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. August 27, 1776 – BATTLE OF BROOKLYN – Following the evacuation of Boston by the British, General Washington relocated the Continental Army to New York City. The British landed …
Author Archives: Michael Carver
Historical Tidbits — Battle of Long Island
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. August 27, 1776 Battle of Long Island After the British evacuation from Boston in March, the British general Lord William Howe moved to occupy New York City under the …
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Captain Cook sailed with Spruce Beer
On August 26, 1768 Captain Cook departed England on his famous voyage aboard the Endeavor. Believing in the healthful qualities of Beer, Cook took along 4 tons of spruce beer. It didn’t last. He had to make several stops along the way to brew more including one notable stop in New Zealand. Want to have …
Historical Tidbits — British take possession of New York City
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. August 26, 1776 British take possession of New York City Having defeated the Continental Army on Long Island and pursuing them into upstate New York, General Howe established a …
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Proper Salutes in the British Army
In 1740, the “French salute”, or greeting another by kissing them on the cheek, started to become fashionable in London. With the Seven Years War (AKA French and Indian War), the “French salute” quickly became controversial, being called unEnglish. Encouraged instead was the “old English” way of “pulling off a Hat. For the British, removing your …
Historical Tidbits — The @ Symbol
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. Notes on the Origin of the @ Symbol The modern and now ubiquitous use of the @ in email addresses lends us to assume this is a modern symbol. …
Edward Jenner did not “Invent” Vaccination
We often refer to Edward Jenner as the ‘father of vaccination.’ He was not, however, the inventor of the process. Jenner reported his famous story about inoculating young James Phipps with cowpox and then demonstrating immunity to smallpox. Taken the pus from a smallpox blister and introducing into a scratch in the skin of an …
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The First Steamboat Sailed on the Delaware
The era of the steamboat began in America in 1787 when John Fitch made the first successful trial of a forty-five-foot steamboat on the Delaware River on August 22, 1787, in the presence of members of the Constitutional Convention. Fitch later built a larger vessel that carried passengers and freight between Philadelphia and Burlington, New Jersey. …
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Of Government in Petticoats!!!
The provision on suffrage in the New Jersey state constitution of 1776 granted the right to vote to “all inhabitants” who were of legal age, owned property worth 50 English pounds, and resided in a county for at least one year. No one is sure what was meant by “all inhabitants” since the New Jersey constitutional convention …
Historical Tidbits — General Howe enters Chesapeake
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. August 21, 1777 General Howe enters Chesapeake and lands 16000 men The largest armada ever assembled in America set sail off of Sandy Hook, New Jersey. It was carrying …
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Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 