Today In History
5 Fun Facts About October 30 In Virginia History
1. In 1618, the Virginia Company of London issued instructions to its governor-in-chief, Sir George Yeardley, to summon a General Assembly of the Jamestown Colony. This marked the beginning of representative government in Virginia, making it the first English colony in America to have a functioning legislative body. 2. On...
5 Fun Facts About October 29 In Virginia History
1. In 1781, the Battle of Yorktown ended in Virginia, marking the last major battle of the American Revolution. American and French forces, led by General George Washington, defeated British General Charles Cornwallis, securing American independence. 2. On October 29, 1892, Martha Washington College, now known as Emory & Henry...
5 Fun Facts About October 28 In Virginia History
1. In 1863, Confederate General John S. Mosby's Rangers attacked and captured Union General Edwin H. Stoughton in Fairfax Court House. This daring raid became known as "Mosby's Midnight Ride" and is still celebrated by Civil War enthusiasts today. 2. On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty in New...
5 Fun Facts About October 27 In Virginia History
1. In 1781, the Battle of Yorktown ended with British General Charles Cornwallis surrendering to American and French forces, effectively ending the American Revolutionary War. The victory was a turning point for the American forces and led to a peace treaty the following year. 2. In 1904, the first automobile...
5 Fun Facts About October 26 In Virginia History
1. In 1776, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee presented a resolution to the Continental Congress calling for the colonies to declare independence from Britain. This resolution eventually led to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. 2. On October 26, 1863, the Battle of Wauhatchie began...
5 Fun Facts About October 25 In Virginia History
1. On October 25, 1758, the first theater in Virginia was established in Williamsburg. The playhouse was named the "Theater on Palace Green" and quickly became a popular destination among the colonists. 2. In 1864, the Battle of Burgess Mill was fought in Petersburg, Virginia on October 25th. This battle...
5 Fun Facts About October 24 In Virginia History
1. On October 24, 1781, General George Washington arrived in Yorktown, Virginia, to witness the surrender of British General Charles Cornwallis, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. 2. In 1854, on this day, Virginia Military Institute was founded in Lexington, Virginia. The institute was established to train future military leaders and...
5 Fun Facts About October 23 In Virginia History
1. The Virginia State Capitol was Dedicated on October 23, 1788 - The Greek Revival structure housed the state legislature until 1904 and is still in use today by the Virginia General Assembly. 2. Union General Philip Sheridan seized the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War on October 23, 1864...
5 Fun Facts About October 22 In Virginia History
1. On October 22, 1730, George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He went on to become the first president of the United States and is often referred to as the "father of his country." 2. In 1783, the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, was disbanded at...
5 Fun Facts About October 21 In Virginia History
1. In 1858, the "Great Eastern" steamship arrived in the Chesapeake Bay, stopping at Old Point Comfort in Virginia before heading on to New York. The ship, which was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was the largest in the world at the time, and was used to lay the first...
5 Fun Facts About October 20 In Virginia History
1. On October 20, 1714, Governor Alexander Spotswood hosted a Treaty of Albany conference in Virginia to establish peaceful relations between colonial leaders and Native American nations. 2. In 1937, the Buck v. Bell court case was heard by the Virginia Supreme Court. The case upheld Virginia's eugenics laws, which...
5 Fun Facts About October 19 In Virginia History
1. On October 19, 1781, the British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces led by General George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. The surrender took place at Yorktown, Virginia, a significant victory for the Continental Army and a turning point in...