1792
Mar 14
New York City’s General Society of Mechanics and
Tradesmen is incorporated.
May 17
The New York Stock Exchange is formed beneath a
buttonwood tree on Wall Street by a group of bankers, including Mendes Seixes
Nathan.
Jul 1
A tornado strikes New York City, sinking boats in
the harbor carrying 29 men and women out for a Sabbath sail.
Sep 29
New York City’s State Street and others are laid
out.
Oct 8
Boston businessman Abijah Hammond donates a device
for drilling for water to the New York City government. They order experiments
on a lot adjoining city hall.
Oct 12
New York City's Society of St. Tammany holds the
first major celebration of Columbus' discovery of America.
City
The law firm of Cadwallader, Wickersham & Taft
is founded. ** The Belvedere House in
lower Manhattan is the first country club in the city. ** A United States Bank branch
opens here. ** Another grand jury indicts the
city for its filthy streets. Again nothing is done. ** The city council does away with a fixed payment
for the digging of a public well and agrees to pay a dollar a foot for all approved
wells. ** A tontine organized by
Lewis Morris to fund a toll drawbridge across the lower Harlem River fails to
raise enough money. A commission, including lawyer Aaron Burr, is named to
supervise the construction of a good road leading to the drawbridge. ** Isaac Coulthard builds a
brewery on the banks of the Collect Pond. ** The Drone Club is formed by James Kent, William
Dunlap, Charles Brockden Brown and Edward and Samuel Miller, as a successor to
the Moot Club, to discuss technical matters of law.
1793
Feb 20
Lawyer and land speculator James Wadsworth writes
from New York City to his cousin Jeremiah Wadsworth in Connecticut, suggesting
he buy a particular tract of land in the Genesee Valley.
Apr 3
New York City receives the news of France's
declaration of war on Britain.
Jun 12
The French warship Embuscade arrives at New York City from Charleston, where
it had landed Edmond Charles Edouard "Citizen" Genet, agent of the
new French republic, in April.
Jun 15
Pro-French New Yorkers display a Cap of Liberty on
a pole in front of the new Tontine Coffee House at Wall and Water streets.
Jun 20
The Embuscade departs from New York City in search of further prizes.
Oct 1
New York City lawyer Peter Hawes helps found the
Calliopean Society, to present and discuss poetry.
City
The 7 State Street home of James Watson, later to
become the Shrine of Blessed Mother (Saint) Seton, is completed. The
architecture is attributed to John McComb, Jr. ** 203 members of a merchants'
association erect the Tontine Building (The Coffee House) at Wall and Water
streets, to provide a business exchange. The funds are provided by members'
annuities, the eventual remainder to be distributed among the seven longest
surviving members. Archibald Gracie is elected its first president. ** An attempt to sell the land
in the former Collect Pond area elicits no responses. ** Thrice-weekly trips both ways are made by
stage-carriage to and from Boston, in 3 or 4 days, at a cost of four-pence a
mile. ** Citizen Genet is
entertained by the Tammany Society. Mrs. Ann Julia Hatton writes an opera
called Tammany, or The Indan Chief
in his honor. ** The Burns Coffee House at
Broadway, north of Trinity Church, is demolished. The City Hotel will be built
on the site. ** James Kent becomes the first
professor of law at Columbia University. ** Twenty-two-year-old Yale-educated physician
Elihu Hubbard Smith, arrives in New York from Connecticut to work on the staff
of New York Hospital. By the end of the year he’s joined James Kent,
businessman William Woolsey and playwright William Dunlap, to form the Friendly
Club, dedicated to intellectual improvement. ** Scottish-born shipping merchant Archibald Gracie
moves to the city.
** The French
begins using Bedloes Island as an isolation station. ** Philadelphian John Bill Ricketts brings his
circus company to perform at Broadway and Broome Street. The group will return
to the city five times.
** Peter
Schermerhorn combines properties at Beekman Slip (the future Schermerhorn Row and Fulton Street). ** Future Manhattan
businessman Ira Hawley is born in Ridgefield, Connecticut.
© 2013
David Minor / Eagles Byte
