Firsts in Delaware
1631 First settlement, by the Dutch, Zwaanendael, perished same year.
1638 First permanent settlement, by the Swedes, Fort Christina.
1638 First negro slave, Anthony, Fort Christina.
1640 First clergyman, Rev. Reorus Torkillus, Fort Christina.
1652 First execution by hanging, Anders Jonsson for treason by Gov. Printz.
1654 First physician, Tyman Stidden, Fort Christina.
1658 First schoolmaster, Evert Pieterssen, New Amstel.
1669 First trial by jury, New Castle.
1676 First lawyer admitted to the bar, Thomas Spry, New Castle.
1687 First grand jury, Sussex County.
1693 First tax levied, a penny a pound of property.
1704 First legislative assembly of Three Lower Counties
.
1725, First lighthouse, Cape Henlopen.
1730, First Roman Catholic services.
1736., First market-house, Wilmington
1738 First Friends' Meeting House, 4th and West Streets, Wilmington.
1739. First charter for Borough of Wilmington.
1739, First Burgesses and High Constable,Wilmington.
1740. First election in Borough of Wilmington.
1740. First inn in Wilmington, "The Foul Anchor," Water Street.
1740. First sea-going ship built, brig Wilmington.
1740. First Presbyterian Church, Market near 10th Street, Wilmington.
1741. First prison, whipping-post and stocks, Wilmington.
1742, First large flour-mill, built by Oliver Canby, Wilmington.
1748, First Friends' school, 4th and West Street, Wilmington.
1761. First printing-press, James Adams, Wilmington.
1761 First book, The Child's New Plaything published by Adams.
1762 First newspaper, Wilmington Courant, published by Adams.
1765 First Masonic lodge instituted, Cantwell's Bridge (Odessa).
1774. First town-hall, Wilmington.
1775. First naval officer to fly American flag, Delaware River, John Paul Jones, ship,
Alfred.
1775 First volunteer fire company, Friendxhip, organized in Wilmington.
1776 First election of members of Continental Congress.
1776 First naval engagement on Delaware River, American fleet of row galleys against two
British frigates, Roebuck and Liverpool.
1776 First vessel to fly American flag in foreign port, brig Nancy of Wilmington, Capt. Hugh
Montgomery.
1785 First almshouse established, Wilmington.
1787 First paper-mill built, T. & J. Gilpin, Wilmington.
1788 First election of representatives in U.S. Congress, Senators Richard Bassett and George
Read, Rep. John Vining.
1789 First medical society organized.
1790 First postmaster in Wilmington, Joseph Bringhurst, office in his drug-store.
1792 First Chief Justice of Court of Common Pleas, under Constitution of 1792, Richard
Bassett.
1793 First Board of Health, Wilmington.
1793 First Governor under Constitution of 1792, Joshua Clayton
1795 First cotton-mill, Jacob Broom, Wilmington.
1795 First bank, Bank of Delaware.
1796 First free school law enacted (ineffectual).
1801 First gunpowder manufactured, Peter Bauduy, Eden Park.
1802 First vaccination, by Dr. John Vaughan.
1802 First duPont powder-mill, near Wilmington.
1803 First Abolition Society, Wilmington.
1804 First organized water-supply, Wilmington.
1805 First Negro church organized, Ezion, Wilmington.
1806 First Grand Lodge A.F.&A.M. founded, Wilmington.
1812 First steamboat, Vesta Wilmington to Philadelphia.
1814 First Wilmington city directory.
1815 First public water-reservoir, Wilmington.
1819 First hydrant, house of Joseph Bringhurst, Wilmington.
1825 First fire4nsurance company, Delaware Fire Insurance Company.
1827 First fire-plugs, Wilmington.
1829 First effective free school law enacted.
1831 First Grand Lodge I.O.O.F., Wilmington.
1831 First commercial peach-orchards planted.
1831 First railroad, New Castle & Frenchtown, horse-drawn cars.
1832 First steam railroad train operated, N. C. & F. R. R.
1832 First charter for City of Wilmington; first election under it; first Mayor Richard H.
Bayard.
1833 First public-school house, Wilmington.
1833 First illuminating gas company organized, Wilmington Gas Company.
1833 First whaling company organized, Wilmington.
1834 First theatre, 6th and Shipley Streets, Wilmington.
1836 First railway-car wheels manufactured, Bonney & Bush, Wilmington.
1837 First board of trade, Wilmington.
1838 First monthly magazine, Delaware Register, William Huffington, Dover.
1843 First iron ship building yard in U.S., Betts, Pusey and Harlan, Wilmington.
1844 First sea-going iron propeller ship in U. S. built, Wilmington.
1847 First lodge I.O.R.M. instituted, Wilmington.
1850 First sewing machine, sold by Wm. F. O'Daniel, Wilmington.
1852 First astronomical observatory, on Meeting House Hill, Wilmington.
1853 First galvanized sheet-iron in U. S. made in Wilmington.
1855 First post office building, 6th and King Street, Wilmington.
1856 First daily newspaper, Daily Enterprise, Wilmington.
1863 First railway cars built, Jackson & Sharp, Wilmington.
1864 First State debt created, bonds to pay for substitutes in draft.
1864 First street-railway, Front and French to Delaware Avenue and duPont Street,
Wilmington.
1868 First lodge, K. of P., Organized, Wilmington.
1870 First public drinking-fountain, Wilmington.
1878 First telephone exchange, 3rd and Market Street, Wilmington.
1881 First Negro called for jury duty.
1882 First public park system organized, Wilmington.
1883 First electric street-lights, 35 arc lamps, Wilmington.
1883 First "telephone book," Wilmington.
1885 First trust company, Security Trust & Safe Deposit Company, Wilmington.
1888 First electric trolley line, 10th and Market to Riverview Cemetery, Wilmington.
1891 First State College for Negroes chartered.
1900 First automobile, owned by Alfred I. duPont, Wilmington.
1901 First moving picture theatre, Nickelodeon now Savoy Theatre, Wilmington.
1920 First radio sending station for public use, Willard S. Wilson, Wilmington.
The Delaware Tercentenary Almanack and Historical Repository, by Christopher L. Ward.
Thanks are due to Messrs. Stanley M. Arthurs, Clifford W. Ashley, Albert Kruse, Frank F.
Schoonover, Andrew Wyeth and N. C. Wyeth for drawings contributed, to Miss Anna T.
Lincoln,
Curator of Historical Society of Delaware, Miss Mary B. Eastman of the Reference Department
of
the Wilmington Institute Free Library, Dr. George H. Ryden, State Archivist and Mr. Leon de
Valinger Jr, Assistant State Archivist, for assistance in the compilation of data and to Mr.
Richard
T. Ware of The Press of Kells for helpful cooperation in the matter of typographical design.