Today in Virginia History
Cities in Virginia: Arlington, VA - Chesapeake - Virginia Beach
Historical Events
Events 1 - 100 of 184
1586-07-27 - Sir Walter Raleigh brings 1st tobacco to England from Virginia
1590-08-17 - John White returns to Roanoke, Virginia to find no trace of colonist's he had left there 3 yrs earlier [or Aug 18, 1591]
1606-12-20 - Virginia Company settlers leave London to establish Jamestown, Virginia
1608-01-07 - Fire destroys Jamestown, Virginia
1609-05-23 - Official ratification of the Second Charter of Virginia takes place.
1610-06-10 - Thomas West, Baron de La Mar, is appointed governor of Virginia
1619-07-30 - House of Burgesses Virginia forms, 1st elective US governing body
1619-08-01 - 1st black Americans (20) land at Jamestown, Virginia
1619-08-20 - 1st Black slaves brought by Dutch to colony of Jamestown Virginia
1619-12-04 - 38 colonists from Berkeley Parish in England disembark in Virginia and give thanks to God. Considered by many as the first Thanksgiving in the Americas.
1622-03-22 - 1st American Indian (Powhattan) massacre of whites Jamestown Virginia, 347 slain
1623-03-05 - 1st American temperance law enacted, Virginia
1624-06-16 - Judge directs US colony Virginia to English crown
1629-03-24 - 1st game law passed in American colonies, by Virginia
1635-04-28 - Virginia Gov John Harvey accused of treason & removed from office
1639-01-06 - Virginia is 1st colony to order surplus crops (tobacco) destroyed
1654-11-21 - Richard Johnson, a free black, granted 550 acres in Virginia
1663-09-13 - 1st serious slave conspiracy in colonial America (Virginia)
1667-08-27 - Earliest recorded hurricane in US (Jamestown Virginia)
1676-05-10 - Bacon's Rebellion, frontiersmen vs Virginia government begins
1676-08-03 - Nathaniel Bacon publishes "Declaration of People of Virginia"
1677-05-29 - Treaty of Middle Plantation establishes peace between the Virginia colonists and the local Indians.
1750-11-11 - The F.H.C. Society, also known as the Flat Hat Club, was formed at Raleigh Tavern, Williamsburg, Virginia. It was the first college fraternity.
First US President George Washington
1758-07-24 - George Washington admitted to Virginia House of Burgess
1766-02-11 - Stamp Act declared unconstitutional in Virginia
1773-10-12 - America's first insane asylum opens for 'Persons of Insane and Disordered Minds' in Virginia
1774-05-28 - 1st Continental Congress convenes (Virginia)
1776-06-12 - Virginia adopts Declaration of Rights
1776-06-29 - Virginia state constitution adopted & Patrick Henry made governor
1781-08-01 - English army under general Cornwallis occupies Yorktown, Virginia
1781-09-05 - Battle of Virginia Capes, French defeat British, traps Cornwallis
1787-05-29 - "Virginia Plan" proposed
1788-06-25 - Virginia becomes 10th state to ratify US constitution
1791-12-15 - Bill of Rights ratified when Virginia gave its approval
1800-08-30 - Gabriel Prosser leads a slave rebellion in Richmond, Virginia
1802-01-29 - John Beckley of Virginia appointed 1st Librarian of Congress
1811-12-26 - A theater fire in Richmond, Virginia kills the Governor of Virginia George William Smith and the president of the First National Bank of Virginia Abraham B. Venable.
1831-08-21 - Nat Turner slave revolt kills 55 (Southampton County, Virginia)
1839-11-11 - The Virginia Military Institute is founded in Lexington, Virginia.
1843-02-06 - The first minstrel show in the United States The Virginia Minstrels opens (Bowery Amphitheatre in New York City).
1846-07-09 - The territory of the District of Columbia south of the Potomac River (39 mi² or about 100 km²) is returned to Virginia through an Act of Congress.
1859-06-11 - Comstock silver load discovered near Virginia City, Nevada
1860-08-11 - US's 1st successful silver mill (Virginia City, Nev)
1861-04-17 - Virginia is 8th state to secede
Confederate General Robert E Lee
1861-04-22 - Robert E Lee named commander of Virginia Confederate forces
1861-04-27 - West Virginia secedes from Virginia after Virginia secedes from US
1861-05-23 - 3 fleeing slaves enter Fort Monroe Virginia
1861-05-23 - Virginia citizens vote 3 to 1 in favor of secession
1861-06-19 - Francis Pierpont is elected provisional governor of West Virginia
1861-06-25 - Western Virginia campaign
1861-07-13 - Battle of Corrick's Ford, VA (Carrick's Ford) - Union army takes total control of western Virginia CS20 US53
1861-09-10 - -15] Battle at Cheat Mountain, Elkwater West Virginia
1861-09-17 - 1st class for escaped slaves taught by Mary Peake at Fortress Monroe Virginia (now Hampton University).
1861-10-24 - West Virginia seceded from Virginia
1861-11-26 - West Virginia created as a result of dispute over slavery with Virg
1862-03-08 - Naval Engagement at Hampton Roads, VA CSS Virginia, Jamestown & Yorktown vs USS Cumberland, Congress & Monitor
1862-03-11 - 12] Gen Stonewall Jackson evacuates Winchester Virginia Army of the Potomac. Gen Henry Halleck is named general-in-chief
1862-03-28 - Skirmish at Bealeton Station, Virginia
1862-05-04 - -5] Battle at Williamsburg, Virginia
1862-05-11 - Confederates scuttle CSS Virginia off Norfolk, VA
1862-05-15 - Battle of Drewry's Bluff (Ft Darling), Virginia
1862-05-23 - Battle at Front Royal, Virginia
1862-05-23 - Valley Campaign-Stonewall Jackson takes Ft Royal, Virginia
1862-06-08 - Valley Campaign-Battle of Cross Keys, Virginia
1862-06-26 - Battle of Beaver Dam Creek-Union repulses Confederacy in Virginia
1862-06-26 - US Army of Virginia established under Gen John Pope
1862-06-27 - -28] Battle at Garnett's/Golding's Farms, Virginia
1862-06-30 - Battle at Nelson's Farm/Glendale/Frayser's Farm, Virginia: Confederate assault attack. 6th day of 7 days battles US Civil War
1862-09-01 - Battle at Chantilly (Ox Hill) Virginia (2100 casualties)
1862-09-14 - Federal troops escape from beleaguered Harpers Ferry West Virginia
1862-09-18 - General Read army pulls out of Antietam Creek Virginia
1862-09-19 - -20] Battle at Blackford's Ford Virginia
1862-11-05 - Battle at Barbee's Crossroads, Virginia: 51 casualties
1862-12-31 - President Lincoln signs act admitting West Virginia to the Union
1863-01-17 - Civil War skirmish near Newtown, Virginia
1863-02-10 - 1st US fire extinguisher patent granted to Alanson Crane, Virginia
1863-03-26 - Voters in West Virginia approve gradual emancipation of slaves
1863-04-02 - Bread revolt in Richmond Virginia
1863-04-19 - Union troops/fleet occupy For Huger, Virginia
1863-06-13 - Skirmish at Berryville Virginia
1863-06-14 - Battle of 2nd Winchester, Virginia
1863-06-17 - Battle at Middleburg Virginia
1863-06-17 - Battle of Aldie, Confederates fail to drive back Union in Virginia
1863-06-19 - Battle at Middleburg Virginia (100+ casualties)
1863-06-20 - West Virginia admitted as 35th US state
1863-06-21 - Battle at Upperville Virginia, 389 casualities
1863-06-27 - Skirmish at Fairfax (Courthouse) Virginia
1863-07-01 - -2] Battle at Baltimore: Crump's Crossroads Virginia
1863-07-24 - Battle at Battle Mountain, Virginia
1863-07-25 - Skirmish at Barbee's Crossroads, Virginia
1863-09-01 - 6th Ohio Cavalry ambush at Barbees Crossroads Virginia
1863-10-14 - Battle at Bristoe Station Virginia (about 2000 casualties)
1863-10-14 - Skirmish at Catlett's Station, Virginia (Bristoe Campaign)
1863-11-01 - -8] Averell's Raid (on)to Lewisburg, West Virginia
1864-02-06 - -7] Skirmish at Barnett's Ford Virginia
1864-02-28 - -Mar 3rd] Skirmish at Albemarle County Virginia (Burton's Ford)
1864-05-04 - -16] actions at Drewry's Bluff, Virginia
1864-05-07 - Skirmish at Port Walthall Junction Virginia (Drewry's Bluff)
1864-05-08 - Actions at Stony Creek/Nottoway bridge Virginia (Drewry's Bluff)
1864-05-09 - -20] Skirmish at Ware Bottom Church, Virginia
Famous Birthdays
Birthdays 1 - 95 of 95
1561-12-09 - Edwin Sandys, a founder of Virginia colony
1587-08-18 - 1st English child born in New World (Virginia Dare)
1609-08-06 - Richard Bennett, British Colonial Governor of Virginia (d. 1675)
1646-12-26 - Robert Bolling, English settler in Virginia (d. 1709)
1718-04-27 - Thomas Lewis, Irish-born Virginia settler (d. 1790)
1732-02-22 - George Washington, Westmoreland, Virginia, 1st American president (1789-97)
1743-04-13 - Thomas Jefferson, Virginia, (D-R) 3rd President of the United States (1801-09) (d. 1826)
1753-12-19 - John Taylor, Virginia, philosopher (Jeffersonian Democracy)
1756-01-29 - Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee III, Congressman, Governor of Virginia and American General
1773-06-02 - John Randolph, U.S. Senator from Virginia (d. 1833)
1783-05-25 - Philip Pendleton Barbour, Virginia politician and U.S. Supreme Court justice (d. 1841)
US President Thomas Jefferson (1743-04-13)
1800-10-02 - Nat Turner, Virginia, leader of major slave rebellion (1831)
1807-01-19 - Robert E Lee, Stratford Virginia, American Confederate General in Chief, (d. 1870)
1824-01-21 - Thomas Jackson ["Stonewall"], Clarksburg, Virginia, Lt Gen 2nd Corps (ANV, Confed), (d. 1863)
1833-12-06 - John Singleton Mosby, Powhatan County, Virginia, lawyer/Col (Confederate Army), (d. 1916)
1837-03-07 - Henry Draper, Virginia, astro-spectro-photographer (Moon, Jupiter)
1841-03-01 - Blanche Kelso Bruce, Virginia, (Sen-Miss, 1875-1881)
1865-07-14 - Annie Jones, Virginia, bearded lady
1869-07-14 - Owen Wister, US, novelist (Virginian)
1874-05-27 - Dustin Farnum, US, actor (Squaw Man, Virginian) [or 1870]
1880-11-25 - Leonard S Woolf, English author/husband of Virginia Woolf
1885-02-13 - Elizabeth Virginia [Bess] Truman, US 1st lady (1945-52)
1888-10-25 - Richard E Byrd, Virginia, admiral/polar explorer (1926)
1889-01-01 - Charles Bickford, Cambridge Mass, actor (John-The Virginian)
1890-08-13 - [Lavinia] Marian Fleming Poe, black US advocate in Virginia
1891-12-15 - A. P. (Alvin) Carter, Virginia, American musician (Carter Family)
US First Lady Elizabeth Truman (1885-02-13)
1892-12-30 - John Litel, Albany WI, actor (Virginia City, My Hero)
1894-09-17 - Fay Compton, [Virginia Lillian Emeline Compton], actress (Haunting)
1898-06-10 - Virginia Valli, [McSweeney], Chicago IL, actress (Pleasure Garden)
1898-07-21 - Sara Carter, Virginia, vocalist/guitarist (Carter Family)
1900-09-01 - Richard Arlen, Virginia, actor (Alice in Wonderland, Crawling Hand)
1905-05-15 - Joseph Cotten, Virginia, actor (3rd Man, Airport 77, Hearse)
1907-06-27 - John McIntire, Spokane WA, actor (Naked City, Wagon Train, Virginian)
1911-07-16 - Ginger Rogers, [Virginia McMath], Independ Mo, dancer (Gay Divorcee)
1911-12-08 - Lee J Cobb, NYC, actor (Virginian, 12 Angry Men, On the Waterfront)
1911-12-30 - Jeanette Nolan, LA California, actress (Richard Boone Show, Virginian)
1912-06-25 - Virginia Lacy Jones, US librarian/presidential advisor
1919-10-18 - Camilla Williams, Danville, Virginia, operatic soprano, (d. 2012)
1920-03-05 - Virginia Christine, actress (Mrs Olson)
1925-02-11 - Virginia E Johnson, doctor/sexologist (Masters & Johnson)
1925-09-22 - Virginia Capers, Sumter SC, actress (White Mama, Original Intent)
1925-11-10 - Richard Burton, South Wales, actor (Cleopatra, Virginia Woolf)
1928-08-07 - Herbert H Bateman, (Rep-R-Virginia)
1928-11-16 - Clu Gulager, Holdenville Oklahoma, actor (Virginian, Survivors, Tall Man)
1930-08-18 - Liviu Librescu, Israeli professor, killed in the Virginia Tech massacre
1930-08-31 - Owen B Pickett, (Rep-D-Virginia)
1932-03-09 - Keely Smith, Norfolk Virginia, American singer (Mrs Louie Prima)
1932-10-20 - Roosevelt Brown, Virginia, NFL hall of fame tackle (NY Giants)
1934-04-18 - James Drury, NYC, actor (Virginian)
1935-05-11 - Doug McClure, Glendale California, actor (Checkmate, Virginian, Roots)
1935-11-10 - Pippa Scott, LA California, actress (Virginian, Mr Lucky)
1936-03-17 - Robert Daniel, Richmond, Virginia, republican Congressman for Virginia (1972-1983), (d. 2012)
1936-08-16 - Gary Clarke, LA California, actor (Hondo, Virginian, Michael Shayne)
1938-05-28 - Jerry West, W Virginia, NBA superstar (LA Lakers, Olympic-gold-1960)
1939-05-01 - Max Robinson, Richmond Virginia, American broadcast journalistr (ABC Evening News) (d. 1988)
1940-04-18 - Ira von Furstenberg, [Virginia Caroline] Rome Italy, Princess (Monaco)
1942-01-17 - Randy Boone, Fayetteville NC, actor (Cimarron Strip, Virginian)
Country singer Tammy Wynette (1942-05-05)
1942-05-05 - Tammy Wynette [Virginia Pugh], Redbay Alabama, country singer (Stand by your Man), (d. 1998)
1943-04-07 - Roberta Shore, Monterrey Park, California, actress/singer (Virginian)
1945-05-16 - James Moran, (Rep-D-Virginia)
1945-07-09 - Lewis F Payne Jr, (Rep-D-Virginia)
1945-07-10 - [Sarah] Virginia Wade, England, tennis star (Wimbledon 1977)
1946-02-09 - Jim Webb, United States Senator from Virginia
1946-08-01 - Frederick C Boucher, (Rep-D-Virginia, 1983- )
1946-10-27 - Leslie Byrne, (Rep-D-Virginia)
1947-04-30 - Robert Scott, (Rep-D-Virginia)
1949-03-12 - Sara Lane, NYC, actress (Elizabeth Grainger-The Virginian)
1952-02-18 - Juice Newton, [Judy Cohen], Virginia, vocalist (Angel of the Morning)
1952-09-22 - Robert W Goodlatte, (Rep-R-Virginia)
1957-01-21 - Geena [Virginia] Davis, Wareham Mass, actress (Beetlejuice, Fly)
1957-07-20 - Donna Dixon, Virginia, actress and wife of actor Dan Aykroyd (Couch Trip, Bossom Buddies)
1961-09-11 - Virginia Madsen, Chicago Ill, actress (Dune, Hot Spot, Class)
1963-06-13 - Bettina Bunge, Switz, tennis player (Virginia Slims of California 1983)
1964-03-01 - Clinton Gregory, Martinsville, Virginia, American country and bluegrass singer-songwriter (Play, Ruby, Play)
1965-04-06 - Virginia Lee, Australian rower (Olympics-96)
1967-03-24 - Kathy Rinaldi-Stunkel, Fla, tennis player (Virginia Slims of Ark 1987)
1969-01-20 - Andre Romal Cason, Virginia Beach VA, 100m runner
1969-06-24 - Melissa Gurney, California, tennis player (Virginia Slims of SD, 1986)
1970-10-25 - Audra Wilks, Miss USA-Virginia (1997, Miss Photogenic)
1970-10-26 - Randall Evans, Franklin Virginia, 100m/200m runner
1972-01-11 - Amber Medlin, Virginia Beach Virginia, Miss America-Virginia (1996)
1972-08-16 - Michael Thornberry, Virginia Beach Va, team handball circle (Oly-1996)
1972-10-18 - Angie Marzetta, Norfolk Virginia, female outfielder (Silver Bullets)
1974-06-30 - Michelle Kang, Fredericksburg Virginia, Miss America-Virginia (1997)
1974-11-23 - Regina Fisher, Miss West Virginia USA (1996)
1975-01-24 - Danielle Connors, Miss Virginia USA (1996)
1977-03-05 - Natalie Bevins, Miss USA-West Virginia (1997)
1977-11-14 - Heather Gray, Miss West Virginia Teen USA (1996)
1978-05-21 - Kandy Marshall, Miss Virginia Teen USA (1996)
1979-05-01 - Kimberly Grigsby, Miss Virginia Teen USA (1997)
1980-01-25 - Amanda Michelle Burns, Miss West Virginia Teen USA (1997)
1981-08-20 - Lauri Illy, Virginia Beach Va, rhythmic gymnast (Olympics-96)
1984-01-18 - Seung-Hui Cho, shooter at Virginia Tech
1994-08-07 - Jack Antonio, son of Virginia Madisen & Antonio Sabatto Jr
1998-02-16 - Mr Jefferson, Virginia, 1st cloned calf
Famous Weddings
Weddings 1 - 6 of 6
1836-05-16 - US writer Edgar Allan Poe (26) marries his 13-year-old cousin Virginia Clemm
1992-06-15 - Director Frank Perry (Mommie Dearest) marries Virginia Bush Ford
1995-01-07 - Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence (29) weds former Miss Virginia USA Patricia Southall (24) at Norfolk Waterside Marriott in Virginia
2000-08-18 - Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (57) weds former congressional aide Calista Bisek (34) in Alexandria, Virginia
2006-03-16 - Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss (58) weds Svetlana Erokhin in Harrisonburg, Virginia
2006-07-27 - NASCAR driver Kurt Busch (27) weds Eva Bryan in Eastville, Virginia
Famous Deaths
Deaths 1 - 26 of 26
1618-06-07 - Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, English Governor of Virginia (b. 1577)
1675-04-12 - Richard Bennett, British Colonial Governor of Virginia (b. 1609)
1676-10-18 - Nathaniel Bacon, rallied against Virginian government, killed at 29
1687-04-12 - Ambrose Dixon, Virginia Colony pioneer
1706-08-23 - Colonel Edward Nott, Esq., British Crown Governor of Virginia (b. 1654)
1709-07-17 - Robert Bolling, English settler in Virginia (b. 1646)
1722-04-21 - Robert Beverley, Jr., historian of Colonial Virginia (b. 1673)
1726-07-22 - Hugh Drysdale, British Colonial Governor of Virginia
1740-06-06 - Alexander Spotswood, British governor of Virginia Colony
1770-07-27 - Robert Dinwiddie, British colonial governor of Virginia (b. 1693)
1772-11-19 - William Nelson, American colonial governor of Virginia (b. 1711)
1790-01-31 - Thomas Lewis, Irish-born Virginia settler (b. 1718)
1800-10-07 - Gabriel, slave revolt leader (Virginia), hanged
1862-09-01 - Oliver Tilden, of the Bronx, killed in Civil War in Virginia
1864-12-02 - Archibald Gracie III, Confederate brig-general, dies in battle at Siege of Petersburg, Virginia aged 32
1930-09-24 - William A. MacCorkle, Governor of West Virginia (b. 1857)
1940-10-21 - William G. Conley, Governor of West Virginia (b. 1866)
1967-11-09 - Charles Bickford, actor (Johnny Belinda, Virginian), dies at 78
1971-06-10 - Virginia Eames, entertainer, dies of heart attack at 82
1982-02-24 - Virginia Bruce, actress (Born to Dance, Great Ziegfield), dies at 71
1991-01-30 - John McIntire, actor (Virginian, Psycho), dies of emphysema at 83
1992-01-02 - Virginia Field, actress (Dream Girl), dies of cancer at 74
1995-02-05 - Doug Mcclure, US rodeo rider/actor (Trampas-Virginian), dies at 59
2007-04-16 - Seung-Hui Cho, Korean American murderer (b. 1984), see List of victims of the Virginia Tech massacre
2008-11-24 - Cecil H. Underwood, Governor of West Virginia (b. 1922)
2012-02-04 - Robert Daniel, five term American congressman for Virginia, dies at 75
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