This Day In Founders History – 16 November

This Day In Founders History – 16 November

On this day in 1776, Fort Washington, the last American stronghold on Manhattan, was captured by British General William Howe and Hessian General Wilhelm von Knyphausen. General Washington had issued a discretionary order to General Greene to abandon the fort and remove the 3,000 men to New Jersey. Colonel Robert Magaw was in command of the fort and believed it could be defended; however, the fort was quickly surrounded by land and sea and the Patriots were unable to defend her, with Magaw surrendering to Howe. Nearly 3,000 American men were taken as prisoners of war.

In 1907 on this day, President Teddy Roosevelt issued Presidential Proclamation 780 admitting the Indian and Oklahoma Territories as the State of Oklahoma, the 46^th state in the union.

One notable birthday on this day in history in 1753, that of James McHenry of Maryland. McHenry studied medicine for two years under Dr. Benjamin Rush, later serving as a military surgeon. He was captured by the British at Fort McHenry (on his birthday) and paroled the next year, soon becoming secretary to General Washington and later served on the staff of Lafayette. McHenry served as a delegate to the Continental Congress for Maryland and signed the Constitution. He also served as the third U.S. Secretary of War under Presidents Washington and Adams.

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