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Monday, May 8, 2017

This Month in Colonial History: May

Penny Black--the first postage stamp
I bring you the May edition of highlights of colonial history ...

1 – England and Scotland unite to form Great Britain. Wales was already united to England, and Ireland would later be thrown into the mix.  (1707)

1 – The first adhesive postage stamp released in England. Thus ending the colonial/Federal era ... JUST KIDDING!!!! (1840)

3 – St. Iago, the island later known as Jamaica, discovered by Christopher Columbus. (1494)

4 – The sale of Manhattan Island takes place, for the sum of $24 in cloth & buttons. (1626)

7 – The first-ever inaugural ball! Can you guess who it was in honor of? (Hint ... first President and his wife ...) (1789)

8 – The establishment of the U.S. Post Office. (1794)

12 – In the category of obscure things that we’re glad exist ... the flush toilet is patented. (1792)

14 – The first permanent English settlement in the New World is established, led by John Smith, at Jamestown, Virginia. (1607)

14 – Dr. Edward Jenner develops the smallpox vaccine. (1796)

14 – Lewis and Clark set out from St. Louis on an expedition to explore the Northwest. It would take them a year and a half to reach the Pacific Ocean and then almost another two to return. (1804)

17 – The New York Stock Exchange is established by two dozen merchants and brokers. (1792)

18 – Napoleon Bonaparte becomes Emperor of France. (1804)

22 – Former Vice President Aaron Burr is tried for treason and acquitted. (1807)

24 – Mary Hale of Boston writes the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb." (1830)

25 – Delegates from seven states, constituting a quorum, gather in Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention. (1787)

27 – The first execution of the Salem witch trials takes place (Achsah Young). (1647)
Peter I (aka "the Great"), 1698

28 – Birth of William Pitt the Younger (1759-1806), who became Prime Minister of Britain at a mere 24 years of age, and with his understanding of economics helped Britain reduce her debt from the American Revolution.

29 – Restoration of the English monarchy by Charles II, after several years of Oliver Cromwell’s rule. (1660)

29 – Birth of Patrick Henry (1736-1799). Famous for his speech, “... give me liberty or give me death!”

30 – Birth of Peter the Great of Russia (1672-1725). Credited with many reforms and basically creating the Russian empire.

30 – Publication of the first daily newspaper in America, the Philadelphia Evening Post. (1783)

My thanks to The History Place and Holiday Insights.



5 comments:

  1. Very interesting Shannon. Thanks for sharing.
    Wow, buying Manhattan Island for $24 in cloth & buttons!
    Blessings, Tina

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  2. Interesting. Thank you for sharing.

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  3. I was just looking at my little flags and thinking...hey, there's no representation of the Welsh flag inside the Union Jack. Sure took me long enough to catch on to that one! ha ha.

    thanks Shannon!

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  4. I love seeing this postage stamp! History is fascinating!!!

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  5. Thank you all so much for commenting!!! I'm finding some of these bits surprising and fascinating as well!

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