On this day, November the 25th, in the year of 1783, the last British soldiers remaining in America from the American Revolutionary War, based in New York City, left the island of Manhattan, marking an end to British presence in the original Thirteen U.S. Colonies, going on to be called Evacuation Day.

When the Treaty of Paris (1783) was signed, British soldiers were ordered to leave the American land, the last of them did so on this day 238 years ago. After the evacuation, George Wasignton and the New York Governor George Clinton were met by crowds of people in Manhattan, where they celebrated victory in the American Revolution (Biographical Directory of the United States Congress).

For the years following the occurrence, the day known as Evacuation Day in New York City, being as celebrated as the Fourth Of July when it came to patriotic holidays. But as the date got further and further away, less celebration was held over it, with the last official Evacuation Day celebration taking place in 1916 (Untapped Cities) (NYPL) (The Junto).

To read more about the American Revolution and the Treaty of Paris (1783), please see “On This Day – October 19th (Revolutionary War)”.