Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday

Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday April 13, 1743 Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia to Jane and Peter Jefferson. His father was a Virginia planter, surveyor, and slave owner. At age fourteen, Jefferson’s father died, and Thomas inherited some thirty enslaved individuals. Jefferson fully embraced the lifestyle of an affluent member…

Read More

Sybil Luddington Patriotic Rider

During the American Revolution Colonel Henry Ludington commanded the Dutchess County militia. On April 26,1777 he received a message. The British were advancing up the Hudson River and were attacking Danbury CT. Colonel Ludington immediately needed to alert his militiamen. Could he go? Would Torries (Loyalists) notice him riding and interfere? Was it best for…

Read More

JOHN JACOB “RIFLE JACK” PETERSON

John Jacob “Rifle Jack” Peterson was a Revolutionary war era patriot of African and Kitchewan descent whose quick thinking helped repel British forces in Croton, New York.  His actions threw Benedict Arnold’s treasonous plans into disarray and led to the capture of Major Andre. In September 1780, Peterson and a fellow private class soldier named Moses…

Read More

Our First Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton

Image of Alexander Hamilton Courtesy of  www.biographyicon.org Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers, is regarded as the architect of American capitalism.  Born in the Caribbean around 1755, he was orphaned while still young and worked as a clerk as a young man. His writing talent caught the attention of local patrons who sent him…

Read More

Benjamin Franklin: A Renaissance Man

Benjamin Franklin was what many might consider to be a renaissance man. Among his many inventions were the lightning rod, bifocals, odometer, the glass harmonica and the Franklin stove. But he also invented swim fins and proved with his kite experiment that lightning is electricity. Franklin did not secure patents for any of his inventions…

Read More