History of Newport, Rhode Island, USA

1639 - May 8 - William Coddington founds Newport RI

historyorb.com

Read more about William CODDINGTON

The White Horse Tavern was built in Newport in 1673 and is the oldest operating tavern in the United States.

50states.com

1678 - The first traffic law was created in 1678, when authorities banned galloping horses on local streets in Newport.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ rhode-island.html

1732 - First Newspaper in Rhode Island
The first [newspaper] in Rhode Island was "The Rhode Island Gazette," printed at Newport in 1732.

colonialwarsct.org/ 1755.htm

1762 - August 22 - 1st female (Ann Franklin) US newspaper editor, Newport RI, Mercury

historyorb.com
August 22, 1762

Read more about Ann SMITH

1763 - December 2 - Touro shul of Newport RI dedicated (oldest existing US synagogue)

historyorb.com

1774 - The first circus in the United States was in Newport.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ rhode-island.html

1778 - August 8 - French and American forces besiege Newport, RI

www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/revolutionarywartimeline.htm

1780 - July 11 - French troops arrive at Newport, RI, to aid the American cause

www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/revolutionarywartimeline.htm

1819 - Newport
Newport, an ancient commercial posttown, and semi-metropolis of the State, is situated in the southwest section of Rhode-Island; 30 miles south by east of Providence, and 75 miles southwest from Boston. The township lies in an irregular, and somewhat of a semicircular form, and may be about 6 miles in length upon an average estimation, and more than a mile in breadth, comprising about 8 square miles.

The surface of the town is pleasantly diversified, presenting a succession of beautiful and prospective eminences, and gentle and interesting declivities. Its geological structure, and the prevailing strata of rocks are of the transition character, and consist principally of schistus or slate, interspersed with which there is some granite; limestone also abounds in some sections, and in the calcareous rocks serpentine marble has been found, of a very rich and elegant quality.

The soil is shistic gravelly loam, generally deep and rich, and productive both in grass and grain. It is... Read MORE...

1828 - St. Mary's, Rhode Island's oldest Roman Catholic parish was founded in 1828 in Newport.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ rhode-island.html

1839 - Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Chief town of Newport county, and one of the seats of the state legislature. It is in N. latitude 41°28'20", and W. longitude 71°21'14": 5 miles from the sea, 30 miles S. by E. from Providence, 70 S.S.W. from Boston, and 153 from New York by water. The township lies in an irregular and somewhat of a semicircular form, about 6 miles in length and 1 in breadth. In common with the whole island of Rhode Island, on which Newport is situated, the soil is remarkably fertile and under good cultivation. The surface is undulating, presenting a great variety of delightful scenery. The waters of Narraganset bay at this place are unrivalled for beauty and convenience. The harbor of Newport is considered one of the best on the coast of America: it has sufficient depth of water for the largest class of vessels, is exceedingly easy of access from the ocean, and sufficiently capacious to contain whole fleets. This harbor is admirably defended by forts Wolcott, Green and Adams,... Read MORE...

1854 - Newport
Newport, a post-town, port of entry, seat of justice of Newport county, Rhode Island, and semi-capital of the state, is situated on the W. shore of Rhode Island, 5 miles from the ocean by ship channel, and 28 miles S. by E. from Providence. Lat. 41° 29' N., Ion. 71° 19' 12" W. The harbor is one of the best on the United States coast, being capacious, safe, easy of access, and of sufficient depth for the largest ships. It is defended by Fort Wolcott, on Goat Island, and Fort Adams, a fortification of great size and strength, on Benton's Point, about 1 1/ 2 miles S. W. from the town. Newport has a beautiful site on an acclivity facing the harbor. Within a few years the town has been greatly improved, both with regard to its streets and buildings. Its fine sea air and varied scenery have rendered it one of the most celebrated watering places in New England. Several splendid hotels have been built, and wealthy persons from other cities have erected many handsome edifices for summer... Read MORE...

1862 - May 9 - US Naval Academy relocated from Annapolis MD to Newport, RI

historyorb.com

1866 - August 11 - World's 1st roller rink opens (Newport RI)

historyorb.com
August 11, 1866

Polo was played for the first time in the United States in 1876 near Newport.

50states.com

1876 - Masonic Temple?
Two Newport, Rhode Island, antiquaries have been working away at the Old Stone null in hopes of finding a new theory. They are of opinion that it was built by Norse Freemasons as a Masonic Temple, with the symbolic seven pillars. One of their reasons is that the windows are in the east, south and west, and not in the north side at all.
genealogybank.com
Cincinnati Daily Enquirer
Cincinnati, Ohio
August 6, 1876

1877 - Musings
An old lady at Newport, Rhode Island, talking of old times, told the following of a former belle of Newport, Miss Sally Champlin: 'She was a great beauty. She had rejected a great many fine offers, when one day there came a proud gentleman, who, meeting the same fate, did not take it so meekly as the others, and asked for some definite reason. Sally was used to a very different manner, and she turned upon him sharply, 'Sir, you seem to think that it is a very wonderful thing for a man to be rejected. I have refused twenty offers from this very sofa, sir.' One of the listeners inquired: 'What became of the man after that?' 'He became Miss Sally's husband.' Moral - Never bet on the kind of man any woman will marry.
genealogybank.com
Augusta Chronicle
Augusta, Georgia
October 18, 1877

1881 - August 31 - 1st US men's single tennis championships (Newport, RI)

historyorb.com

1892 - Newport
CITY OF NEWPORT

Even the closest observer to-day would fail to discover any evidence to indicate that Newport once held a proud position in the maritime commerce of the western world. Yet such was the case. There was a time when this place was the seat of great commercial activity, being for years a more important port of entry than New York, and second only to Boston. This was previous to the War of Independence. 'For over one hundred and fifty years from the arrival of the first emigrants', says Benjamin B. Howland, the historian, 'Newport and Boston were the chief cities of New England, and their commerce rendered each of them superior to New York.' The Revolution, which gave birth to the Republic of the United States, gave the deathblow to the commercial supremacy of Newport. The close of the struggle found the merchants of this city impoverished and their trade utterly destroyed. Having a safe and convenient harbor, easy of ingress and egress, and possessing all... Read MORE...

1895 - The Breakers, Cornelius Vanderbilt's Newport mansion, completed


Read more about Cornelius VANDERBILT

1895 - Newport
Newport, a port of entry, fashionable watering-place, semi-capital of Rhode Island, and capital of Newport co., is situated on the beautiful Narragansett Bay, and on the W. shore of the island of Rhode Island, about 5 miles from the ocean, 26 miles S. by E. of Providence, and 68 miles by railroad S. of Boston. Lat. 41° 29' N.; Lon. 71°19' 12" W. It has a good harbor, which is capacious, safe, easy of access, and deep enough for the largest ships. The harbor is defended by Fort Adams, a granite fortress of great size and strength, which mounts 468 guns and is located on Brenton's Point, about 2 miles S.W. of the city. The climate of Newport is commended for mildness and equability, and is probably modified by the Gulf Stream. Its balmy atmosphere, varied scenery, and fine facilities for bathing and boating have rendered it one of the most fashionable watering places in the United States. Many Wealthy citizens of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia have erected cottages and palatial... Read MORE...

1903 - SEAMAN LOSES LIFE DURING YACHT RACES - EMMENSE WAVES SWEEP HIM FROM THE COLUMBIA.
RELIANCE BREAKS A RECORD

This Is the First Time in the History of American 90-Footers That a Fatal Accident Has Occurred, Races Called Off.

Newport, R. I., July 2. - For the first time in the history of American 90-footers a fatal accident occurred today, Carl B. Olsen, a seaman on the old cup defender, Columbia, was washed from the bowsprit just before the yacht reached the first turn in today's race and was drowned. When the yacht lifted from the big wave into which she had plunged Olsen was seen almost under the stem, clinging to the bobstay,. but before assistance could be given him the sloop dropped into another great comber and he was not seen afterward.

BODY DISAPPEARS.
Captain Miller of the Columbia thinks that Olsen was struck by the overhang of the craft as it came smashing down and knocked insensible. The Columbia came into the wind instantly. Two life buoys were thrown into the water and the tender was put overboard as quickly as possible. Two men jumped into the ... Read MORE...

1904 - Judge Darius Baker imposed the first jail sentence for speeding in an automobile on August 28, 1904 in Newport.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ rhode-island.html

Read more about Darius BAKER

1906
Newport, a city, port of entry, and fashionable watering-place of 11 node Island, capital of Newport co. and until 1900 one of the capitals of the state, on Narragansett Bay and on the W. shore of the island of Rhode Island, about 70 miles (direct) S. by W. of the centre of Boston, on the New York, New Haven and Hartford and the Newport and Wickford Rs. Lat 41° 29' N. ; Lon. 71° 19' W. It has a good harbor, which is capacious, safe, easy of access, and deep enough for the largest ships. The harbor is defended by Forts Greble and Adams, the latter a fortress of great size and strength, capable of accommodating a garrison of 3000 men, and located on Brenton's Point, about 2 miles SW. of the city. Fort Wolcott, with a United States torpedo-station, is on Goat Island. The climate of Newport is com mended for its mildness and equability. Its balmy atmosphere, varied scenery, and fine facilities for bathing and boating have rendered it the most fashionable watering- place in the United... Read MORE...

1910 - OVERTURNED CAR TRAPS 11. ONE WOMAN SEVERELY HURT; OTHERS FAINT IN NEWPORT TROLLEY ACCIDENT.
Special to The New York Times.

Newport, R. I., June 3. - A vestibule car of the Newport & Fall River division of the Old Colony Street Railway Company, leaving Fall River at 6:10 o'clock this evening with eleven passengers, bound for points between that city and Newport, turned turtle thirty minutes later in Portsmouth. Spreading rails caused the accident.

MRS. GEORGE T. DOUGLASS, 40 years old, a trained nurse, was taken from the car suffering from a depressed fracture of a rib. In a serious condition, she was assisted into an automobile and rushed to her home. Conductor MILES LANGDON of Fall River was cut about the face and hands, having been catapulted through a glass window in the car while collecting fares. Motorman MILES RYAN went through the vestibule door, receiving a few scratches.

Some of the women fainted when they were removed from the car by farmers, but two women passengers from Newport, MRS. ABRARA ALMY and MRS. PASCALE H. STEADMEN, though severely shaken up,... Read MORE...

1930 - America's Cup Yacht Race held off Newport

1943 - MORNING FIRE DAMAGES SHERMAN BUILDING - Blaze Believed To Have Started From Flue - Firemen in Hour and a Half Battle in Structure That Houses Daily News.
Fire believed to have started early Monday from a defective exhaust flue in the Sherman building which houses the Daily News, resulted in a stubborn partition blaze leading from the third floor ceiling, and caused firemen an hour and a half's fight before the recall was sounded. Precautionary measures in the composing and press rooms during the fire enabled the Daily News to get out Monday's issue on time.

The fire was discovered before it had gained much of a start. Frank Bobba, News janitor, smelled smoke on the second floor and immediately called the fire department, although he was unable to check the source. A still alarm sounded at 2 A. M., followed three minutes later by Box 323 from Thames street and Washington square. A third call was made at 7:20 for a crew from the Station 2 to provide more manpower to handle hose lines carried to the upper floors.

The flames spread rapidly before water could be poured into the walls where axes and ceiling hooks had to be used to open ... Read MORE...

1969 - Newport Bridge opened between Jamestown and Newport

2023 - Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Newport, Rhode Island:
The Breakers: Start your Newport journey with a visit to this jaw-dropping mansion. The Breakers is a symbol of the Gilded Age opulence and is a National Historic Landmark. Take a guided tour to explore the extravagant interiors and marvel at the stunning ocean views from the back lawn.

Cliff Walk: This is a must-do for nature enthusiasts and history buffs. The Cliff Walk offers a scenic 3.5-mile trail along the coast, passing by many of Newport's famous mansions. The combination of rugged shoreline and architectural beauty is unparalleled.

Fort Adams State Park: Explore the largest coastal fortification in the United States. Take a guided tour to learn about its history or enjoy a leisurely walk through the park, which offers great views of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay.

Newport Mansions: Apart from The Breakers, make sure to explore other Gilded Age mansions like Marble House, Rosecliff, and the Elms. Each has its unique charm and history, and they frequently host... Read MORE...