Today in 1787, the vision of a new federal government for the fledgling United States of America was saved from the scrap heap of history as the delegates to the Constitutional Convention narrowly voted to adopt a key provision known as the Connecticut Compromise (or, alternately, the Great Compromise). For weeks, delegates had been…
Tag: 18th century
July 11: The Voyage of the Neptune Reaps Astonishing Wealth
On this day in 1799, the merchant ship Neptune sailed into New Haven harbor after an absence of two years and eight months with the most lucrative haul of cargo Connecticut had ever seen. Captained by New Haven native Daniel Green, the Neptune set sail in late 1797 with a crew of 45 “young, sturdy,…
July 8: One of History’s Most Powerful – and Terrifying – Sermons.
In the early 1740s, New England was in the midst of a sweeping religious revival now known to history as the Great Awakening. Charismatic ministers – inspired by the internationally-famous George Whitfield, who toured New England in 1740 – traveled from town to town on a mission to invigorate congregations with a renewed sense…
July 7: The Burning of Fairfield
Throughout the duration of the Revolutionary War, Connecticut citizens lived in fear of devastating British raids on shoreline communities. In the eyes of the British, Connecticut was a nest of rebel activity, home to a government that ardently supported the Patriot cause and scores of residents who smuggled, spied, and fought against the King’s…
June 26: Education Pioneer Sarah Pierce Born in Litchfield
On this day in 1767, education pioneer Sarah Pierce was born in Litchfield. As a teenager, her older brother sent her to New York after the death of her father, to learn to become a teacher so she could financially support herself and her siblings. Upon her return to Litchfield in 1792, Pierce opened…
May 29: French and Indian War & Revolutionary War Hero Israel Putnam Dies.
On this day in Connecticut history, Revolutionary War general and French & Indian War veteran Israel Putnam passed away on his farmstead in Brooklyn, Connecticut. Best known today for his participation in the Revolutionary War’s crucial Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775, Putnam had actually earned a reputation for bravery and boldness long…
May 22: Washington & Rochambeau Plan Yorktown Campaign in Wethersfield
This day in Connecticut history marked the beginning of the end of the Revolutionary War, as General George Washington of the Continental Army and Comte de Rochambeau of the French Army met in Wethersfield, Connecticut to plan the Yorktown Campaign of 1781. Wethersfield was a logical choice for such a crucial meeting: it was…
May 16: The Largest Earthquake in Connecticut History
On this day in 1791, Connecticans were rattled by the largest earthquake ever recorded in Connecticut history. Two powerful tremors, occurring within minutes of each other, terrified residents and damaged homes throughout the central part of the state. Reports from as far away as Boston and New York City confirmed the presence of seismic…
May 14: Author, War Chaplain, & Yale President Timothy Dwight IV
Today in 1752, Timothy Dwight IV, scholar, minister, and one of a group of early American poets and writers known as the Hartford Wits, was born. The eldest of 13 children born into an influential family in Massachusetts, Dwight graduated from Yale College in 1769 and shortly thereafter decided to dedicate his life to…
May 11: Connecticut’s Old State House Opens in 1796
At the historic center of Hartford stands the Old State House, a beautiful federal-era building that served as Connecticut’s capitol for 83 years. Designed by pioneering American architect Charles Bulfinch, the State House opened for business today in 1796, as the state legislature met insides its spacious chambers for the first time. Built with…
May 10: Connecticans Ethan Allen & Benedict Arnold Capture Fort Ticonderoga
Today in 1775, two Connecticut-born patriots — Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold — forced the surrender of British-held Fort Ticonderoga in upstate New York in one of the most significant strategic victories in the early years of the American Revolution. Fort Ticonderoga was first built by French forces in 1755 at a critical location…
May 3: Connecticut Patriots Receive the First “Purple Hearts”
On this day in 1783, General George Washington awarded the Badge of Military Merit to two brave Connecticut soldiers at the Continental Army headquarters in Newburgh, New York. The last few years of the Revolutionary War, which would formally end in September 1783, were particularly grueling for American soldiers; a frustrating lack of progress…