James Timeline By bravebobcats Jan 1, 1540 Hernando De Soto was the first European explorer to expore Tennessee Hernando was the first European explorer to explore Tennessee Jan 1, 1715 Shawnee tribe had to get out of Tennessee because the Cherokee tribe attacked them Jan 1, 1763 Great Britan took control of the 13 colonies Jun 1, 1796 Tennessee became a state Jan 8, 1815 On January 8th 1815 many Tennesseans defeated the Britans. Jan 1, 1829 Andrew Jackson became President after Lincoln's death. [Andrew Jackson was from Tennessee] Jan 1, 1950 10,500 Tennesseans were in the Koren War. Mar 23, 1954 Elvis Presley recored his first hit song at Sun Studio in Memphis. Apr 4, 1968 MLK jr died in a motel in Memphis. Jan 1, 1998 The Colloge football team the Volunteers where declared Champions.