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Richmond
KNOWLEDGE OF Richmond
Richmond, center of controversy and commerce, capital of Virginia and of the Confederate States of America, has a rich and vivid history. Its strategic location, both militarily and commercially, brought two major wars – the American Revolution and the Civil War - to its doorstep. Both left their mark on the city but through all it has endured, Richmond has retained the trademarks of a classic southern city - hospitality, charm and fortitude.
The Beginnings
Just ten days after the English landed at Jamestown in 1607, Captain John Smith traveled up the James River looking for a connecting route to the East Indies. The region was inhabited by the Powhatan tribe, and ruled by Chief Powhatan, father of John Rolfe's future bride, Pocahontas. Settlements were established along the river as early as 1611 in and around what is present-day Richmond. The communities thrived on the export of tobacco, coal and timber; the river providing easy access to the ocean. In 1737, William Byrd laid plans for the city of Richmond and named it after Richmond-on-the-Thames, in England.
Revolutionary Times
“Give me Liberty or Give me Death, rang out from St. John's Church in 1775 during a meeting of the Second Continental Congress. Patrick Henry’s cry for freedom from Great Britain fell on the ears of his fellow patriots, among them George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Thirty days later the “shot heard round the world was fired from Concord, Massachusetts and the American Revolution began. In the early years of the war, most of the fighting took place in the north. However, Richmond first played a major role by supplying American troops with tobacco – used for cash – and cannons, guns and powder. By 1779, Williamsburg, then the capital of Virginia, was a target for British naval attack because of its proximity to the ocean. Important documents were transported to Richmond for safekeeping and the capital was officially established here in 1780.
In January of 1781, the British army marched into Richmond led by former Continental army general, Benedict Arnold. Arnold turned treason against the United States with the promise from Britain of a high military rank and a large sum of money. He received neither at the end of the war.
The British troops, led by Lord Cornwallis, burned much of Richmond and nearby Petersburg before heading down the James River towards Williamsburg. They were defeated at Yorktown by combined French and American armies led by the Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington and surrendered in October, 1781.
The Beginnings
Just ten days after the English landed at Jamestown in 1607, Captain John Smith traveled up the James River looking for a connecting route to the East Indies. The region was inhabited by the Powhatan tribe, and ruled by Chief Powhatan, father of John Rolfe's future bride, Pocahontas. Settlements were established along the river as early as 1611 in and around what is present-day Richmond. The communities thrived on the export of tobacco, coal and timber; the river providing easy access to the ocean. In 1737, William Byrd laid plans for the city of Richmond and named it after Richmond-on-the-Thames, in England.
Revolutionary Times
“Give me Liberty or Give me Death, rang out from St. John's Church in 1775 during a meeting of the Second Continental Congress. Patrick Henry’s cry for freedom from Great Britain fell on the ears of his fellow patriots, among them George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Thirty days later the “shot heard round the world was fired from Concord, Massachusetts and the American Revolution began. In the early years of the war, most of the fighting took place in the north. However, Richmond first played a major role by supplying American troops with tobacco – used for cash – and cannons, guns and powder. By 1779, Williamsburg, then the capital of Virginia, was a target for British naval attack because of its proximity to the ocean. Important documents were transported to Richmond for safekeeping and the capital was officially established here in 1780.
In January of 1781, the British army marched into Richmond led by former Continental army general, Benedict Arnold. Arnold turned treason against the United States with the promise from Britain of a high military rank and a large sum of money. He received neither at the end of the war.
The British troops, led by Lord Cornwallis, burned much of Richmond and nearby Petersburg before heading down the James River towards Williamsburg. They were defeated at Yorktown by combined French and American armies led by the Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington and surrendered in October, 1781.
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