French Revolution By christinakatie43 Jan 1, 1789 George Washington is inaugurated as first US president. George Washington is inaugurated as first U.S president. Sep 29, 1789 Storming of the Bastile ignites the French Revolution Sep 29, 1793 King Louis XIV is exuecuted by guillotine, Reighn of Terror begins Sep 29, 1799 Napoleon overthrows the Directory through a coup d'etat. Sep 29, 1804 Napoleon crowns himself emperor Sep 29, 1810 Padre Hidalgo calls for Mexican Independance Sep 29, 1815 Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo Period: Sep 29, 1815 to Sep 29, 2015 Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo Sep 29, 2015 1795 Great Britain seizes the cape colony in South Africa from the Dutch.