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.