1790 in literature

See also: 1789 in literature, other events of 1790, 1791 in literature, list of years in literature.

Events

• June 9 – "Philadelphia Spelling Book" by John Barry becomes the first book to be copyrighted in the United States.
• The very literary Thomas de Mahay, Marquis de Favras (1744–1790), was arrested by the radicals of the French Revolution and charged with plotting to help King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette escape the country. Convicted of treason, de Mahay was handed his official death sentence by the court clerk. The Marquis read the paper and shaking his head in disgust said: "I see that you have made three spelling mistakes."
• Thomas Warton is succeeded as Poet Laureate of Great Britain by Henry James Pye.

Poems

• "Tam O'Shanter" by Robert Burns

New books

• Leben des vergnügten Schulmeisterlein Maria Wutz – Jean Paul
• The Dancing Girl – Hasan Shah
• Reflections on the Revolution in France – Edmund Burke
• The Contrast – Royall Tyler
• The Marriage of Heaven and Hell – William Blake
• Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile – James Bruce
• Voyage around my Room – Xavier de Maistre

Births

• June 9 – Abel-François Villemain
• October 21 – Alphonse de Lamartine

Deaths

• May 21 – Thomas Warton
• July 17 – Adam Smith

Awards