In 2008 Kosovo announces it’s Independence from Serbia and this was recognised by more than 90 countries including The United States and most of the EU. Serbia dismissed the announcement as meaningless and they are not the only country not to recognise Kosovo’s independence. Russia, China and Georgia still all refuse to see Kosovo as anything other than part of Serbia.
In 1801 Thomas Jefferson is elected to become the third President of the United States of America. Thomas Jefferson had previously been the Vice President to John Adams, the second President and leader of the United States during their War of Independence against the British. Jefferson was also the main contributor to the Declaration of Independence and one of the ‘founding fathers’. His presidency began on March the 4th 1801 and, due to winning a second election, he continued into a second term as President of the United States until 4th of March 1809.
In 1784 the battle of Sadras begins off the Indian coast against the French and British Navies. This is the first of five naval battles that took place off the coast of India over a period of 14 months during the American War for Independence. After their defeat to the British in the ‘Seven Years War’ (1756-1763) France had allied themselves with America in their battle for Independence against the British in 1780. The French fleet led by Bailli de Suffren had 11 ‘ships of the line’ (these are elite battle ships capable of making a line to battle with cannons) while the British fleet consisted of 9 ‘ships of the line and was led by Sir Edward Hughes. France had planned to attack British posts on the Indian coast and on his way to India; Suffren had amassed 3,000 troops in transport ships. On the 15th of February Suffren’s fleet found the British fleet docked and fled south to allow the soldiers to disembark. Hughes gave chase and on the 17th of March the battle of Sadras began with no side gaining a clear victory. Neither side lost any ships, although the British fleet came close, and the further four battles over the 14 month period led to no real victor on either side.
