// Important dates in history source file // history of Connecticut // // Prepared by Ryan O'Connell // Date of Discovery: 10-29 // Date of Preparation: 10-29 // Source extracted from the URL: // // http://www.sots.state.ct.us/RegisterManual/SectionI/seldates.htm1614 // // From a webpage entitled: // SELECTED IMPORTANT DATES IN // CONNECTICUT'S HISTORY // // Prepared by the // Connecticut Historical Commission // // Source undated // // 1634 Wethersfield founded by people from Massachusetts. 1635 First English settlers in Windsor arrive in summer. 1635 Fort erected at Saybrook by Lion Gardiner. 1635 Group from Dorchester, Massachusetts join Windsor settlement. 1637 Pequot War. Captain John Mason leads colonists to decisive victory. 1638 New Haven Colony established by John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton. 1643 Connecticut joins in forming the New England Confederation. 1646 New London founded by John Winthrop, Jr. 1650 Code of laws drawn up by Roger Ludlow and adopted by legislature. 1662 John Winthrop, Jr. obtains a charter for Connecticut. 1665 Union of New Haven and Connecticut Colonies completed. 1687 Andros assumes rule over Connecticut; Charter Oak episode occurs. 1689 Connecticut resumes government under charter. 1701 Collegiate School authorized by General Assembly. 1708 Saybrook Platform permits churches to join regional consociations. 1717 New Haven State House erected on the Green. 1717 Collegiate School moves to New Haven; called Yale the next year. 1740 Manufacture of tinware begun at Berlin by Edward and William Pattison. 1740 Height of religious "Great Awakening". 1745 Connecticut troops under Roger Wolcott help capture Louisburg. 1763 Brick State House erected on New Haven Green. 1765 Sharp opposition to Stamp Act. 1775 Several thousand militia rush to Massachusetts in "Lexington Alarm." 1775 Connecticut men help plan and carry out seizure of Ft. Ticonderoga. 1775 First gun powder mill in Connecticut started in East Hartford. 1777 British troops under General Tryon raid Danbury. 1779 British troops under General Tryon raid New Haven, Fairfield and Norwalk. 1781 Washington and Rochambeau confer at Webb House in Wethersfield. 1784 Governor Trumbull retires from governorship. 1784 Connecticut relinquishes Westmoreland area to Pennsylvania. 1785 First Register and Manual published. 1788 Convention at Hartford approves Federal Constitution by 128-40 vote. 1792 First turnpike road company, New London to Norwich, incorporated. 1792 First banks established at Hartford, New London and New Haven. 1793 Old State House, Hartford, erected; designed by Charles Bulfinch. 1802 Brass industry begun at Waterbury by Abel Porter and associates. 1806 First important English dictionary in United States published by Noah Webster. 1810 Hartford Fire Insurance Company incorporated. 1814 Hartford Convention held in Old State House. 1815 First steamboat voyage up the Connecticut River to Hartford. 1817 Federalists defeated by reformers in political revolution. 1817 Thomas Gallaudet found school for the deaf in Hartford. 1817 Hartford Times founded by Frederick D. Bolles and John M. Niles. 1820 Captain Nathaniel Palmer of Stonington discovers the continent of Antarctica. 1823 Washington College (now Trinity) founded in Hartford. 1827 "New" State House erected in New Haven; Ithiel Town, architect. 1828 Farmington Canal opened. 1831 Wesleyan University founded in Middletown. 1831 Mutual Insurance Company of Hartford founded. 1832 First Connecticut railroad incorporated as the Boston, Norwich and New London. 1835 Revolver patented by Colt. 1838 Railroad completed between New Haven and Hartford. 1839 The Amistad affair. 1842 Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, first public art museum, established. 1843 Charles Goodyear develops vulcanizing process for rubber. 1844 Dr. Horace Wells uses anesthesia at Hartford. 1847 First American agricultural experiment station--at Yale. 1848 Slavery abolished in Connecticut. 1853 Aetna Life Insurance Company started in Hartford. 1860 Lincoln speaks in several Connecticut cities. 1864 Travelers Insurance issues its first policy. 1865 Connecticut General Life Insurance Company founded. 1875 Hartford made sole capital city. 1877 First telephone exchange in world opened in New Haven. 1879 New Capitol building in Hartford completed; Richard Upjohn, architect. 1900 First United States Navy submarine, Holland, constructed by Electric Boat Co. 1901 First American state law regulating automobile speeds. 1910 U.S. Coast Guard Academy moves to New London. 1911 Connecticut College for Women founded at New London. 1917 Approximately 67,000 Connecticut men serve in World War 1. 1920 University of New Haven founded. 1927 University of Bridgeport founded. 1932 St. Joseph College founded in West Hartford. 1936 Floods cause enormous damage in Connecticut River Valley. 1938 Hurricane and floods produce heavy loss of life and property. 1938 First section of Merritt Parkway opened. 1939 First section of Wilbur Cross Parkway opened. 1944 Ringling Brothers Circus tent fire in Hartford took 168 lives. 1947 Fair Employment Practices Act adopted Outlawing job discrimination. 1954 Nautilus, world's first atomic-Powered submarine, launched at Groton. 1955 Serious floods cause heavy damage and loss of life. 1955 Shakespeare Memorial Theater opened at Stratford. 1957 University of Hartford founded. 1965 Constitutional Convention held. New Constitution approved by voters. 1974 Ella Grasso, first woman elected Governor in Connecticut. 1978 Common pleas and juvenile courts become part of the superior court. 1990 Eunice S. Groark, first woman elected lieutenant governor in Connecticut.