WarRevolutionary War: British General John Burgoyne (1722-1792) is defeated and surrenders to the Americans at Saratoga, NY. ScienceAntoine-Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794) proves that air consists mainly of oxygen and nitrogen, and coins the term oxygen.MedicineGeorge Washington (1732-1799) orders his soldiers to be inoculated against smallpox.