(June 1, 1637–May 18, 1675), was a French missionary explorer in America. Landing in Quebec, 1666, he began learning the Algonquin and Huron languages. He founded a mission at Sault Sainte Marie, and from 1669 to 1671 had his station at La Pointe du Saint Esprit, at the head of Ashland Bay. Forced to flee … Continue reading “MARQUETTE,
JACQUES”
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL COURT
(1636), resolved to establish a code of laws that would be: agreeable to the word of God.317
HARVARD UNIVERSITY
(1636), founded by the General Court of Massachusetts only sixteen years after the landing of the Pilgrims, is the oldest university in the United States. Originally called the College at Cambridge, being established in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it was renamed after its first major benefactor, Rev. John Harvard (1607–1638), who donated his library and half of … Continue reading “HARVARD
UNIVERSITY”
MARYLAND, COLONY OF
(March 25, 1634), was founded by Leonard Calvert (1606–1647), who arrived in the Chesapeake Bay area with two ships, the Ark and the Dove. Commissioned by his brother Cecilius Calvert (1605–1675), Second Lord Baltimore, to lead the expedition and serve as its governor, Leonard Calvert, along with over 230 emigrants, founded the first capital, St. … Continue reading “MARYLAND,
COLONY OF”
PEPYS, SAMUEL
(February 23, 1633–May 26, 1703), was an English diarist, who had served as a clerk in the British Navy. He was promoted to Secretary of the Admiralty, instituting many of the administrative methods of the British Navy, and was elected president of the Royal Society. His Diary, kept from the years of 1660–69, has become … Continue reading “PEPYS,
SAMUEL”
LOCKE, JOHN
(August 29, 1632–October 28, 1704), was an English philosopher, diplomat and educator, whose writings had a profound influence on America’s Founding Fathers. He received his master’s degree from the Christ Church College of Oxford University, 1658, and lectured there on Greek, philosophy and rhetoric. He served as a diplomat to Madrid, 1665, moved to France, … Continue reading “LOCKE,
JOHN”
MARYLAND, CHARTER OF
(June 20, 1632), was originally issued by King Charles I, to George Calvert (1580–1632), First Lord Baltimore. He had served as Secretary of State for King James I, but he died before he could embark. The Charter was then reissued to his son, Cecilius Calvert (1605–1675), Second Lord Baltimore, who commissioned his brother, Leonard Calvert … Continue reading “MARYLAND,
CHARTER OF”
PUFENDORF, SAMUEL, BARON VON
(1632–1694), was a German philosopher, historian and jurist. The son of a Lutheran minister, he studied theology at the University of Leipzig and law at the University of Jena. In Copenhagen, during the war between Sweden and Denmark, 1658, he was imprisoned for eight months, and upon release traveled to Leiden where he published a … Continue reading “PUFENDORF,
SAMUEL, BARON VON”
MASSACHUSETTS BAY COMPANY, CAMBRIDGE AGREEMENT OF THE
(August 26, 1629), was a compact between the members of the Massachusetts Bay Company consenting to change their charter from a business venture to a plantation charter. The document included their justification of the decision, stating: And having weighed the greatness of the worke in regard to the consequence, God’s glory and the churches good.289
NEW YORK, CHARTER OF FREEDOMS AND EXEMPTIONS TO PATROONS OF
(June 7, 1629), established the Dutch patroon system of land holdings in New York and New Netherlands. This plan, intended to promote colonization, granted large tracts of land to those who would help fifty families to emigrate and settle along the Hudson River. It stated: Article XXVII. The Patroons and colonists shall in particular, and … Continue reading “NEW
YORK, CHARTER OF FREEDOMS AND EXEMPTIONS TO PATROONS OF”