BALTIMORE CITY, MARYLAND

HISTORICAL CHRONOLOGY

[photo, Fells Point historical marker, Fells Point, Baltimore, Maryland]
  • 1600 - 1699
  • 1700 - 1799
  • 1800 - 1899
  • 1900 - 1999
  • 2000 -

    • Fells Point historical marker, Fells Point, Baltimore, Maryland, July 2015. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

    1700-1799

    1726. William Fell, an English shipbuilder, purchased land on the Patapsco River and named it Fell's Prospect (later known as Fells Point).

    1729, Aug. 8. Baltimore Town established by charter; named after Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore.

    1731. Baltimore Company began ironmaking on Patapsco River.

    1745. General Assembly combined Jones Town and Baltimore Town.

    c. 1750. John Stevenson shipped cargo of flour to Ireland, first in an export trade that spurred development of Baltimore.

    1752. John Moale sketched Baltimore Town.

    1755. French-speaking Catholics, or neutral French, arrived in Baltimore from Nova Scotia.

    1763. Fells Point was founded.

    1763. First volunteer fire company, later Mechanical Company, formed in Baltimore.

    1768. Baltimore County courthouse and prison moved from Joppa to Baltimore Town, the new county seat.

    1769. First smallpox hospital in colonies established by Henry Stevenson, Baltimore.

    [photo, Thames St., Fells Point, Baltimore, Maryland] 1773. General Assembly united Fells Point and Baltimore Town.

    1773. First Courthouse constructed at Baltimore.

    1773, Aug. 20. William Goddard (1740-1817) began printing Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser.

    Thames St., Fells Point, Baltimore, Maryland, September 2014. Photo by Sarah A. Hanks.

    1774, Aug. Baltimoreans shipped cargo of corn, rye, and bread to people of Boston.

    1774, Dec. Mordecai Gist formed Baltimore Independent Cadets.

    1775, May 10-1785. Mary Katherine Goddard continued publication of Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser.

    1775, July 16. Congress adopted William Goddard's plan for Continental Post, the foundation of U.S. postal system.

    1776, March. Whig Club formed in Baltimore.

    1776, Dec. 20-1777, March 4. Continental Congress met at Baltimore.

    1778, March. Count Casimir Pulaski raised independent troops, Baltimore.

    1780. Baltimore became port of entry.

    1781, Sept. 17. American troops embarked from Fells Point, Baltimore, and sailed to Yorktown.

    1782. Baltimore boundaries extended west of Harris Creek.

    1782. Named for the Battle of Lexington, Lexington Market opened at Paca St. and Lexington St. on land donated by Gen. John Eager Howard.

    1784, June, 24. Edward Warren at Baltimore made first balloon ascension in United States aboard balloon designed by Peter Carnes of Bladensburg.

    [photo, Lovely Lane Museum and Archives, 2200 St. Paul St., Baltimore, Maryland] 1784, Dec. Methodist Christmas Conference at Lovely Lane Chapel, Baltimore, established Methodist Episcopal Church in America.

    1785. German Evangelical Reformed congregation under Philip William Otterbein built United Brethren Church, Baltimore.

    1785, Aug. China trade began with John O'Donnell's arrival at Baltimore with cargo from Canton, China.

    1786. Fells Point Market established.

    Lovely Lane Museum and Archives (site of Methodist Christmas Conference), 2200 St. Paul St., Baltimore, Maryland, April 2007. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

    1787. Toll roads connecting Baltimore with Frederick, Westminster, Hanover, and York authorized by General Assembly.

    1787. Friends' Yearly Meeting, Baltimore, condemned slavery.

    1788, May 1. Parade and festival (following ratification of federal constitution) gave name to Federal Hill, Baltimore.

    1789. Maryland Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and the Relief of Poor Negroes and Others Unlawfully Held in Bondage formed at Baltimore.

    1790, Aug. 15. By papal direction, Bishop Charles Walmsley consecrated John Carroll (1735-1815) as bishop of Baltimore, St. Mary's Chapel of Lulworth Castle, Dorset, England.

    1792. African Americans formed Sharp Street Methodist Church, Baltimore.

    1793. Refugees from Haitian slave uprising arrived in Baltimore.

    1794. First of many yellow fever epidemics struck Baltimore.

    1794. Baltimore Equitable Society, first fire insurance company in Maryland, formed.

    1795. Bank of Baltimore established.

    1795, Oct. 25. John Pendleton Kennedy (1795-1870), author and statesman, born in Baltimore.

    1796. Baltimore City incorporated: Baltimore Town became Baltimore City.

    1796, Jan. 27-1811, June 19. Samuel Chase (1741-1811) of Baltimore served on U.S. Supreme Court.

    1797. Fells Point Market moved to Broadway at Pratt St. and renamed Broadway Market.

    1797, Sept. David Stodder's shipyard at Harris Creek, Baltimore, launched U.S. Frigate Constellation, first ship of U.S. Navy.

    [photo, Cannons at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland] 1799. Construction began on Fort McHenry, Baltimore.

    1799, May 14. Alexander Martin established Baltimore American and Daily Advertiser at Fells Point.


    Cannons at Fort McHenry on the Patapsco River, Baltimore, Maryland, August 2010. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

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