1524     Giovanni da Verrazzano sets sail westward from Madeira to find a sea route to the Pacific Ocean. 1595     Henry IV of France declares war on Spain. 1705     John Ray (died), English historian (born 1627) 1706     Benjamin Franklin (born), American politician, scientist, and publisher, 6th President of Pennsylvania (died 1790) 1718     Benjamin Church (died), American… Continue reading →

27 BC     Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus is granted the title Augustus by the Roman Senate, marking the beginning of the Roman Empire. 550         Gothic War (535–554): The Ostrogoths, under King Totila, conquer Rome after a long siege, by bribing the Isaurian garrison. 1412       The Medici family is appointed official banker of the Papacy. 1477       Johannes… Continue reading →

1493      Christopher Columbus sets sail for Spain from Hispaniola, ending his first voyage to the New World. 1541       King Francis I of France gives Jean-François Roberval a commission to settle the province of New France (Canada) and provide for the spread of the “Holy Catholic faith”. 1559      Elizabeth I  is crowned Queen of England in… Continue reading →

83 BC   Mark Antony (born), Roman general and politician (died 30 BCE) 1514     Pope Leo X issues a papal bull against slavery. 1539     Spain annexes Cuba. 1639     The “Fundamental Orders”, the first written constitution that created a government, is adopted in Connecticut. 1741     Benedict Arnold (born), American-English general (died 1801) 1742     Edmond Halley (died), English… Continue reading →

1599     Edmund Spenser (died), English poet (born 1552) 1625     Jan Brueghel the Elder (died), Flemish painter (born 1568) 1691     George Fox (died), English religious leader, founder of the Religious Society of Friends (born 1624) 1815     War of 1812: British troops capture Fort Peter in St. Marys, Georgia, the only battle of the war to take… Continue reading →