1796

Edward Jenner develops vaccination, using cowpox to protect against smallpox
February 1 - The capital of Upper Canada is moved from Newark to York
March 30 - Carl Gauss obtained conditions for the constructibility by ruler and compass of regular polygons and was able to announce that the regular 17-gon was constructible by ruler and compasses.
May 10 - First Coalition: Napoleon I of France wins a decisive victory against Austrian forces at Lodi bridge over the River Adda in Italy. The Austrians lose some 2,000 men.
May 14 - Edward Jenner administers the first smallpox vaccination.
June 1 - Tennessee is admitted as the 16th U.S. state.
July 22 - Surveyors of the Connecticut Land Company name an area in Ohio "Cleveland" after Gen. Moses Cleaveland, the superintendent of the surveying party.
September 8 - Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Bassano - French forces defeat Austrian troops at Bassano.
November: John Adams defeats Thomas Jefferson in U.S. presidential election
November 4 - The Treaty of Tripoli (between the United States and Tripoli) is signed at Tripoli (see also 1797)
November 17 - Napoleonic Wars: Battle of Arcole - French forces defeat the Austrians in Italy.
December 7 - U.S. Electoral College meets to elect John Adams president
British government purchase a 40 acre site at Norman Cross the first purposely built prisoner of war camp in England at that time.

Year in topic

- Jiaqing Emperor of China, Qing Dynasty (reigned from February 9, 1796 to September 2, 1820)