Virginia: October 2012

Sunday, October 21, 2012

John Tyler

I read some interesting facts about Tenth President of the United States. He is from Virginia!So, I want to present you some informations about John Tyler:

John Tyler was born on March 29, 1790 in Virginia. Not much is known about his childhood though he grew up on a plantation in Virginia. His Mother died when he was only seven. At twelve, he entered the College of William and Mary Preparatory School. He graduated from the College proper in 1807. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1809.

From 1811-16, 1823-5, and 1838-40, John Tyler was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. In 1813, he did join the militia but never saw action. In 1816, Tyler was elected to be a U.S. Representative. He strongly opposed every move towards power for the Federal government that he saw as unconstitutional. He eventually resigned. He was Governor of Virginia from 1825-7 until he was elected a U.S. Senator.

You can read more facts from his biography in this site:

http://www.nndb.com/people/851/000049704/

Special facts about his life are here:

http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/jtyler.html

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Richmond - capital of Virginia

When I visited this site ( http://www.virginiaplaces.org/vacities/24rich.html ) I was really impressed! I read new information about capital of Virginia - Richmond:

Richmond has not always been the capital of Virginia.

When the English colonists arrived in 1607, the paramount chief of the local tribes (Powhatan) ruled his territory (Tsenacommacah) from Werowocomoco, located on what we now call the York River. Powhatan's brother, Parahunt, ruled a subordinate town located at the base of the waterfalls on Powhatan's River (what we now call the James River).

In 1607, the English colonists established their official seat of government at Jamestown. That location was about 15 miles south of Parahunt's capital at Werowocomoco - but about 80 miles as a boat travels on the river.

fortifications to protect the capital of the Confederacy between 1861-1865

You can find more information here: http://www2.richmond.com/
or in this site: http://wikitravel.org/en/Richmond

History of Virginia

Virginia (named for Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen) at first included in its lands the whole vast area of North America not held by the Spanish or French. The colony on Roanoke Island, organized by Sir Walter Raleigh, failed, but the English soon made another attempt slightly farther north. In 1606 James I granted a charter to the London Company (better known later as the Virginia Company), a group of merchants lured by the thought of easy profits in mining and trade. The company sent three ships and 144 men under captains Christopher Newport, Bartholomew Gosnold, and John Ratcliffe to establish a base, and the tiny force entered Chesapeake Bay in Apr., 1607. On a peninsula in the James River they founded (May 13, 1607) the first permanent English settlement in America, which they called Jamestown. It soon became clear that the company's original plans were unrealistic, and the Jamestown settlers began a long and unexpected struggle to live off the land.

In 1606, however, King James granted a joint charter to two companies one, with headquarters in London, authorized to settle southern Virginia; and the other, with headquarters in Plymouth, authorized to settle northern Virginia; but neither to plant within 100 miles of the other. The expeditions sent out by the Plymouth Company met with failure, but the London Company established the settlement at Jamestown. The years between 1607 and 1624, encompassing the overlordship of the Virginia Company of London, assured the permanence of the first English colony in America.

You can read more information: http://xroads.virginia.edu/~hyper/vaguide/history.html

Geography of Virginia

I read some interesting information about geography of Virginia:

The most northerly of the Southern states, Virginia is roughly triangular in shape. The small section of the state that, along with Maryland and Delaware, occupies the Delmarva peninsula between Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean is separated from the main part of Virginia and is called the Eastern Shore. The coastal plain or tidewater region of E Virginia, generally flat and partly swampy, is cut by four great tidal rivers—the Potomac (forming most of the border with Maryland and beyond which also lies Washington, D.C.), the Rappahannock, the York, and the James—all of which empty into Chesapeake Bay. In the tidewater region stretch vast forests of pine and hardwood, highlighted in early spring by flowering redbud and dogwood.

Virginia's shores, mountains, mineral springs, natural wonders, and numerous historic sites draw millions of visitors annually. Crowning the hilltops and river bluffs from the Chesapeake region west to the Blue Ridge and adding to the grace and elegance of the Virginia landscape are the classic Greek revival homes and public buildings with their stately porticoes. Major tourist attractions include Shenandoah National Park; Colonial Williamsburg; and Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial. Other hCourt House National Historical Park; Manassas and Richmond national battlefield parks; Booker T. Washington and George Washington Birthplace national monuments; Colonial National Historical Park and Jamestown National Historic Site, both on Jamestown Island; and several national cemeteries and battlefields (see National Parks and Monuments, table).