval bombardment which began on June 18. July–September July 13 – The second voyage of James Cook departs from Plymouth on Captain Cook's new ship, HMS Resolution and the companion ship HMS Adventure in an attempt to prove the existence of an uncharted continent even further south than New Zealand. August 5 – The first Partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth begins. The Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria becomes part of the crown lands of the Habsburg monarchy. August 12 – The volcano Mount Papandayan in West Java erupts and partially collapses, the debris avalanche killing several thousand. August 21 – A coup d'état by King Gustav III is completed by adopting a new Constitution, ending half a century of parliamentary rule in Sweden, and making him an enlightened despot. September 1 – Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa is founded in San Luis Obispo, California. October–December October 28 – Basque-Spanish explorer Domingo de Bonechea, in the Aguila, sights Tauere atoll, which he names San Simon y Judas. November 2 – American Revolutionary War: Samuel Adams and Joseph Warren form the first Committee of Correspondence. December 14 Russian government offices reopen at Moscow and Saint Petersburg after being closed for 15 months because of an epidemic of bubonic plague. Second voyage of James Cook: The crew of finds that the ice floes encountered on their journey south are a source of fresh water, a "discovery... of utmost importance to the success of the voyage." Date unknown Scottish scientist Daniel Rutherford discovers nitrogen gas, isolating it from air. Frederick II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, demands that all bodies remain unburied for three days to ensure that death has actually taken place. Births January 20 – Angélique Brûlon, French soldier, first female Knight of the French Legion of Honour (d. 1859) January 30 – Godfrey Higgins, British archaeologist (d. 1833) February 24 – William H. Crawford, American politician, judge (d. 1834) March 10 – Friedrich von Schlegel, German poet (d. 1829) March 15 – József Ficzkó, Burgenland Croatian writer (d. 1843) April 4 – Nachman of Breslov, Hasidic rabbi and founder of