Richmond, Virginia: Timeline

1737   Richmond, Virginia founded.

1775   American Revolutionary War: Patrick Henry Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry was a prominent figure in the American Revolution [i], known and remembered primarily for ... 

 delivers his "give me liberty or give me death" speech at St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia.

1781   American Revolutionary War American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War , also known as the American War of Independence, was a war between... 

: Richmond, Virginia is burned by British naval forces led by Benedict Arnold Benedict Arnold

Benedict Arnold was a general [i] in the Continental Army [i] during the American Revolutionary War [i]. ... 

.

1861   American Civil War: Richmond, Virginia is named the capital of the Confederate States of America Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America was the government formed by eleven southern states of the USA [i] ... 

.

1862   American Civil War: Jefferson Davis Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Davis was an American [i] statesman and advocate for slavery [i] and, until he ... 

 officially inaugurated in Richmond, Virginia, to a six-year term as president of the Confederate States of America Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America was the government formed by eleven southern states of the USA [i] ... 

.

1862   American Civil War: Battle of Yorktown - The battle begins when Union forces under General George McClellan close in on the Confederate capital Richmond, Virginia.

1862   American Civil War American Civil War

The American Civil War was a sectional conflict in the United States of America [i] between the federal ... 

: Union United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 President Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln , sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitte... 

 approves General Ambrose Burnside Ambrose Burnside

Ambrose Everett Burnside was a railroad executive, an industrialist, and a politician from Rhode Island [i] ... 

's plan to capture the Confederate Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America was the government formed by eleven southern states of the USA [i] ... 

 capital at Richmond, Virginia (this led to a dramatic Union defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13).

1864   American Civil War: Second Battle of Fair Oaks ends - Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant withdraw from Fair Oaks, Virginia, after failing to breach the Confederate defenses around Richmond, Virginia.

1865   American Civil War: Confederate President Jefferson Davis Jefferson Davis

Jefferson Davis was an American [i] statesman and advocate for slavery [i] and, until he ... 

 and most of his Cabinet flee the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia which is taken the next day.

1990   Douglas Wilder becomes the first elected African American African American

An African American is a member of an ethnic group [i] in the United States [i] whose ancestors, usual ... 

 governor as he takes office in Richmond Richmond, Virginia

Richmond is the capital [i] of the Commonwealth [i] of Virginia [i], in the United States of America [i] ... 

, Virginia Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia is one of the original thirteen colonies [i] of the United States [i] ... 

.