Colonial Timeline

By DohertyR
  • Henry Hudson is the first to arrive in Delaware

    Henry Hudson is the first to arrive in Delaware

    August 28, 1609 – Henry Hudson, an English navigator under the employ of the Dutch East India Trading Company, the first explorer to arrive in Delaware.
  • Henry Hudson Discovers the Delaware river and bay

    Henry Hudson Discovers the Delaware river and bay

    21609 - Henry Hudson, an Englishman sailing for the Dutch East India Company, discovers Delaware Bay and River.
  • Captin Samuel Argall names the bay and river after his Lord De La Warr

    Captin Samuel Argall names the bay and river after his Lord De La Warr

    1610 - Captain Samuel Argall, an English sea captain, names the bay and river after Lord De La Warr, the governor of Virginia.
  • Colonists find a settling point

    Colonists find a settling point

    1631 - Dutch colonists settle at Zwaanendael (site of present-day Lewes).
  • The first European Colony

    The first European Colony

    1638 - The first European colony in the Delaware Valley was established by Swedish settlers
  • Swedish colonization began

    Swedish colonization began

    1655 - Swedish colonization began at Fort Christina (now Wilmington) in 1638, but New Sweden fell to Dutch forces led by New Netherlands' governor Peter Stuyvesant.
  • The Dutch get the Delaware back

    The Dutch get the Delaware back

    1673 - The Dutch regain control of the Delaware.
  • The English take back the Delaware

    The English take back the Delaware

    1674 - The English regain the Delaware
  • The Dke of York transfers control to William Penn

    The Dke of York transfers control to William Penn

    1682 - The Duke of York transfers control of the Delaware Colony to English Quaker William Penn.
  • An important church is built

    An important church is built

    1698 - Holy Trinity, Old Swedes Church, is built in Wilmington
  • The town of Dover is created

    The town of Dover is created

    1717 - Town of Dover laid out.
  • Thomas Willing founds Willingtown

    Thomas Willing founds Willingtown

    1731 - Thomas Willing founds Willingtown
  • Willingtown is renamed Wilmington

    Willingtown is renamed Wilmington

    1739 - Willingtown receives royal charter and is renamed Wilmington.
  • flour mill built

    flour mill built

    1742 - Oliver Canby builds flour mill on Brandywine River at Wilmington, beginning large commercial flour milling industry.
  • Delaware is growing fast

    Delaware is growing fast

    1760 - 35,000 people lived in the Delaware region.
  • James Adams sets up the first printing press

    James Adams sets up the first printing press

    1761 - James Adams sets up first printing press in Delaware at Wilmington.
  • French and Indian war ends

    French and Indian war ends

    1763 - The French and Indian War ends in 1763 and Great Britain gains controls of all lands previously held by France. England pays for the war by increasing taxes on its American Colonies. Restrictions on the colonists eventually lead to a fight for independence from the crown.
  • Stamp act congress

    Stamp act congress

    1765 - Caesar Rodney and Thomas McKean represent Delaware at the Stamp Act Congress.
  • John Dickinson writes Letters as an influential protest against British policies towards the colonies.

    John Dickinson writes Letters as an influential protest against British policies towards the colonies.

    1767-68 - John Dickinson writes Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, an influential protest against British policies towards the colonies.
  • First Continental Congress

    First Continental Congress

    1774 - Caesar Rodney, Thomas McKean, and George Read represent Delaware at the First Continental Congress.
  • Revolutionary War begins

    Revolutionary War begins

    1775 - Revolutionary War began
  • - June 15 - Delaware Assembly declares independence from England

    - June 15 - Delaware Assembly declares independence from England

    1776 - June 15 - Delaware Assembly declares independence from England. This is the origin of the holiday called Separation Day.
  • Delaware Assembly ratifies Articles of Confederation.

    Delaware Assembly ratifies Articles of Confederation.

    1779 - Delaware Assembly ratifies Articles of Confederation.
  • Oliver Evans builds prototype automatic flour mill in Newport

    Oliver Evans builds prototype automatic flour mill in Newport

    1785 - Oliver Evans builds prototype automatic flour mill in Newport.Delaware Gazette, state's first newspaper, begins publication.
  • Delaware is one of 5 states to send delegates to Annapolis Convention

    Delaware is one of 5 states to send delegates to Annapolis Convention

    1786 - Delaware is one of 5 states to send delegates to Annapolis Convention, which hoped to revise the Articles of Confederation.
  • Delaware ratified the United States Constitution and became the 1st state in the Union.

    Delaware ratified the United States Constitution and became the 1st state in the Union.

    1787 - Dec. 7 - Delaware ratified the United States Constitution and became the 1st state in the Union.
  • Delaware becomes last state to abolish use of the pillory.

    Delaware becomes last state to abolish use of the pillory.

    1905 - Delaware becomes last state to abolish use of the pillory.
  • 30,000 Delaware men and women serve in armed forces in World War II.

    30,000 Delaware men and women serve in armed forces in World War II.

    1941-45 - 30,000 Delaware men and women serve in armed forces in World War II.
  • Delaware Memorial Bridge opens

    Delaware Memorial Bridge opens

    1951 - Delaware Memorial Bridge opens first span linking Delaware to New Jersey.
  • Delaware passes Civil Unions Bill

    Delaware passes Civil Unions Bill

    2011 - Delaware passes Civil Unions Bill