French and Indian War ends on February 10, 1763

The Seven Years’ War (AKA French and Indian War) officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris by France, Great Britain and Spain on February 10, 1763.  In the early 1750s, France’s expansion into the Ohio River valley repeatedly brought the country into armed conflict with the British colonies. In 1756, the British …

East India Company Breakfast Martini

Cocktails are traditionally thought of as an American innovation, but they were actually inspired by British punches—big bowls of spirits mixed with fruit juice, spices, and other flavors, consumed in punch houses in the 18th century. The term cocktail was even first seen in a British newspaper printed March of 1798. But the term wasn’t …

UPCOMING EVENT — Wreath Laying at the Tomb of the Unknown

Sat.  February 17, 202411:00 amWashington SquarePhiladelphia, PA 19106 Washington Square was one of Philadelphia’s five original squares as laid out in 1682 by William Penn’s surveyor, Thomas Holme. It was then called Southeast Square, as Quakers did not believe in naming places after people. Within 25 years of Penn’s arrival, however, the square was being …

UPCOMING EVENT — The Purging of the Kegs: A Fundraiser for Fort Mifflin

Fort Mifflin on the Delaware6400 Hog Island Rd Philadelphia, PA 19153Saturday, March 302:00 – 4:00pm A Beer Lover’s Nightmare – we’re dumping beer into the river. Okay, the Regimental Brewmeister has a robust schedule of brewing planned for 2024 and unfortunately last year’s beer has got to go.  The reality is I brew way faster than …

East India Company Punch

Cocktails are traditionally thought of as an American innovation, but they were actually inspired by British punches—big bowls of spirits mixed with fruit juice, spices, and other flavors, consumed in punch houses in the 18th century. The term cocktail was even first seen in a British newspaper printed March of 1798. But the term wasn’t …

US Marines in the American Revolution — Willings’ Marine Expedition

February 1778 In the period prior to the Revolution, James Willing, scion of a prominent Philadelphia family, had engaged in trade at Natchez. In the fall of 1777, he received, through the influence of his brother Thomas and a close friend, Robert Morris, a commission from Congress that authorized him to organize a volunteer company …

East India Company Hibiscus Fizz

Cocktails are traditionally thought of as an American innovation, but they were actually inspired by British punches—big bowls of spirits mixed with fruit juice, spices, and other flavors, consumed in punch houses in the 18th century. The term cocktail was even first seen in a British newspaper printed March of 1798. But the term wasn’t …

Historical Tidbits — 11th Amendment to the US Constitution

When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. February 7, 1795              11th Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified The Eleventh Amendment was adopted to overrule the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Chisholm v. Georgia (1793). …

Okay, The East India Company is Really Famous for … Tea.

Tea is arguably the world’s most popular beverage. It is enjoyed by millions of people around the globe daily. But this wasn’t always so. In addition to trading in luxurious goods such as exotic spices, fine fabrics and bullion, The East India Company played a pivotal role in introducing tea not only to the British …