Columbia's New York Antecedents, 1524 - 1745 1609 --Englishman Henry Hudson explored New York Bay and the North River (later, Hudson); claimed region up to A;lbany on behalf of Dutch West Indies Company 1611 -- Dutch explorer-navigator Adrien Block, circumnavigated Manhattan Island, passed through "Hell Gate" and discovered Long Island Sound 1624 -- A Dutch settlement of thirty families established a trading post of New Amsterdam on southern tip of Manhattan Island 1626 -- Peter Minuit made director of New Netherland; said to have purchased Manhattan Island from resident Indians. 1636 -- Massachusetts Puritans open a college outside Boston in Cambridge (later Harvard); the first college in English North America 1647 -- Peter Stuyvesant appointed governor of New Netherland; served in position to end of Dutch rule in 1664 1654 -- First known Jews take up residence in New Amsterdam 1664 -- English seize New Netherland for the Duke of York (later James II); renamed New York; New Amsterdam became New York; Dutch encouraged to stay on 1665 -- New York 1st governor, Richard Nicolls, provides charter for municipal government for New York City 1673-74 -- Local Dutch briefly reclaim New York; negotiate it away a year later 1683 -- Governor Thomas Dongan organizes Provincial government with an appointed Governor's Council and an elected Assembly; marks beginning of representative government in the colony 1683 -- New York City receives a corporate charter from Governor Dongan; mayor to be appointed by governor 1685 -- February -- King Charles II died; the Duke of York becomes James II; with its proprietor's accession to the crown, New York becomes a royal colony Revocation of the Edict of Nates by Louis XIV produces a substantial migration of French Hugurnots to New York region; DeLanceys, Jays, Boudinots among them 1688 -- A rebellion against the royal government of James II and his local representative Edmund Andros led by non-Englishman Jacob Leisler; attracted substantial local support but repudiated a year later by the newly installed King William 1691 -- Jacob Leiser and co-conspirator Jacob Milborne hanged on orders of Governor Henry Sloughter 1693 -- NY provincial government under Governor Benjamin Fletcher passes Ministry Act -- provides financial support from provincial tax receipts for Anglican churches in NYC, Westchester, Queens and Staten Island; Anglicans therefater see themselves as the colony's established church 1693 -- Virginian Anglicans open William & Mary College in Williamsburg with royal charter; the second college in English North America; operated as a grammar school until 1729 William Bradford moves from Philadelphia to NYC as public printer; publishes first book in New York 1695 -- Governor Fletcher approves grant of land in New York City for an Anglican Church; allows Dutch to use their taxes to support Dutch Reform clergy; greatly expands land patents to favored supporters 1697 -- Trinity Church founded by NYC Anglicans with royal charter from King William; given 7-year lease of 32 acres of prime NYC property [ "Queens Farm"] by Governor Fletcher; William Vesey (Harvard, 1688) named first rector of Trinity Church; held position to 1745 1700 -- New York's 7th governor, Richard Coote, Earl of Bellomont, a Whig, threatens to reclaim land earlier provided Trinity Church by Governor Fletcher; bans Catholics from holding religious services in NYC 1701 -- Five Connecticut ministers found a Collegiate School (later Yale); opened in Saybrook and moved about before settling in New Haven (1717); the third college in English North America The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts (SPG) is established in London to provide funds for Anglican missionaries in North American colonies; missionaries dispatched to New York and Connecticut soon thereafter 1705 -- Trinity Church permanently ceded "Queens Farm" by NY Governor Edward Cornbury for its uses, Trinity Vestryman Lewis Morris declared the site "a fit place for a colledge" 1708 -- Governor Cornbury forced to leave New York following attacks from critics of his pro-Anglican policies; charged by Robert Livingston with cavorting about town in women's clothes 1712 -- First reported slave revolt in NYC; twenty slaves hanged after nine whites were killed 1716 -- NY Dissenters organize Ist Presbyterian Church on Wall Street; Scotsmen Robert Livingston and William Smith, Sr. among the prime movers 1720 -- Presbyterians denied a royal charter (as Anglicans and Dutch Reformed had) by Governor William Burnett; members unhappily paying taxes to support Anglican clergy 1722 -- Yale Commencement marked by the declaration of conversion to Anglicanism by President Timothy Cutler and 6 other recent Yale graduates (including Tutor Samuel Johnson) 1724 -- A Baptist Church opens in New York City on Cliff Street 1725 -- Printer William Bradford begins publication of New York's first weekly newspaper, the New-York Weekly Gazette 1727 -- Ebenezer Pemberton installed as minister of Ist Presbyterian Church on Wall Street 1728 --NYC Jewish community organize a synagogue on Mill Street 1731 -- Governor John Montgomerie secures royal charter for municipal government of New York; mayor remains appointed by Governor 1732 -- Arrival of Governor William Cosby sparks a political confrontation within the NYC political elite when Cosby fires Chief Justice Lewis Morris and replaces him with Associate Justice James Delancey 1735 -- A NYC journalist John Peter Zenger tried for seditious libel for criticizing Governor Cosby; his defense, initially led by James Alexander and William Smith, Sr., later by Andrew Hamilton of Philadelphia, based on novel early assertion of freedom of the press; Zenger acquitted 1739 -- November -- Great Awakening evangelist George Whitefield preaches in Presbyterian Church on invitation of Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton after being denied use of Trinity Church by Rector William Vesey 1740 -- Philadelphia Presbyterians organize a Charity School, which later becomes Benjamin Franlklin's Academy (1749) and under the auspices of Anglicans and Presbyterians, is chartered in 1755 as the College of Philadelphia 1741 -- "Great Negro Plot" discovered by authorities; supected Catholic priest John Ury and 3 other whites hanged; 13 Africans burned at the stake 1745 -- Pro-revivalist "New Light"
Presbyterians alienated from Yale, New Yorker William Smith,
Sr. among them, announce plan to establish an Presbyterian college in New Jersey II. The Founding of King's College, 1745 - 1754 1745 -- March 13 -- NYC attorney James Alexander , following his gift of 50 to the organizers of a new college in neighboring New Jersey, pledged 100 in his will to establish a college in NY Province 1746 -- "New Light" Presbyterians receive provincial charter to found the College of New Jersey (later, Princeton); the fourth college founded in English North America Rev. Henry Barclay (Yale, 1734) appointed second rector of Trinity Church; succeeds William Vesey who served as first rector for 49 years; Barclay in post to 1763 October 23 -- NY Assembly took under consideration a plan for a college in New York December 6 -- NY Assembly supports lottery to raise 2250 "to advance learning" by establishing a college in New York; Governor George Clinton assents to plan "for the encouragement of learning, and towards the founding a college within the same." 1747 -- Debate begins among advocates of new college over ideal location: Cadwallader Colden recommended Newburgh, 40 miles north of NYC on the Hudson; Rev. James Wetmore, recommended Rye, in eastern Westchester County; Rev. Samuel Seabury, recommended Hempstead, on Long Island October -- College of New Jersey opened in Newark, just across the Hudson River from NYC 1748 -- NYC Attorney William Livingston (Yale, 1741) proposed establishment of a "Society for the Promotion of Useful Knowledge" 1749 -- March -- William Livingston published "Some Serious Thoughts on Erecting a College in New York," to spark interest in flagging project 1751 -- November -- NY Assembly appointed10-member Lottery Commission to manage lottery fund of 3443.18s and to settle on locale for college; Commission dominated by Trinity Church and Dutch Reform members; William Livingston the only Presbyterian 1752 -- Trinity Church opened its first chapel, St. George's, on Beekman Street, to accommodate its growing and prosperous congregation March -- Trinity Church offered 5 acres of Queen's Farm property adjoining Church land to the Lottery Commission for the new college; no conditions set for the offer. October 24 -- Anglican newcomer to New York, The Reverend William Smith, published "Some Thoughts on Education: With Reasons for Erecting a College in this Province"; November 6 -- Smith reprinted "Some Thoughts on Education " in The New-York Mercury and N.Y. Post Boy and went on to propose Samuel Johnson, a prominent Anglican minister from Stratford, Connecticut, as head of college; November 30 -- William Livingston, William Smith, Jr., and John Morin Scott issue first number of the Independent Reflector, New York City's first periodical, consciously modelled after English Whig periodicals December 4 -- In a letter to the N.Y. Post Boy, Livingston and William Smith, Jr. attack the Rev. Smith's efforts on behalf of an Anglican college as shameless job-hunting. 1753 -- February -- NY Assembly authorized a third lottery and an annual appropriation of 500 for five years to support a college; publicly committed funds to date for the college totalled more than 7000 March 22 to Apri 26 -- William Livingston, aided by William Smith, Jr. and John Morin Scott, responding to what they saw as a plot to erect a "Episcopal college" with public funds, launched a series of articles in their Independent Reflector, attacking Anglican plans for a college in New York City April 11 -- William Smith published "A General Idea of the College of Mirana," at the urging of the Lottery Commissioners, in which he argued for the use of Anglican liturgy in college services; his efforts won him the attention of Benjamin Franklin and eventually the provostship of the College of Philadelphia April to October -- Series on anonymous rejoinders to the Independent Reflector attack on plan for a college appear in New-York Mercury; likely the work of most of the region's Johnson-trained Anglican ministers, among them Henry Barclay, Thomas Bradbury Chandler, Samuel Seabury, James Wetmore, Samuel Auchmuty October 7 -- Arrival of Governor Sir Danvers Osborne followed five days later by his suicide; newly sworn in Lt. Govr. James De Lancey , an ally of the Anglican cause, becomes Acting Governor November -- Independent Reflector ceases publication after Governor De Lancey threatened its printer with withdrawal of provincial printing jobs. November 22 -- On William Livingston's motion, the Lottery Commission unanimously elected Samuel Johnson as president of new college and New Haven Congregationalist minister, Chauncey Whittelsey, as "first tutor" 1754 -- January 7 -- Samuel Johson makes non-committal response to presidency offer from Lottery Commissioners; absence of a charter and salary cited as issues; did not want Whittelsey as "First Tutor" and so informed him. February -- Anglican lawyers Benjamin Nicolls and John Chambers prepare draft of a college charter, based in part on the 1748 charter of the College of New Jersey. March -- Samuel Johnson accepted the presidency of King's College -- and post as assistant minister at Trinity Church -- for combined annual salary of 450 April -- New Yorkers aligned with William Livingston organize a private circulating library, the New-York Society Library. May have been thought of as a counter to the imminent college. May 14 -- Trinity Church vestry informed the Lottery Commission that it was conditioning its earlier offer of land for a college on assurances that its president would always be an Anglican and that official religious services would use Anglican prayers May 16 -- Draft of college charter, including Trinity Chirch's conditions, adopted by Lottery Commissioners, despite 20 objections by William Livingston who contended it created "The College of Trinity Church"; charter forwarded to Acting Governor DeLancey and the Governor's Council. May 31 -- Advertisement for the College of New York published in the New York Gazette by President Johnson; notice stressed that College would welcome all Protestant Christians June -- Governor's Council endorses the draft charter 7 to 2, William Smith Sr. and James Alexander
dissenting. III. The King's College Years -- 1754-1776 1754 -- July 17 -- Classes began in rectory of Trinity Church school on Rector Street; eight matriculants; Samuel Johnson did all the teaching that summer; in fall assisted by his second son, William Samuel Johnson October 31 ["Charter Day"] -- Governor's Council accepted proposed charter from Lottery Commission for college; William Smith, Sr. lone dissent. November 1 -- William Livingston lodged lengthy objection to charter with the Assembly, which voted to withhold lottery funds from the College when Acting Governor DeLancey declined to present the charter for its consideration. November 2 -- Lieutenant Governor James DeLancey signed charter on behalf of King George II; Designated "The College of the Province of New York, in the City of New York... known by the name of King's College;" the fifth college chartered in British North America; charter not delivered to the College Governors named in the charter, leaving College still in the hands of the Lottery Commissioners Livingston persisted in his assault on King's College in the Assembly and in the "Watchtower," a regular insert in the New-York Mercury; College's defenders respond in a new periodical of their own, John Englishman's True Notion of Sister-Churches November -- Newly appointed College Governor (and step-son of Samuel Johnson) Benjamin Nicoll defends College Charter against Livingston's objections in Vindication of the Proceedings of the Trustees 1755 -- May 7 -- First meeting of Governors of King's College -- 26 members present; Governors receive charter from Acting Governor De Lancey; College Governor Rev. Joannes Ritzema promptly called for charter revision to permit establishment of a Dutch divinity professorship as inducement for continued Dutch support for the College May 13 -- Trinity Church conveys deed for college property to King's College Governors; Governor Leonard Lispenard appointed Treasurer of the College May 27 -- Joannes Ritzema's effort to align Dutch Reformed with King's college challenged by "New Light" Dutch under the leadership of Rev. Theodore Frelinghuysen who called for a Dutch college (later, Queens/Rutgers) that would be entirely under American sponsorship. June 3 -- A supplementary charter establishing the professorship in Dutch Reformed theology granted by Governor De Lancey; professorship never filled due to disagreement among Dutch Reformed churchmen. June -- Pennsylvania proprietors granted charter to the College of Philadelphia (later, the University of Pennsylvania); it becomes the 6th college chartered in British North America Active fundraising undertaken among Trinity Church members, parallel fundraising in England and West Indies, effort led by Dr. James Jay, with eventually yielded over 4000 Leonard Cutting is hired to replace the temporary William Johnson as the College's first regular faculty member; 80 annual salary; taught classics and rhetoric until he resigned in 1763 September 2 -- Governor Charles Hardy arrives in New York; assumes executive powers from Acting Governor DeLancey. September 16 -- Newly arrived Governor Charles Hardy
welcomed by College Governors; made personal gift of 500 to College 1756 -- NYC lawyers seek to limit admission to the bar to college graduates, followed by five years of clerking; also support 12-year moratorium accepting new clerks May 7 -- College governors vote to proceed with constructing a building for the College; Robert Crommelin hired as architect, had been the architect for St. George's Chapel May 10 -- Parliament declares war on French; beginning of French & Indian War in America; much of it fought within province of New York; introduces period of wartime economic prosperity for NYC August 23 -- Cornerstone of King's College building laid, corner of Murray (N) and Church(E) Streets, near what is now West Broadway; December 16 -- NY Assembly, now preoccupied with wartime activities, effect a compromise whereby the impounded lottery funds are split between King's College and NYC for a municipal infirmary and pest house; College's share was 3728; idea of an annual appropriation of 500 dropped. College ceases to be a political issue until the eve of the Revolution. 1757 -- May 11 -- The estate of KC Governor Joseph Murray, valued at 8000, bequeathed to King's College; was the largest single benefaction to a colonial college; paid for most of College Hall; Governors receive 3202 from Assembly Daniel Treadwell, 27-year-old Harvard-trained scientist, appointed KC's first Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy; 100 salary; appointment arranged by newly elected Governor Samuel Auchmuty in Johnson's absence; Treadwell taught for three years until his death in 1760 1758 -- June 21st -- First commencement exercise of King's College, held at St. George's Chapel; five AB graduates. 1759 -- March 21 -- Governors informed that William Livingston will not take up ex-officio position as Speaker of NY Assembly June -- No public commencement; only one AB graduate 1760 -- May -- President Johnson and new wife take up residence in new College Hall; staff and students follow; total cost of building, 11,000. June 26 -- Third commencement, first to use new College Hall as staring point; held in St. George's Chapel; six graduating seniors 1761 -- June 3 -- 4th commencement in St. George's Chapel; 3 graduating seniors 1762 -- Archbishop of Canterbury recommended
Oxford-trained 25-year-old Rev. Myles Cooper as successor to
President Johnson; appointment approved by College governors; Cooper to NYC as Professor
of Moral Philosophy and president-designate; June 10 -- King's College's 5th commencement; 7 graduating seniors; held in St. George's Chapel; Sir Jeffrey Amherst in attendance King's College opened a Grammar School to prepare students for admission to King's College 1763 -- March 1 -- Revised Statutes for King's College prepared by Myles Cooper and adopted by the Governors; marks the start of the "Oxfordizing" of King's College by Cooper April 12 -- Sixty-seven year-old Samuel Johnson resigned as president; returned to Stratford, Connecticut as Anglican rector; died in 1772. Myles Cooper (1737-1785) appointed 2nd president of King's College; served until May 1775 May 17 -- King's College's 6th commencement, first presided over by Myles Cooper; held in St. George's Chapel; only 2 graduating seniors 1764 -- May 22 --Future statesman John Jay among 6 graduates at 7th Commencement of King's College; ceremonies in St. George's Chapel., "New Side" New England Congregationalists led by Eleazar Wheelock founded ( later Dartmouth College) in Hanover, New Hampshire; the 7th college founded in British North America 1765 -- Dr. Samuel Clossy appointed Tutor and Professor of Natural Philosophy; salary set at 180; Robert Harpur now only Professor of Mathematics March -- Parliament passes Stamp Act as means of exacting financial support of imperial presence in American clonies May 21 -- King's College's 8th Commencement; 5 graduating seniors, including future diplomatist Robert R. Livingston; first to be held in Trinity Church July -- News of Stamp Act produces violent protests trhoughout American colonies; New York City mob led by Sons of Liberty threatens life of Lt. Governor Cadwallader Colden Rhode Island College (later, Brown) chartered as the 8th college in British North America College of Philadelphia opens a medical school; first to be established in British North America November -- NYC mobs, led by the Sons of Liberty, including Isaac Sears and Alexander MacDougal, oppose imposition of Stamp Act with violent assaults on provincial leaders; NYC house of Lt. Governor Cadwallader Colden house demolished 1766 -- March -- NYC's leading Presbyterians petition crown for royal charter for First Presbyterian Church; Crown rejects petition as undercutting the favored position of the Church of England March -- Parliament repeals Stamnp Act May 20 -- King's College's 9th Commencement; 7 graduating seniors;
ceremonies held in Trinity Church August -- Opposition to Quartering Act in New York City, where British army was headquartered, by Sons of Liberty led by Isaac Sears results in direct clash with British troops. 1767 -- May 19 -- King's College 10th Commencement; 2 graduates; first to be held in new St. Paul's Chapel November 2nd -- Drs. Samuel Bard (KC 1759), Peter Middleton and John Jones, along with Samuel Clossy, open Medical College within King's College; the second (to Penn) medical school to open in the colonies Governor Henry Moore ceded King's College 24,000 acres of rural property for future income (later ceded to Vermont) College Governors request of NYC access to water lots along edge of Hudson bordering on College; plan to lease them out for rental income 1768 -- May 15 -- Gouverneur Morris and Benjamin Moore among 8 graduates at 11th Commencement; held in St. Paul's Chapel Recent King's College graduates organize Thursday evening Debating Society; among them John Jay, Gouverneur Morris, Egbert Benson, Robert R. Livingston August -- Leading merchants organize New York Chamber of Commerce, the first in America; several King's College Governors prominent among founders; reluctantly adopt non-importation agreement pressed by Sons of Liberty November 10 -- New Jersey Governor William Franklin granted charter to Dutch Reformed clergy to open Queen's College (later, Rutgers); the 9th and last of the colleges founding prior to the Revolution 1769 -- William Livingston joins with other critics of Crown to form Society of Dissenters; seek repeal of Ministry Act of 1693 that favored Anglicans in lower New York May 16th -- King's College's 12th Commencement; 3 graduates, including the first two recipients of medical degrees in British North America; held in Trinity Church 1770 -- January 19 -- Sons of Liberty clash with British troops in "Battle of Golden Hill;" many injuries and one fatality February -- Sons of Liberty and sailors erect a Liberty Pole across from Commons May 15th -- King's College's 13th Commencement; 8 graduates; held in Trinity Church College began leasing water lots adjacent to the College Charter granted for establishment of New York Hospital 1771 -- President Cooper adapted Oxford tradition of "The Black Book," or "Book of Misdemeanors," to record disciplinary actions taken against King's College students May 21st -- King's College's 14th Commencement; 8 graduating seniors; ceremonies held in Trinity Church September 30 -- Governors approve request for new royal charter; President Cooper to England to advance cause; Trinity Assistant Rector Rev. Charles Inglis as Acting President 1772 -- Princeton's President John Witherspoon's "Address to the Inhabitants of Jamaica," in which he criticized parents sending their sons to colleges located in cities, prompted a spirited response from King's College Tutor John Vardill (KC, 1766), who, in his "Candid Remarks on Dr. Witherspoon's Address," defended the College's urban locale, small enrollments and high cost. May 19 -- King's College's 15th commencement; 12 graduating seniors (the 2nd largest graduating class in the history of the College); held in Trinity Church October -- President Cooper back at College after a year in England 1773 -- George Washington's stepson, John Parke Custis, spent three months as King's College student; accompanied by his slave; left after running up bills and planning an elopement John Vardill (KC 1766) elected Professor of Natural Law and sent to England for training and ordination as Anglican minister; actively solicited King George III for a crown-funded Regius Professorship of Divinity and a new royal charter redesignating King's College as "The American University" May 18th -- King's College's 16th Commencement; 6 graduating seniors; ceremonies held in Trinity Church December 16 -- A Boston mob spilled tea in Bostion Harbor in defiance of British taxing policies 1774 -- 17-year-old orphan from the West Indies, Alexander Hamilton, admitted as a student with advanced standing after first considering the College of New Jersey March -- Departing Governor William Tryon bestowed on King's College 10,000 acres (later declared part of Vermont) to support a professorship in municipal law April 22 -- A NYC mob led by Sons of Liberty dumped cargo of tea into New York Harbor, in support of Boston resistance efforts May 17 -- King's College's 17th Commencement; 13 graduating seniors (the College's largest graduating class); held in Trinity Church; the last public commencement for King's College May 19 -- Conservative forces in NYC secure the politiucal ascendance over Sons of Liberty in Committee of 51 to seek redress from Crown; elect five delegates to the Continental Congress; John Jay (KC 1764) and James Duane among them. August 4 -- King's College Governors approve draft of proposed royal charter for "American University in the Province of New York," which would have made King's College comparable to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and their respective colleges , with the other American colleges looking to it for its degrees. September 5 -- October 26 -- 5-person NY delegation to 1st Continental Congress in Philadelphia included King's College Governor James Duane and graduate John Jay (KC 1764); both align with moderate delegates against those calling for total break with England 1775 -- March -- John Jay elected by Tory-controlled Assembly to represent NY at 2nd Continental Congress; April 19 -- British and American forces clash at Lexington and Concord; British casualties high April 25 -- President Cooper and four other NYC Tories publicly warned by Patriots in a Philadelphia broadside "to fly for your lives, or anticipate your doom" for their pamphleteering efforts opposing colonial resistance to English policies May -- Harvard College suspended operations following the Battle of Lexington-Concord; reopened in April 1776 following British evacuation of Boston May 10 -- President Cooper fled College Hall just ahead of a "murderous band" of Patriots to the safety of the British ship HMS Kingfisher; escape aided by an undergraduate, sometimes thought to have been Alexander Hamilton; shortly thereafter sailed to England, never to return to NY May 16 -- College affairs placed in the hands of Rev. Benjamin Moore (KC, 1768), an assistant minister of Trinity Church, as interim president; continued in this position and that of British Army chaplain throughout the Revolutionary War; No public commencement "on account of the absence of Dr. Cooper," but 7 seniors listed as graduates September -- Conservatives at Continental Congress, among them Jay and Duane, support "Plan of a proposed Union between Great Britain and America"; plan narrowly defeated. 1776 -- April 6 -- College closed on orders of Revolutionary Committee of Safety; building confiscated for use by Continental Army as hospital; its library scattered; General George Washington appropriated College telescopes for military use; no public commencement but six students designated as graduates July 4 -- Continental Congress approved Declarartion of Independence, as written by Thomas Jefferson; New York delegation abstained on orders of NY Provincial Coingress
IV. Collegiate Operations Suspended, 1776-1783 1776 -- September 15 -- Revolutionary forces depart NYC after successful defensive engagement in Battle of Harlem Heights (current site of Columbia University); City in hands of the British Army for the duration of the war; King's College building to be used as a military hospital, September 21 -- Fire, possibly set by departing revolutionary sympathizers, burned most of west side of lower Manahttan, including Trinity Church; fire stopped at southern fence of King's College 1777 --New York legislature meeting in Poughkeepsie adopts a state constitution eliminating privileges provided Anglicans under British rule; upstater George Clinton elected first governor of New York State; held office until 1795 June -- Abortive attempt by six King's College Governors, led by Treasurer Leonard Lispenard, to restart college in his Wall Street home 1778 -- New York legislature passed Law of Attainder, which called for the deportation and confiscation of property of 53 NY Loyalists, a quarter of them affiliated with King's College 1779 -- College of Philadelphia reopens with state charter as University of Pennsylvania 1781 -- October --Combined American and French force defeat British at Yorktown; surrender of General Cornwallis effectively ends military phase of Revolutionary War 1783 -- November 25 -- British evacuate NYC upon signing of the peace treaty; General George Washington enters in triumph; thousands of Loyalists depart for Canada and England; among them dozens of New Yorkers affiliated with King's College. |