Today In History
5 Fun Facts About May 23 In Maryland History
1. On May 23, 1785, John Eager Howard was elected as the fifth governor of Maryland. Howard was a Revolutionary War veteran who had fought at the Battle of Cowpens, and he would go on to serve two terms as governor. 2. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, America's first commercial...
5 Fun Facts About May 22 In Maryland History
1. On May 22, 1846, the first telegraph line was completed in Maryland, connecting Baltimore to Washington, D.C. This historic achievement facilitated communication between the two cities and marked a significant milestone in the evolution of network communication technology. 2. In 1902, the John Hopkins University of Baltimore became the...
5 Fun Facts About May 21 In Maryland History
1. On May 21, 1729, the city of Baltimore was founded. Originally called "Town of Baltimore," it was named after the Irish barony of Baltimore and established as a port of entry for tobacco trade. 2. On May 21, 1833, the first major riot against the abolition of slavery in...
5 Fun Facts About May 20 In Maryland History
1. On May 20, 1633, the first English colonists arrived in Maryland. Led by Leonard Calvert, the group established a settlement at St. Mary's City and began laying the groundwork for the colony's agricultural economy. 2. May 20, 1774, saw the convening of the Maryland Revolutionary Convention in Annapolis. The...
5 Fun Facts About May 19 In Maryland History
1. On May 19, 1780, during the American Revolutionary War, British and Loyalist forces under the command of General William Phillips began a siege of the city of Charleston, South Carolina. The siege ultimately lasted over a month and resulted in the city's surrender to the British on May 12....
5 Fun Facts About May 18 In Maryland History
1. On May 18, 1870, the first African American senator of the United States, Hiram Rhodes Revels, addressed the Maryland legislature alongside another African American senator, Blanche K. Bruce, in an effort to persuade lawmakers to support the Civil Rights Act of 1870. This act sought to protect the rights...
5 Fun Facts About May 17 In Maryland History
1. Maryland became the 7th state to ratify the US Constitution on May 17, 1787, making it a pivotal moment in the history of the country. Maryland's vote was crucial in securing the two-thirds majority needed for the Constitution to be adopted. 2. May 17, 1954, saw the landmark Supreme...
5 Fun Facts About May 16 In Maryland History
1. On May 16, 1771, the Maryland Gazette published a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the editor, in which Jefferson argued against the establishment of an Anglican state church in Virginia, citing the importance of religious freedom. 2. May 16, 1861 saw the arrival of Union troops in Baltimore, Maryland,...
5 Fun Facts About May 15 In Maryland History
1. In 1778, the Continental Congress voted to appoint Major General Baron von Steuben as Inspector General of the Continental Army. Although the Prussian military officer would train soldiers throughout the colonies, he would eventually settle in Maryland, where he would live until his death in 1794. 2. The Chesapeake...
5 Fun Facts About May 14 In Maryland History
1. In 1607, Captain John Smith and a group of English settlers reached the Chesapeake Bay and explored various sites in Maryland, including what is now St. Mary's City, becoming the first Europeans to establish a settlement in the state. 2. On May 14, 1815, the Treaty of Ghent was...
5 Fun Facts About May 13 In Maryland History
1. In 1777, Maryland adopted a new state constitution on May 13. It was one of the first state constitutions to establish religious freedom and was an important precursor to the United States Constitution. 2. On May 13, 1861, Maryland Governor Thomas Hicks declared martial law in the state in...
5 Fun Facts About May 12 In Maryland History
1) On May 12, 1784, the town of Baltimore was officially incorporated by the Maryland General Assembly. Baltimore would go on to become one of the most important cities in the United States, playing a significant role in the country's history and economy. 2) On May 12, 1817, the first...