1. The Vermont Supreme Court was established on December 13, 1826. Initially, the court consisted of four justices, but that number was later increased to five. The court’s first chief justice was Socrates Tuttle, who served in that role until 1847.

2. One of Vermont’s most prominent political figures, George Aiken, was born on December 13, 1892. Aiken served in the U.S. Senate for 34 years and was known for his advocacy of conservation and environmental protection.

3. On December 13, 1854, the Burlington Free Press was first published. The newspaper remains one of Vermont’s largest and most respected media outlets.

4. The Battle of Bennington, one of the most significant conflicts of the American Revolution, took place on August 16, 1777. However, it was on December 13 of that year that Vermont officially declared itself an independent republic, becoming the first state to do so.

5. In 1813, the Vermont State House, the seat of Vermont’s state government, was first occupied on December 13. The building has undergone numerous renovations and expansions over the years but remains an impressive example of Greek Revival architecture.