Province of New York

Quick Facts: Who was Province of New York?

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Province of New York

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A pivotal British colony in North America, spanning from Dutch rule to American independence.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Province of New York was a British proprietary colony and later a royal colony on the northeast coast of North America from 1664 to 1783. It extended from Long Island on the Atlantic, up the Hudson River and Mohawk River valleys to the Great Lakes and North to the colonies of New France and claimed lands further west. In 1664, Charles II of England and his brother James, Duke of York raised a fleet to take the Dutch colony of New Netherland, then under the Directorship of Peter Stuyvesant. Stuyvesant surrendered to the English fleet without recognition from the Dutch West India Company. The province was renamed for the Duke of York, as its proprietor.

Career & Major Achievements

England's rule was established de facto following military control in 1664, and became established de jure as sovereign rule in 1667 in the Treaty of Breda and the Treaty of Westminster (1674). It was not until 1674 that English common law was applied in the colony. In the late 18th century, colonists in New York rebelled along with the other Thirteen Colonies, and supported the American Revolutionary War that led to the founding of the United States. British claims in New York were ended by the 1783 Treaty of Paris, with New York establishing its independence from the crown. The final evacuation of New York City by the British Army was followed by the return of General George Washington's Continental Army on November 25, 1783, in a grand parade and celebration.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This British crown colony was established after the former Iroquois nation and then Dutch colony of New Netherland, with its core being York Shire, in what today is typically known as Downstate New York. In 1617, officials of the Dutch West India Company in New Netherland created a settlement at present-day Albany, and in 1624 founded New Amsterdam, on Manhattan Island. The Dutch colony included claims to an area comprising all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine in addition to eastern Pennsylvania. New Amsterdam surrendered to Colonel Richard Nicholls on August 27, 1664; he renamed it New York. On September 24 Sir George Carteret accepted the capitulation of the garrison at Fort Orange, which he called Albany, after another of the Duke of York's titles.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1617: 1617 Milestone — In 1617, officials of the Dutch West India Company in New Netherland created a settlement at present-day Albany, and in 1624 founded New Amsterdam, on Manhattan Island.
2. 1664: 1664 Milestone — The Province of New York was a British proprietary colony and later a royal colony on the northeast coast of North America from 1664 to 1783.
3. 1674: 1674 Milestone — It was not until 1674 that English common law was applied in the colony.
4. 1783: 1783 Milestone — British claims in New York were ended by the 1783 Treaty of Paris, with New York establishing its independence from the crown.

Notable Quotes by Province of New York

“permit all persons of what religion soever, quietly to inhabit within the precincts of your jurisdiction” (1674)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Province of New York

True or False: “The Province of New York was established directly as a royal colony in 1664 after the English conquest.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Initially, it was established as a proprietary colony granted to James, Duke of York, before becoming fully incorporated under direct crown rule.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Francisco de Zurbarán — Historical peer (Died in 1664) (1664): Master of Spanish Baroque painting, renowned for monastic subjects and dramatic chiaroscuro.
• Katherine Philips — Historical peer (Died in 1664) (1664): Anglo-Welsh poet, translator, and woman of letters, known as "The Matchless Orinda".
• Adam František Kollár — Historical peer (Died in 1783) (1783): Pioneering Slovak jurist, historian, and coiner of the term ethnology.
• Agustín de Iturbide — Historical peer (Born in 1783) (1783): Mexican military officer and politician who became the first Emperor of Mexico.
• Abraham Cowley — Historical peer (Died in 1667) (1667): Leading 17th-century English poet and essayist, celebrated for his wit and verse.
• Abraham de Moivre — Historical peer (Born in 1667) (1667): Pioneering French mathematician known for complex numbers, probability theory, and the normal distribution.
• Isaac Watts — Historical peer (Born in 1674) (1674): Pioneering English hymn writer and theologian, known as the 'Godfather of English Hymnody'.
• Jethro Tull (agriculturist) — Historical peer (Born in 1674) (1674): English agricultural pioneer whose seed drill spurred the British Agricultural Revolution.
• 5th Dalai Lama — Historical peer (Born in 1617) (1617): Spiritual and political leader of Tibet, unifying the region under the Ganden Phodrang.
• Bartolomé Esteban Murillo — Historical peer (Born in 1617) (1617): Master of the Spanish Baroque, renowned for religious scenes and genre portraits.

Frequently Asked Questions about Province of New York