Today In History
5 Fun Facts About June 16 In Rhode Island History
1. In 1772, the Gaspee Affair took place in Narragansett Bay. This was a significant event in the lead up to the American Revolution, as a group of colonists led by Abraham Whipple boarded and burned the British revenue schooner, the HMS Gaspee. 2. On June 16, 1846, the Providence...
5 Fun Facts About June 15 In Rhode Island History
1. On June 15, 1648, a group of settlers purchased Aquidneck Island from the Narragansett Indians, which would later become the town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. 2. On June 15, 1775, Rhode Island declared independence from Great Britain, becoming the first of the 13 colonies to do so. 3. On...
5 Fun Facts About June 14 In Rhode Island History
1. In 1777, the Continental Army under General George Washington adopted the "Army of the United States" as its official name in Providence, Rhode Island. 2. On June 14, 1935, the Newport Bridge was officially opened to the public, connecting Newport and Jamestown. At the time, it was the longest...
5 Fun Facts About June 13 In Rhode Island History
1. Rhode Island was the last of the original 13 colonies to declare independence from England on June 13, 1776. The state's founder, Roger Williams, believed in a government that upheld separation of church and state, and Rhode Island eventually became the first colony to grant religious freedom to all...
5 Fun Facts About June 12 In Rhode Island History
1. Rhode Island was the first colony to declare independence from Great Britain on June 12, 1776, two months before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 2. On June 12, 1790, Rhode Island became the last of the original thirteen colonies to ratify the United States Constitution. 3. The...
5 Fun Facts About June 11 In Rhode Island History
1. In 1772, the Gaspee Affair occurred in Narragansett Bay. A British Royal Navy ship, HMS Gaspee, was stationed in the bay to enforce trade laws. A group of colonial patriots boarded the ship and burned it, making it one of the first acts of rebellion towards British rule in...
5 Fun Facts About June 10 In Rhode Island History
1. In 1654, the town of Portsmouth was settled on June 10 by a group of religious dissenters led by Anne Hutchinson, who had been exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for her religious beliefs. 2. On June 10, 1772, the British sloop HMS Gaspee ran aground in Narragansett Bay...
5 Fun Facts About June 9 In Rhode Island History
1. In 1772, the Gaspee Affair took place in Narragansett Bay. A British customs schooner, the HMS Gaspee, was patrolling the waters when it ran aground. A group of local men, including some from Providence, boarded the ship and set it ablaze, protesting British taxation without representation. 2. In 1891,...
5 Fun Facts About June 8 In Rhode Island History
1. In 1776, Samuel Ward, a Rhode Island delegate to the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration of Independence along with fellow Rhode Island delegate Stephen Hopkins. Rhode Island was the last of the 13 colonies to ratify the document, doing so on May 4, 1776. 2. On June 8, 1954,...
5 Fun Facts About June 7 In Rhode Island History
1. The Rhode Island State House was dedicated on June 7, 1904. The building is the capitol of Rhode Island and houses the offices of the governor and other state officials. 2. On June 7, 1776, the Rhode Island Assembly declared its independence from Great Britain. This was two weeks...
5 Fun Facts About June 6 In Rhode Island History
1) In 1756, the French and Indian War began, which had significant impacts on Rhode Island as it was a major seafaring and trade hub during the conflict. Many Rhode Island sailors and privateers became involved in the war effort. 2) On June 6, 1800, former Rhode Island Governor and...
5 Fun Facts About June 5 In Rhode Island History
1. In 1676, the Great Swamp Fight, which was one of the most bloody encounters of King Philip's War, took place near South Kingstown, Rhode Island. English forces attacked a large force of Narragansett warriors and burned their village. The battle resulted in the deaths of both English and Narragansett...