The Treaty of Paris: February, 10, 1763

240 years ago, on this very day

"The definitive Treaty of Peace and Friendship between his Britannick Majesty, the Most Christian King, and the King of Spain. Concluded at Paris the 10th day of February, 1763. To which the King of Portugal acceded on the same day."

was announced.

The 'Peace of Paris' (1783), a collection of treaties, concluding the U.S. War of Independence and signed by representatives of Great Britain on one side and the United States, France, and Spain on the other. Preliminary articles (often called the Preliminary Treaty of Paris) were signed at Paris between Britain and the United States on Nov. 30, 1782. On Sept. 3, 1783, three definitive treaties were signed?-between Britain and the United States in Paris (the Treaty of Paris) and between Britain and France and Spain, respectively, at Versailles. The Netherlands and Britain also signed a preliminary treaty on Sept. 2, 1783, and a final separate peace on May 20, 1784.

By the terms of the U.S.-Britain treaty, Britain recognized the independence of the United States with generous boundaries to the Mississippi River but retained Canada. Access to the Newfoundland fisheries was guaranteed to Americans, and navigation of the Mississippi was to be open to both Great Britain and the United States. Creditors of neither country were to be impeded in the collection of their debts, and Congress was to recommend to the states that American Loyalists be treated fairly and their confiscated property restored. (Some of these provisions were to cause later difficulties and disputes.)

To France, Britain surrendered Tobago and Senegal. Spain retained Minorca and East and West Florida. The Netherlands came off poorly, ceding Nãgappattinam in India to Britain and allowing the British free navigation rights in the Dutch-held Moluccas. [from britannica encyclopædia]


The document of the treaty can be found here:

Treaty of Paris 1763