Births on March 2

Joel Roberts Poinsett

Born on March 2, 1779

Joel Roberts Poinsett, American physician and politician, 15th United States Secretary of War (d. 1851)

Joel Roberts Poinsett (March 2, 1779 – December 12, 1851) was an American physician, diplomat and slave owner. He was the first U.S. agent in South America, a member of the South Carolina legislature and the United States House of Representatives, the first United States Minister to Mexico, a Unionist leader in South Carolina during the Nullification Crisis, Secretary of War under Martin Van Buren, and a co-founder of the National Institute for the Promotion of Science and the Useful Arts (a predecessor of the Smithsonian Institution).

References

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Events on 1779

14 Feb

Native Hawaiians
James Cook is killed by Native Hawaiians near Kealakekua on the Island of Hawaii.
24 Jun

Great Siege of Gibraltar
American Revolutionary War: The Great Siege of Gibraltar begins.
13 Aug

Attack on Pearl Harbor
American Revolutionary War: The Royal Navy defeats the Penobscot Expedition with the most significant loss of United States naval forces prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
23 Sep

Battle of Flamborough Head
American Revolution: John Paul Jones on board the USS Bonhomme Richard wins the Battle of Flamborough Head.
27 Sep

John Adams
The Continental Congress appoints John Adams to travel to France as minister plenipotentiary in charge of negotiating treaties of peace and commerce with Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War.

Births on March 2

Joel Roberts Poinsett

Born on March 2, 1779

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 1779

Native Hawaiians

Great Siege of Gibraltar

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Battle of Flamborough Head

John Adams