This Month In Colonial History: January

This year, I thought it would be fun to do a feature highlighting various events important to, and parallel with, the American colonial era, and a few from the Federal era. Assisting me in this endeavor is a site titled The History Place™.

For purposes of NOT plagiarizing, I'll attempt to summarize each event ... enjoy!!

Grand Union Flag of America, 1776

January 1, 1776 - the unveiling of America's first national flag, the Grand Union, by George Washington.

January 1, 1735 - Paul Revere born in Boston, Massachusetts. Does anyone not know about his ride on the night of April 18, 1775?

January 1, 1752 - Betsy Ross born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

January 3, 1777 - During the Revolutionary War, the British are defeated at Princeton and driven back toward New Brunswick. American winter quarters established at Morristown, New Jersey. During the long, harsh winter, the American army shrinks to about a thousand men as enlistments expired and deserters fled

January 4, 1790 - The first State of the Union address, delivered by President Washington.

January 7, 1714 - A patent was issued for the first typewriter designed by British inventor Henry Mill "for the impressing or transcribing of letters singly or progressively one after another, as in writing." Thank you, Mr. Mill, from writers everywhere!

January 7, 1782 - The Bank of North America, our first commercial bank, opens in Philadelphia.

January 10, 1776 - The publication of Common Sense, a fifty page pamphlet by Thomas Paine, which served as a great influence to many, including the authors of the Declaration of Independence.

January 11, 1755 - Alexander Hamilton born in the British West Indies.

January 12, 1588 - John Winthrop born in Suffolk, England. Joined a group of Puritans emigrating to America in 1630 and "became the first governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony, establishing a colony on the peninsula of Shawmut, which became Boston."

January 12, 1737 - John Hancock born in Braintree, Massachusetts.

January 14, 1741 - Benedict Arnold born in Norwich, Connecticut.

January 17, 1773 - "The ship Resolution, sailing under Captain James Cook, became the first vessel to cross the Antarctic Circle."

January 17, 1706 - Benjamin Franklin born in Boston, Massachusetts.

January 21, 1793 - "In the aftermath of the French Revolution, King Louis XVI of France was guillotined on the charge of conspiring with foreign countries for the invasion of France. During the Revolution, the King had attempted to flee to Austria for assistance. Ten months later, his wife, Queen Marie Antoinette, was also guillotined."

January 26, 1788 - The establishment of Sydney Harbor in Australia to accommodate 11 ships with 778 convicts, "setting up a penal colony to relieve overcrowded prisons in England."

January 27, 1756 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart born in Salzburg, Austria. "From the age of five, through his untimely death at age 35, this musical genius created over 600 compositions including 16 operas, 41 symphonies, 27 piano and five violin concerti, 25 string quartets, 19 masses, and many other works." One could say he wrote the soundtrack to the colonial era ....

January 29, 1737 - Thomas Paine born in Thetford, England. "His pamphlet, published in 1776, provided inspiration to undecided Americans that a new nation, independent from Britain, might eventually become '...an asylum for mankind!' He served in the Continental Army and observed the hardships of American troops fighting the world's most powerful army. He then published The Crisis series pamphlets which began by stating, 'These are the times that try men's souls.' He refused to accept the profits from his writings and wound up destitute after the Revolution."