Tuesday 29 December 2015

Christopher Columbus | Timeline

Christopher Columbus (Italian: Cristoforo Colombo; Spanish: Cristóbal Colón; Portuguese: Cristóvão Colombo; born between 31 October 1450 and 30 October 1451, Genoa; died 20 May 1506, Valladolid) was an genovese explorer, navigator, colonizer and citizen of the Republic of Genoa. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. Those voyages, and his efforts to establish permanent settlements on the island of Hispaniola, initiated the Spanish colonization of the New World. (based on wikipedia)

October 31, 1451 - Genoa - Cristoforo Colombo is born
January(?) 1(?), 1470 - Savona, near Naples - The Columbus family moves to Savona, where Domenico, Cristoforo's father, takes over a taverna
June(?) 1(?), 1470 - Savona, near Genoa - Columbus is on a Genoese ship hired in the service of René of Anjou to support his attempt to conquer the Kingdom of Naples
September 22, 1470 - Savona - Notarial act by which 19-year-old Christopher Columbus, authorized by his father, declares himself a debtor of 48 Genoese pounds to Pietro Ballesio, who had provided him with wine) =(START)
September 28, 1470 - Savona - Arbitration award condemning the Columbuses to the payment of 35 genovese pounds
October 31, 1470 - Savona, near Genoa - Notarial act by which 19-year-old Christopher Columbus, authorized by his father, declares himself a debtor of 48 Genoese pounds to Pietro Ballesio, who had supplied him with wine
March 20, 1472 - Savona - Listed as a witness in Nicolò Monleone's Will
January(?) 1(?), 1473 - Savona - Begins his apprenticeship as business agent for the important Centurione, Di Negro and Spinola families of Genoa
May 25, 1474 - Savona - Departs on a commercial expedition to Chios Island (probably with his father on the ship "Roxana") in which several textile industry entrepreneurs participated to sell their goods there
September 1(?), 1474 - Chios Island, Greece - Expedition to Chios, threatened by the Ottomans
May 31, 1476 - Noli, SW of Genoa - Sails with an armed convoy to Northern Europe, carrying a rich cargo
August 13, 1476 - Lagos, near Cape St.Vincent, Portugal - Columbus is driven ashore at Lagos after a naval battle with the french, where his ship is destroyed
January(?) 1(?), 1477 - Lisbon, Portugal - Arrives in Lisbon, where his brother Bartolomeo worked as a cartographer. He makes the portuguese capital his base and home until 1485
January(?) 15(?), 1477 - Bristol, England - Arrival in Bristol (speculative date)
January(?) 20(?), 1477 - Galway, Ireland - Arrival in Ireland (speculative date)
February(?), 1(?), 1477 - Iceland - Travels to Iceland on a Bristol ship. Describes Greeland in his writings
March(?) 1(?), 1477 - Galway - Departs from Galway on a portuguese ship to Lisbon, to find his brother
March(?) 15(?), 1477 - Lisbon - Returns to Lisbon (speculative date)
April(?) 1(?), 1478 - Lisbon - At the service of the Business Houses of Ludovico Centurione and Paolo di Negro 
June 10(?), 1478 - Lisbon - Departs to Madeira Island on behalf of Luigi Centurione, a resident of Genoa, to purchase sugar, but without receiving the 1,290 ducats that Centurione had sent to the organizer of the fleet, Paoli di Negro, a genoese living in Lisbon, to buy the sugar
June 21, 1478 - Madeira Island - Arrival to Madeira Island
August 25, 1478 - Madeira Island - Trial between Colombo, employee of "Casa Centurione", for bad commercial practice relating to a sugar business in Madeira Island. In the notarial public scripture, known as the "Document of Assereto", Columbus declares that he is 27 years old
January 1(?), 1479 - Porto Santo Island, Madeira - Portugal - Columbus marries portuguese noblewoman Filipa Moniz Perestrelo
August(?) 1(?), 1479 - Lisbon - Columbus stops in Lisbon on his way to Genoa
August 21, 1479 - Genoa - Gerolamo Ventimiglia, a notary, signs the notarial documents recording both Columbus and Ventimiglia's protests, in presence of Columbus
August 25, 1479 - Genoa - Columbus goes to Court in Genoa
August 26, 1479 - Genoa - Departs to Lisbon
September 10(?), 1479 - Lisbon - Columbus returns to Lisbon
December 12, 1481 - Lisbon - Diogo de Azambuja departs for Guinea with 500 soldiers and 100 skilled workmen. Christopher Columbus is one of the crewmen
January 19, 1482 - São Jorge da Mina (Elmina Castle), Ghana - Columbus arrives to Elmina in the fleet of Diogo de Azambuja
January(?) 1(?), 1484 - Back in Porto Santo, Columbus' first wife Filipa dies
December(?) 1(?), 1485 - Lisbon - Departs to Castille, via Palos de la Frontera, after John II, King of Portugal, refuses his plans
January 20, 1486 - Alcalá de Henares, Spain - The Catholic Monarchs grant an audience to Christopher Columbus
May 1, 1486 - Córdoba, Spain - Audience with Queen Isabella I of Castille. The Queen explains the difficulty of providing caravels just then, and promises every assistance when the war was won. In the meantime she orders that the genoese be kept at the court and given an adequate allowance
March 1(?), 1487 - Córdoba, Spain - While awaiting dispatch, Columbus accompanies the Court to Córdoba. There he meets Beatriz Enríquez de Arana
May 5, 1487 - Málaga - Starts receiving subsistence allowances (3,000 maravedis are given to him)
May 14, 1487 - Bezmiliana, E. of Málaga(?) - Columbus ceases to accompany the Court
August 18, 1487 - Málaga - The citadel surrenders and Isabella and Ferdinand enter into Málaga in triumph. They summon Christopher Columbus and grant him another 4,000 maravedis, but inform him that they are busy with the wars against the moors for the moment
October 15, 1487 - Córdoba, Spain - Receives 4,000 maravedis from the Catholic Monarchs
January(?) 1(?), 1488 - Seville, Spain - Columbus appeals to King John II, but the portuguese king is not interested anymore by the Project, since the return of Bartolomeu Dias from his expedition to the African Coast
March 20, 1488 - Valencia, Spain - Letter from King John II of Portugal
June 16, 1488 - Murcia - Receives another 3,000 maravedis from the Catholic Monarchs
August 15, 1488 - While in Murcia(?) - Son Hernando is born from the relationship with Beatriz Enríquez de Arana
May 22, 1489 - Jaén, Spain - Meets the Court at Jaén
November 7, 1489 - Baza - Accompanies the Queen to Baza
June(?) 21(?), 1491 - Monastery of La Rábida, Palos de la Frontera - Spain - Spends the Summer in the Monastery, in contacts with Luis de Santangel
January 2, 1492 - Granada, Spain - Present during the siege and final fall of Granada
April 17, 1492 - Santa Fé, Granada - "Capitulations of Santa Fé" between Columbus and the Catholic Monarchs are signed. They granted Columbus the titles of Admiral of the Ocean Sea, the Viceroy, the Governor-General and honorific Don, and also the tenth part of all riches to be obtained from his intended Voyage =(catholicmonarchsflag)
May 12, 1492 - Granada - The newly knighted Don Cristóbal Colón, admiral of the Catholic Monarchs, departs for Palos
May 20, 1492 - Palos de la Frontera - Columbus reaches Palos, via Córdoba, to say goodbye to Beatriz and their little son
August 3, 1492 - Palos de la Frontera - Columbus departs to the New World, via Canary Islands
August 9, 1492 - La Gomera, Canary Islands - Arrival to the Canary Islands. Repairs on the "Pinta"
September 6, 1492 - La Gomera - Columbus sails heading West
October 7, 1492 - 5 days from the Bahamas - The crew sees flocks of birds and follow their route
October 12, 1492 - Long Bay, Watling Island (Bahamas) - Columbus arrives to the Americas. Baptizes the Island as "San Salvador"
December 23, 1492 - North of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic/Haiti) - After arriving from the coast of Cuba, the "Santa Maria" sinks and Columbus goes ashore
January 4, 1493 - East of Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic - Exploring Hispaniola
January 13, 1493 - Samana Bay - Natives ambush Spanish crewmen
January 16, 1493 - Samana Bay - Columbus departs to Spain, via Azores Islands
February 15, 1493 - Off the Azores - During a storm, off the Azores, Columbus writes a letter for the Catholic Monarchs aboard the "Niña"
February 18, 1493 - Santa Maria Island, Azores - Columbus anchors at Santa Maria Island, on his way to Spain. There, he writes a letter to Santangel
March 4, 1493 - Lisbon, Portugal - Columbus is forced to reach Lisbon because of storms. There, he sends the letter he wrote to the Catholic Monarchs announcing the results of his first voyage
March 6(?), 1493 - Almeirim, Portugal - Columbus meets King John II at Almeirim and tells him about the discovery of the new lands
March 15, 1493 - Palos de la Frontera - Columbus arrives in Spain
March 31, 1493 - Seville - Columbus passes through Seville with seven Indians and exotic birds, and stands near the church of San Nicolás to display them. This was witnessed by 8-year-old Bartolomé de las Casas
April 16, 1493 - Barcelona - The Catholic Monarchs give Columbus a cermonious welcome and listen to his account of his voyage
September 24, 1493 - Cadiz - Columbus departs to the New World on his second Voyage, with 17 ships (15 caravels)
October 13, 1493 - Canary Islands - Columbus leaves the Canary Islands on his way to the New World
November 3, 1493 - Dominica - The armada of Columbus arrives to the Island of Dominica, on the Caribbean, after just 21 days of crossing the Atlantic. On the same day, they sail to the next island. of Guadalupe
November 4, 1493 - Guadalupe - Columbus explores the Island of Guadalupe
November 10, 1493 - Guadalupe - Departs heading north, baptizing the discovered islands on his way
November 19, 1493 - San Juan Bautista Island, Puerto Rico - Arrival in Puerto Rico
November 22, 1493 - Hispaniola - Columbus returns to Hispaniola, where the Spanish settled on the first Voyage
March 12, 1494 - La Isabela, Dominican Republic - Departs in terrestrial expedition to Cibao
March 19(?), 1494 - Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic - Columbus builds the fort of Santo Tomás, in Santiago de los Caballeros
April 24, 1494 - La Isabela, Dominican Republic - Columbus sails West with 3 ships
April 30, 1494 - Bahia de Bariay, NE Holguín, Cuba - Columbus lands in Cuba, baptizing it of "Isla de Juana" (Island of Juana)
May 3, 1494 - South of Cuba - Sailing in the south coast of Cuba
May 5, 1494 - Jamaica - Columbus arrives in Jamaica
May 13, 1494 - Jamaica - Columbus leaves Jamaica and sails towards Cuba
May 14, 1494 - South of Cuba - Sailing in the south coast of Cuba
September 29, 1494 - La Isabela, Dominican Republic - Disillusioned for not finding China and Japan, Columbus returns to La Isabela
March 26, 1495 - La Isabela - Terrestrial expedition to make war against Caonabó, who is defeated by the Spanish
March 10, 1496 - La Isabela - Columbus departs to Spain aboard the "Niña"
April 20, 1496 - Guadalupe - Columbus loads the ships with supplies on his way to Europe, via Madeira Island
June 1(?), 1496 - Madeira Island - Arrival in Madeira Island (speculative date)
June 11, 1496 - Cadiz - Columbus reaches Spain
April 23, 1497 - Burgos - Cristopher Columbus, returned from his second voyage to the New World, is received by the Catholic Kings at the house of the Constables of Castile, who confirm all his privileges
May 30, 1498 - Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain - Columbus departs for his third Voyage to the New World, via Porto Santo and Madeira
June 9(?), 1498 - Porto Santo Island - Columbus stops at Porto Santo
June 12(?), 1498 - Madeira Island - Columbus spends some time with Captain João Gonçalves da Câmara
June 19, 1498 - La Gomera, Canary Islands - Columbus anchors at La Gomera
July 4, 1498 - Cape Verde Islands - Columbus arrives to Cape Verde Islands
July 31, 1498 - Trinidad Island, Gulf of Paria - Columbus arrives in Trinidad and the Gulf of Paria (Venezuela)
August 4, 1498 - Gulf of Paria - Columbus explores the Gulf of Paria, between Venezuela and Trinidad, until August 12th
August 20, 1498 - La Isabela - Columbus returns to La Isabela
August 23, 1500 - Hispaniola - The recently arrived Francisco de Bobadilla orders the arrest of Columbus
October 2(?), 1500 - Santo Domingo - Columbus and his Brothers are handcuffed and put aboard a ship to Spain
October 30(?), 1500 - Cadiz - Arrival of Columbus in Spain, under arrest
November 10(?), 1500 - Seville(?) - The Catholic Monarchs order his chains struck and command that Columbus travel to the Court then in Granada, sending him an allowance —
two thousand ducats — to make the trip to Granada
December 17, 1500 - Granada - Columbus is received by the Catholic Monarchs, who are surprised by his fragile condition and potentially unfair situation. The Catholic Monarchs are saddened by his change of fortune and exonerate him
February 6, 1502 - Granada - Letter to the Catholic Monarchs
April 2, 1502 - Seville - Columbus writes a letter to Genoa, expressing his love for his home country
May 9, 1502 - Cadiz - Columbus depart to the Américas on his 4th expedition
May 12(?), 1502 - Asilah (Arzila), Morocco - Columbus hears about portuguese made prisioner by the moors and decides to rescue them
June 15, 1502 - West coast of Martinique - Columbus discovers Martinique
June 29, 1502 - Santo Domingo - Arrival in Hispaniola
July 30, 1502 - Guanaja Island (Isla de Pinos), Honduras - Arrival in the Honduras, after sailing through storms South of Cuba
August 14, 1502 - Puerto Castilla, Trujillo - Honduras - Arrival to the American Continent
September 12, 1502 - Cape Gracias a Dios (Honduras/Nicaragua) - Columbus rounds Cape Gracias a dios
October 16, 1502 - Almirante Bay, Panama - Columbus arrives in Panama
November 2, 1502 - Portobelo, Panama - Columbus baptizes Portobelo, in Panama
January 6, 1503 - Veragua, Panama - Columbus returns to Veragua after finding contrary winds. Starts a settlement.
February 6, 1503 - Belén River - Without being able to sail, Columbus orders a terrestrial expedition
April 16, 1503 - Veragua, Panama - Columbus' crewmen are attacked by natives
July 7, 1503 - St.Anne's Bay, North Jamaica - Columbus is shipwrecked off Jamaica and when ashore, orders the building of a palisade
February 29, 1504 - St.Anne's Bay, North Jamaica - Columbus surprises the natives by predicting an Eclipse, using charts by Abraham Zacuto, a jewish-portuguese astronomer
June 28, 1504 - St.Anne's Bay, North Jamaica - A caravel appears to rescue Columbus and his crew
November 7, 1504 - Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Spain - Columbus returns to Spain, very ill
December 21, 1504 - Seville, Spain - Letter to his son Diego
February 23, 1505 - While in Seville - King Ferdinand grants the necessary license to Columbus to travel by mule to meet him
May 1(?), 1505 - Segovia - Columbus is received at Court by King Ferdinand
December(?) 30(?), 1505 - Valladolid - Columbus settles in Valladolid
May 20, 1506 - Valladolid - Cristoforo Colombo dies, aged 54 =(END)

Bibliography
BEDING, Silvio A. - "The Christopher Columbus Encyclopedia"
BUENO, Eduardo Peninha (ed.) - "Diários da Descoberta da América - As quatro viagens e o testamento", 3ª edição, Porto Alegre, L&PM/História, 1986.
FERREIRA REIS THOMAZ, Luís Filipe - "Cristóvão Colombo, o Genovês", Academia de Marinha, 2021
PURCELL, Mary -  "The Great Captain: Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba", 1962

Wednesday 23 December 2015

Phineas Pett | Timeline

Phineas Pett (1 November 1570 – 21 August 1647) was a shipwright and a member of the Pett dynasty. Phineas left a memoir of his activities which is preserved in the British Library and was published in 1918. (Intro from Wikipedia)

November 1, 1570 - Deptford - Phineas Pett is born
January(?) 1(?), 1586 - Cambridge - Phineas Pett, aged 16, enters the Emmanuel College
January(?) 1(?), 1589 - Cambridge - Phineas' father, peter, dies, and his confortable world falls apart
December 26(?), 1590 - Deptford - Unable to afford to maintain her son at Cambridge University, Pett's mother Elizabeth sends Phineas to the master shipwright Richard Chapman for Apprenticeship
April 1(?), 1592 - Deptford - Phineas' apprenticeship ends when Richard Chapman dies
December 20(?), 1592 - London - Phineas sails on the galleon "Constance", of London
December 22, 1594 - London - Phineas returns to London, after 20 months of Voyage
January(?) 1(?), 1595 - Limehouse - Decides that a sailor's life is not for him. Starts working as carpenter in a small yard where his brother Joseph was master shipwright
February(?) 1(?), 1595 - Limehouse - Works on the refitting of race-galleon "Defiance" and rebuilding of the "Triumph" =(START)
January(?) 1(?), 1596 - Deptford - Phineas is hired by Matthew Baker to work on the "Repulse"
April 1(?), 1596 - Deptford - The work on the "Repulse" is ready
April 1(?), 1597 - Deptford - Baker introduces his protegé to the Earl of Nottingham
January(?) 1(?), 1599 - Deptford - The Earl of Nottingham recommends Phineas for the job of inspecting East Anglian timber, to see if it was good enough to be used in the royal shipyards
January(?) 1(?), 1600 - Chatham Dockyard - The Earl of Nottingham Appoints Pett as the keeper of the plank yard at Chatham Dockyard, where Joseph Pett had become the master Shipwright
March 1(?), 1601 - Chatham - Phineas Pett is appointed Assistant to the Master Shipwright of the Chatham Dockyard
January(?) 1(?), 1603 - Chatham Dockyard - Already Master Shipwright, Pett is requested to build a model of the Armada's "Ark Royal" for the Earl of Nottingham
April 10, 1603 - Chatham - Letter to Matthew Baker
January(?) 1(?), 1604 - Theobalds House, Cedars Park, Cheshunt - Phineas meets the 10-year old Prince of Wales, Henry Frederick
March 22, 1604 - Theobalds House - Phineas offers a model of the Armada's "Ark Royal" to the Young Prince
April 26, 1604 - Theobalds House - King James I gives Phineas a grant of 1 shilling a day
March 24, 1605 - Chatham - Phineas parts with his wife and children and departs to Sheerness
March 31, 1605 - Queenborough, S of Sheerness - Phineas sails to Lisbon on the "resistance"
April 17(?), 1605 - A Coruña, Spain - Takes refuge at Coruña after getting separated from the Ambassador's squadron
April 24, 1605 - Lisbon, Portugal - Phineas arrives in Lisbon. At the portuguese capital, Phineas sells a demi-culverin of brass, captured at Cadiz in 1596, with ammunition and a quantity of bread, biscuit, and peas belonging to the fleet, for which he received 300 pounds, which he sent, ' by the way of exchange,' to Trevor and Mansell, then at Valladolid, with Nottingham, who had gone there to ratify the peace recently concluded between the two countries
May 11, 1605 - Sanlúcar de Barrameda, near Seville - Phineas arrives in Sanlúcar
June 10, 1605 - A Coruña - Revisits Coruña on the homeward voyage "according to instructions"
June 26, 1605 - Rye - Phineas returns to England, amidst rain, lightning and thunders
September(?) 1(?), 1605 - Chatham - Phineas' brother Joseph dies, and he becomes master shipwright at Chatham
July 1(?), 1606 - Woolwich - Phineas receives private instructions from the Lord High Admiral to have all the King's ships "put into comely readiness" for the reception of the King of Denmark, who was expected on a Royal visit
August 10, 1606 - Woolwich - Reception to the King of Denmark
November 12, 1607 - Richmond Palace, London - Phineas presents a model of ship to the King and he orders the building of a full-scale replica
May 12, 1608 - London (?) - Phineas signs a deposition before the Commission to answer charges against him regarding the money sent to Valladolid in 1605
October 20, 1608 - Woolwich - The keel of the "Prince Royal" is laid, according with the King's wishes
September 24, 1610 - Woolwich - The "Prince Royal", of 1,200 tons, is launched in the presence of the Royal Family
January(?) 1(?), 1612 - Woolwich - Between 1612 and 1615, Phineas rebuilds the 1590, 800-tons galleon "HMS Merhonour"
March 27, 1616 - Woolwich - Receives 500 pounds from Sir Walter Raleigh to build a 500-tons ship
December 1(?), 1616 - Woolwich - The "Destiny", Raleigh's new ship, is finished and launched
October 16, 1620 - Ratcliffe - A 120-ton pinnace is launched for Sir Robert Mansell
October 18, 1620 - Ratcliffe - A 80-ton pinnace is launched for Sir Robert Mansell
August 25, 1623 - Stokes Bay, SW Gosport - Phineas is commanded to sail aboard the "Prince Royal" on an expedition to Spain - Charles Prince of Wales and the Duke of Buckingham go disguised by land
August 26, 1623 - Off Weymouth - The Ships rode again at their anchors off Weymouth
August 28, 1623 - Plymouth Sound - The fleet of 6 ships and 2 pinnaces comes to anchor
September 2, 1623 - Plymouth Sound - The fleet departs for the Bay of Biscay
September 11, 1623 - Santander, Spain - The Squadron comes to anchor in Northern Spain
September 18, 1623 - Santander, Spain - The fleet departs for England with Prince Charles and the Duke of Buckingham aboard
October 1, 1623 - St.Mary's, Scilly Islands - As they spot 7 dutch warships chasing 4 dunkirkers, it is decided to land Prince Charles and Buckingham
October 5, 1623 - Spithead - The "Prince Royal" anchors at Spithead. Departs later to the Downs
June 6, 1625 - Dover - After preparing the "Prince Royal", Phineas sails to France to escort the french Princess, the Queen of England
June 9, 1625 - Boulogne, France - Charles' fleet of 20 ships sail into the harbour, firing off a 100-gun salute
June 11, 1625 - Boulogne - Princess Henrietta boards the "Royal Prince" and the fleet departs to Dover
June 12, 1625 - Dover - The New Queen lands at Dover
January(?) 1(?), 1626 - Chatham - Appointed a joint commissioner, with the Lord High Admiral, the Lord Treasurer Marlborough, and others
October 29, 1630 - Woolwich - A 750-tons ship is ordered, baptized as "HMS Vanguard"
January 16, 1631 - Chatham - Promoted by Charles I to First Commissioner of the Navy, earning 200 pounds per year
April 21, 1631 - Woolwich - Charles I visits Woolwich to attend the launch of HMS Vanguard
February 22, 1634 - Woolwich(?) - Phineas is sequestered from is place for having sold materials without sufficient authority
March 1, 1634 - London(?) - Phineas is pardoned by King Charles I
June 1(?), 1634 - St. James's Palace, Westminster, London - Phineas and Peter start preparing a Model Ship to offer Prince Charles (the trick worked with Phineas in 1604 and he recommended it to his son)
June 24, 1634 - Woolwich - King Charles I visits Woolwich and asks Phineas Pett to commence planning a new First Rate Ship. Phineas entrusts the leading role to his son Peter Pett
October 29, 1634 - St. James's Palace - Phineas and Peter offer the model ship on wheels to Prince Charles, and the ship that would become the "Sovereign of the Seas" is ordered
April 7, 1634 - Woolwich - Charles I writes to Phineas Pett, resolving the dimensions of the "Sovereign of the Seas"
May 1(?), 1635 - Woolwich - Supervises the building of the "Sovereign of the Seas" by his son, Peter Pett
July 1(?), 1635 - Cambridge - Phineas and Peter visit Emmanuel College on the trip back from the North, where they surveyed the forests
December 21, 1635 - Woolwich - The keel of the "Sovereign of the Seas" is laid at Woolwich Dockyard. Peter Pett starts the building the ship, supervised by his father, Phineas Pett
September 25, 1637 - Woolwich - The launching of the "Sovereign of the Seas" fails before the King and his entourage, when the ship jams on the ways
October 13, 1637 - Woolwich - Launching of the "Sovereign of the Seas" during the night, using bonfires
May 1(?), 1638 - Erith, SE of London - The "Sovereign of the Seas" is moved to Erith to be masted and rigged
June 1(?), 1638 - Greenhithe, Kent - The "Sovereign of the Seas" is sailed to Greenhithe to be armed and provisioned
June 6, 1638 - Greenhithe - Charles I visits the "Sovereign of the Seas" and dines aboard with the queen and members of the Court
July 12, 1638 - Greenhithe - Sea trials begin
July 21, 1638 - Off Gravesend - Charles I visits the "Sovereign of the Seas" and is delighted by the ship
August 18, 1638 - The Downs - The "Sovereign of the Seas" arrives off the Downs after Sea trials
January(?) 1(?), 1639 - Woolwich - Rebuilding of the "Prince Royal", until 1641.
July(?) 1(?), 1639 - Greenhithe, Kent(?) - King Charles I insists that the complement of the "Sovereign of the Seas" be increased to 100. Another 12 guns are added to bring the total to 102
August 21, 1647 - Chatham - Phineas Pett dies, aged 76 =(END)

Monday 21 December 2015

Samuel Pepys | Timeline

Samuel Pepys (23 February 1633 – 26 May 1703) was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man. Although Pepys had no maritime experience, he rose by patronage, hard work, and his talent for administration to be the Chief Secretary to the Admiralty under both King Charles II and King James II. His influence and reforms at the Admiralty were important in the early professionalisation of the Royal Navy. (Wikipedia)

February 23, 1633 - London - Samuel Pepys is born
March 3, 1633 - St.Bride's Church, London - Samuel is baptised
January(?) 1(?), 1644 - Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire - Pepys starts attending Huntingdon Grammar School
January(?) 1(?), 1646 - London - Pepys starts attending St. Paul's School (until 1650)
January 30, 1649 - Whitehall Palace, London - Pepys attends the execution of King Charles I
October 1(?), 1650 - Cambridge - Pepys is admitted to Cambridge University
March 1(?), 1651 - Cambridge - Pepys moves to Cambridge to attend the Magdalene College as a sizar
January(?) 1(?), 1654 - Cambridge - Takes his Bachelor of Arts degree
February 1, 1654 - Whitehall Palace, London - Appointed secretary or domestic steward to Edward Montagu =(START)
June 1, 1654 - Appointed clerk to George Downing, Teller of the Receipt in the Exchequer
October 10, 1655 - Westminster, London - Pepys marries 14-year old Elisabeth de St Michel
December 1, 1655 - St. Margaret's, Westminster - Civil ceremony for the marriage of Pepys and Elisabeth
March 26, 1658 - London - Pepys undergoes surgery to remove bladder stones in his urinary tract - successful
May(?) 1(?), 1659 - Gravesend(?) - Departure to "The Sound" to deliver letters for Edward Montagu (speculative date and place)
May 26, 1659 - Helsingør (Elsinore), N of Copenhagen - Pepys arrives in Helsingør aboard the ketch "Hind" with letters for Edward Montagu, commander of the Baltic Fleet
June(?) 6(?), 1659 - Gravesend(?) - Return to England (speculative date and place)
June 8, 1659 - Axe Yard, London - Pepys is home in time for Richard Cromwell's formal abdication
October 20, 1659 - London - Managing Montagu's household
December 5, 1659 - Cornhill, London - Pepys witnesses violence in the streets, as he goes to a shop to buy a notebook in preparation for his diary
January 1, 1660 - London - Samuel Pepys starts keeping a diary
March 3, 1660 - Westminster Hall - Pepys is summoned to meet Edward Montagu
March 6, 1660 - Whitehall - Pepys is asked to go to Sea with Montagu as his Secretary
March 23, 1660 - Long Reach, Gravesend - Pepys takes a barge from Tower Wharf and went aboard the "Swiftsure", until the "Naseby" is ready
March 30, 1660 - Long Reach, Gravesend - Montagu transfers to the "Naseby"
April 9, 1660 - The Downs - The fleet sails round the North Foreland and comes to anchor in the Downs
May 3, 1660 - The Downs - Pepys reads out the "declaration to the Generals" and the King's covering letter to cheers of the crews
May 12, 1660 - The Downs - Montagu's fleet weighs anchor and sets course to Scheveningen
May 14, 1660 - The Hague - Arrival in Scheveningen. Pepys goes ashore in The Hague. Meets 10-year old future King William III
May 26, 1660 - Dover - Charles II, Montagu and Pepys, arrive in England
May 29, 1660 - London - Charles II enters in London
June 18, 1660 - Whitehall Palace, London - Montagu tells Pepys that he was looking to get him the Clerkship of the Acts
July 13, 1660 - Whitehall Palace - Pepys secures the position of Clerk of the Acts to the Navy Board
September 24, 1660 - Pepys is made a Justice of the Peace (Judicial officer)
February 15, 1662 - Deptford - Pepys is admitted as a younger brother of Trinity House
April 30, 1662 - Portsmouth(?) - Pepys receives the Freedom of Portsmouth
November 20, 1662 - Pepys joins the Tangier committee
April 8, 1664 - Woolwich Dockyard - Pepys attends the launching of the "HMS Royal Katherine"
February 15, 1665 - London - Pepys is elected a Fellow of the Royal Society
March 20, 1665 - London - Pepys becomes the treasurer of the Tangier Committee
April 30, 1665 - London - Diary: "Great fears of the sickness here in the City it being said that two or three houses are already shut up. God preserve us all!"
August 16, 1665 - London - Diary: "But, Lord! how sad a sight it is to see the streets empty of people, and very few upon the 'Change. Jealous of every door that one sees shut up, lest it should be the plague; and about us two shops in three, if not more, generally shut up"
May 23, 1666 - London - Pepys collects his portrait from the painter, Mr.Hales, and pays him
September 2, 1666 - Palace of Whitehall, London - After seeing the start of the great fire, Pepys goes by boat to Whitehall and is the first to inform the king
September 5, 1666 - Steeple of Barking Church, London - Pepys views the destroyed city of London: "the saddest sight of desolation that I ever saw"
September 7, 1666 - Paul's Wharf, London - Pepys sees the ruins of St.Paul's Cathedral, of his father's house and the house where he had his stone removed
April 3, 1667 - London - Meeting with William Penn. Pepys suggests fortifying the River Medway
April 28, 1667 - London - Pepys doesn't believe the Dutch and French are able to send a fleet to England
June 13, 1667 - London - Pepys becomes aware that the Dutch are out in force
June 20, 1667 - London - Pepys understands that the River Thames is the target of the Dutch
June 22, 1667 - London - After hearing about the loss of Sheerness, the dutch raid on Chatham and the capture of the "Royal Charles", thinks Charles II's reign is doomed
August 21, 1667 - London - Pepys hears two boys sing to him, one of them is John Blow - but the experience is awful as their voices were breaking
March 5, 1668 - London - Pepys makes a long speech at the bar of the Commons about the use of tickets to pay seamen
October 25, 1668 - London - Pepys is surprised by his wife while kissing and masturbating Deborah Willet
May 31, 1669 - London - Last entry in Pepys' diary, as he got worried about his eyesight
June 1(?), 1669 - London - Low Countries | France - Holiday in France and the Low Countries with Elizabeth, until October
November 10, 1669 - London - Pepys' wife Elizabeth dies, after getting ill on the return from the Low Countries
January 24, 1672 - Deptford - Pepys becomes an Elder Brother of Trinity House
January(?) 1(?), 1673 - Horsham, West Sussex - Involved with the establishment of the Royal Mathematical School at Christ's Hospital
June 18, 1673 - Promoted to Secretary to the Admiralty Commission
November 4, 1673 - Elected MP for Castle Rising in Norfork
February 1, 1676 - Horsham, West Sussex - Appointed Governor of Christ's Hospital
May 22, 1676 - Deptford - Pepys is elected Master of Trinity House
February 5, 1679 - Elected MP for Harwich
May 20, 1679 - Tower of London - Pepys resigns as Secretary of the Admiralty and is arrested on suspicion of treasonable correspondence with France
July 9, 1679 - Tower of London - Pepys is released from the Tower of London
June 1(?), 1680 - London - The charges against Pepys are dropped
May 1(?), 1682 - Edinburgh - Pepys accompanies the Duke of York to Edinburgh
July 30, 1683 - Portsmouth - Pepys embarks on Dartmouth's "HMS Grafton" for Tangier
August 14, 1683 - Gulf of Biscay(?) - Dartmouth shows Pepys the king's instructions for Tangier
September 14, 1683 - Tangier, Morocco - Pepys arrives in Tangiers and is saluted by Percy Kirke and all city guns
December 6, 1683 - Tangier - Pepys departs Tangiers
December 9(?), 1683 - Cadiz, Spain - Pepys arrives in Cadiz (speculative date)
December 25, 1683 - Cadiz - Pepys listens to Christmas carols at the Cadiz Cathedral
December 26, 1683 - Cadiz - Dartmouth's ships weigh anchor and sail to England
March 30, 1684 - Portsmouth - Pepys returns to England after a very rough passage
June 10, 1684 - London - Appointed King's Secretary for the affairs of the Admiralty
December 1, 1684 - London - Pepys becomes president of the Royal Society
July 8, 1685 - Deptford - Pepys is elected Master of Trinity House
July 14, 1685 - Deptford - Pepys is elected Master of Trinity House (a second time)
November 30, 1686 - London - End of Presidency of the Royal Society
June 29, 1688 - Court of King's Bench, Westminster - Pepys is called as witness in Trial of Seven Bishops
January 16, 1689 - Harwich - Pepys is defeated in the parliamentary election at Harwich
February 20, 1689 - London - Pepys resigns his secretaryship
May 1(?), 1689 - London - Arrested on suspicion of Jacobitism
July 1(?), 1689 - London - Released from prison
June 25, 1690 - London - Arrested again on suspicion of Jacobitism
June 30, 1690 - London - Released from prison
April 27, 1699 - London - Pepys is made freeman of the city of London for services to Christ's Hospital
June 1(?), 1701 - Clapham, Surrey - Pepys moves out of London
May 26, 1703 - Clapham, Surrey - Samuel Pepys dies, aged 70 =(END)

Saturday 19 December 2015

João Fernandes Vieira | Timeline

João Fernandes Vieira (1613 - 1681) was a owner of sugar cane mills and one of the most important military leaders in the wars for the expulsion of the Dutch from Brazil. Born in Madeira of a portuguese man and a mulatto woman, he sailed for Brazil still very young and never returned to his native island, serving the portuguese crown as military commander, Governor of Pernambuco, Paraíba and later, Angola.

January(?) 1(?), 1613 - Faial, Madeira Island - João Fernandes Vieira is born
January(?) 1(?), 1624 - Funchal, Madeira Island - 11-year old João Fernandes Vieira boards a ship for Brazil
February 20, 1630 - Saint George Fort, Recife, Brazil - Defence of the fort during the First dutch assault, under Lieutenant-Colonel Hartman Godtfrielt van Steyncalenfelts =(START)
February 27, 1630 - Saint George Fort, Recife - Defence of the fort during the Second dutch assault, under Lieutenant-Colonel Adolf van der Elts
March 24, 1633 - Arraial (old) do Bom Jesus, W of Olinda - Vieira kills many "flemish" during the defence of the arraial (village/fair)
July 1(?), 1635 - Várzea do Capibaribe, W Recife - João Fernandes Vieira meets Jacob Stachouwer, his future employer
March 7, 1637 - Olinda - Vieira is one of the subscribers of a memorial addressed to the Earl of Nassau
May 1(?), 1638 - Várzea do Capibaribe, W Recife - Jacob Stachouwer returns to the Netherlands and leaves Vieira as his procurator, with powers to manage 3 dutch sugar mill proprieties
May 29, 1638 - Várzea do Capibaribe, W Recife (?) - Vieira Commits to adquire sugar to the Dutch West Indies Company, in the inland sugar mills
August 2, 1638 - The dutch arrest several farmers and millers(?), accused of maintaining contact with the enemy. One is beheaded and several ones exiled to Fernando de Noronha Island. Vieira is not among them
August 12, 1638 - Vieira concludes for himself, for 26,000 guilders, the annual contract of the "pension" on the sugars of the Pernambuco mills
August 17, 1638 - Gets permission to seize all slaves belonging to people who abandoned service, so that they are sold for 130 "reais" each
October 6, 1638 - Vieira finishes concluding a credit for Jacob Stachouwer, a set of sugar canes worth 28,500 guilders
June 1(?), 1639 - Olinda - Vieira's name appears among the candidates to Magistrate of Olinda
February 1(?), 1640 - Concludes the collection of the three major contracts of the Colony rents
July 1(?), 1640 - Vieira concludes the contracts of the sugar tithes in the captaincies of Pernambuco and Itamaracá, and of the pensions of the sugar mills, all for 185,000 guilders
August 27, 1640 - Recife - Represents the portuguese residents of Várzea do Capibaribe at the assembly convened by the Count of Nassau
September 4, 1640 - Recife - Nassau's Assembly ends
January(?) 1(?), 1641 - concludes the contracts for the collection of sugar tithes from pernambuco, Itamaracá and other 4 parishes
July 1(?), 1641 - Recife(?) - Vieira is raised to the dignity of Magistrate of Mauritstad (Recife)
October 1(?), 1641 - Laurens de Jonge and Jan Schouten transfer to Vieira the contract of the Balance
June 30, 1642 - Recife(?) - Vieira appears before Nassau, declaring himself debtor or the Company, for the contracts of tithes and pensions and purchase of slaves and also for assuming the debts of Stachouwer and De Ridder, for the purchase of sugar mills and because floods and plagues spoiled the cane fields. The dutch company liquidates Vieira's debts of 39,000 guilders
December 13, 1642 - Recife - Audience to justify rumours spread by jews that he was writing letters to the King of Portugal to "prepare something" against New Holland
May 15, 1645 - Várzea do Capibaribe, W Recife - Vieira names the captains of the parish of São Gonçalo
May 23, 1645 - Várzea do Capibaribe - Vieira and others sign a document binding them in the fight against the dutch
June 13, 1645 - Várzea do Capibaribe - The first 50 insurgents gather around Vieira for the start of the insurrection
June 17, 1645 - Camaragibe - Vieira, now with 130 insurgents, takes steps to recruit more men in several villages
June 29, 1645 - Maciape - More captains, with dozens of men, join Vieira's 300 insurgents (more than 800)
June 30, 1645 - Maciape - A patrol of 12 dutch soldiers and 8 indians is ambushed and eliminated
July 5, 1645 - The dutch consider Vieira an "enemy of the State" and offer a reward of 1000 guilders for him, dead or alive
July 6, 1645 - São Lourenço - Vieira stays for 3 days at the village of São Lourenço
July 10, 1645 - Sítio do Covas - Vieira stays for 22 days at Sítio do Covas
August 3, 1645 - Monte das Tabocas - The portuguese defeat the dutch, commanded by Hendrick van Haus
August 16, 1645 - Santo António do Cabo - Vieira and André Vidal de Negreiros meet at Santo António do Cabo, abandoned by the dutch
August 17, 1645 - Capibaribe River - Vieira and Negreiros pursue the dutch and arrest Van Haus and other 3 dutch captains
August 30, 1645 - W of Olinda(?) - Letter to King John IV in Lisbon
September 4, 1645 - Arraial (new) do Bom Jesus, W of Olinda - The "Arraial novo do Bom Jesus" begins building (fortified settlement)
October 6, 1645 - W of Olinda(?) - Vieira is named "mestre de campo" (fieldmaster) of the Pernambuco "Terço"(*)
October 7, 1645 - W of Olinda(?) - Vieira is elected Governor of Pernambuco
December 30 - Arraial (new) do Bom Jesus, W of Olinda - Letter to King John IV in Lisbon
May 10, 1646 - Arraial (new) do Bom Jesus, W of Olinda - Letter to King John IV in Lisbon
June 30(?), 1646 - Itamaracá (continental part) - Vieira starts a "scorched Earth" policy
August 15, 1646 - Arraial (new) do Bom Jesus - Letter to the Marquess of Montalvão, viceroy of Brazil
September 11, 1646 - Arraial (new) do Bom Jesus - Letters to the dutch traders in Recife
February 14, 1647 - Arraial (new) do Bom Jesus - Friendly letter to Stachouwer
April 19, 1648 - Morro dos Guararapes, Pernambuco - First Battle of Guararapes - Portuguese Victory (1200 dutch casualties)
April 22, 1648 - Olinda - The dutch are expelled from Olinda, almost without combat
February 19, 1649 - Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Pernambuco - Second Battle of Guararapes - Decisive portuguese victory (1045 dutch casualties)
April 3, 1650 - Pernambuco - Vieira and Negreiros write a letter to King John IV
July 10, 1650 - Pernambuco - Letter to King John IV in Lisbon
March 6, 1652 - Pernambuco - Letter to King John IV in Lisbon
November 3, 1652 - Pernambuco - Letter to King John IV in Lisbon, about spanish ships in Angola taking slaves
December 20, 1653 - Pernambuco - Meeting with Pedro Jacques de Magalhães, just arrived from Lisbon
January 15, 1654 - Recife - Vieira starts the assault on Recife
January 26, 1654 - Recife - The Dutch capitulate in Recife. Vieira enters the city on 27th
May 25, 1654 - Pernambuco - Vieira reports about the situation of fortifications in the Northeast of Brazil
February 12, 1655 - Recife - Vieira is appointed Governor of Paraíba
August 1(?), 1655 - Recife - Departs to Paraíba with 300 soldiers
August 19, 1657 - Paraíba - Vieira leaves his post as Governor of Paraíba
February(?) 1(?), 1658 - Recife - Vieira departs to Angola with 200 soldiers and 5 ships (1 rented english)
August 14, 1658 - Luanda, Angola - Vieira arrives in Luanda and takes possession of the Government on the same day
September 15, 1658 - Luanda - Letter to King Afonso VI, in Lisbon
October 6, 1658 - Luanda - Letter to King Afonso VI, informing about his explorations by land towards the kingdom of Benguela
November 8, 1661 - Luanda - Letter to King Afonso VI, in Lisbon
January(?) 14(?), 1662 - Luanda - Departs to Recife (speculative date)
April 2, 1662 - Recife - Arrives in Recife
May 22, 1671 - Pernambuco - Letter to King Peter II
February 15, 1674 - Maranguape - Vieira writes his own Testament
April 26, 1674 - Pernambuco - Letter to King Peter II, about the richnesses that undoubtly existed in the mines
October 19, 1674 - Pernambuco - Appointed Superintendent of the Northeast fortifications
May 30, 1677 - Pernambuco - Letter to King Peter II, about the need for colonists from Madeira and Azores
July 26, 1677 - Pernambuco - Letter to King Peter II, asking to switch tax collection for slave trading to Brazil instead of St. Tomé
September 10, 1678 - Pernambuco - Letter to King Peter II, asking authorization to bring colonists from the Atlantic Islands
January 10, 1681 - Olinda - João Fernandes Vieira dies =(END)

(*) Military formation similar to Spanish "tercio" - meaning "third" (1/3 firearms, 1/3 pikemen and 1/3 swordsmen)

Tuesday 15 December 2015

Guillaume Le Testu | Timeline

Guillaume Le Testu, sometimes referred to as "Guillaume Le Têtu" (c. 1509-12 – April 29, 1573) was a French privateer, explorer and navigator. He was one of the foremost cartographers of his time and an author of the Dieppe maps. His maps were distinguished by their sophistication and detail; they influenced generations of cartographers, navigators and explorers. (Wikipedia)

January(?) 1(?), 1509 - Le Havre - Guillaume le Testu is born
January(?) 1(?), 1550 - Dieppe - Le Testu was commissioned by the King of France to create a map of the Americas, specially Brazil =(START)
June 14, 1551 - Dieppe - Sails to Brazil
June 23(?), 1551 - NW of Brest - Sailing towards Brazil
August(?), 18(?), 1551 - Off Natal, Brazil - Arrival in Brazil
November(?) 1(?), 1551 - São Francisco do Sul, E. of Joinville, Brazil - With the Cartographer André Thevet, establishes a french colony (speculative date)
December(?), 3(?), 1551 - Off Natal, Brazil - Heading north/Northwest, in coastal exploration
December(?), 16(?), 1551 - Amazon River Mouth - Passes through the Amazon River mouth
December(?), 29(?), 1551 - Off Trinidad - Involved in a seafight with two portuguese ships
June(?) 22(?), 1552 - NW of Brest - Le Testu enters the English Channel
July(?), 1(?), 1552 - Dieppe - Return to France
January(?) 1(?), 1555 - ? - Le Testu Publishes "Cosmographie Univerelle"
July 12, 1555 - Le Havre - Le Testu departs to Brazil with Villegagnon
August 14, 1555 - Le Havre - On their third try, Le Testu and Villegagnon manage to sail out of Le Havre, with better winds
August(?) 20(?), 1555 - NW of Brest - Sailing towards Brazil
October(?) 13(?), 1555 - Off Natal, Brazil - Arrival in Brazil
November 10, 1555 - Guanabara Bay - Arrival to the Guanabara Bay, after a Voyage of 3 months
February 12, 1556 - Guanabara Bay - Le Testu departs to France with a report about the situation in Brazil and requests from the Colony.
March(?) 6(?), 1556 - Off Natal, Brazil - Sailing towards France
April(?) 31(?), 1556 - NW of Brest - Le Testu enters the English Channel
May(?) 8(?), 1556 - Le Havre - Le Testu arrives in France with reports about the situation in Brazil and requests to Coligny
October(?) 1(?), 1556 - Publishes an Atlas of the World
November 19, 1556 - Honfleur - Le Testu departs to Brazil with Jean de Lery and 300 colonists
November 28(?), 1556 - NW of Brest - Sailing towards Brazil
February(?) 13(?), 1556 - Off Natal, Brazil - Arrival in Brazil
March 7, 1556 - Island of Villegagnon, Rio de Janeiro - Le Testu arrives with the colonists
October 1, 1559 - Guanabara Bay - Le Testu departs to France with Villegagnon
October 26(?), 1559 - Off Natal, Brazil - Sailing towards France
December(?) 20(?), 1559 - NW of Brest - Le Testu enters the English Channel
December 29(?), 1559 - Honfleur - Back to France (speculative date)
January(?) 1(?), 1567 - Le Testu joins the huguenots in the Religious War and conducts privateering raids for 2 years
January(?) 1(?), 1569 - Middelburg, Netherlands - Le Testu is captured by the catholics, arrested and taken to Middelburg
June 1, 1571 - Middelburg - King Charles IX writes a letter to King Phillip II demanding Le Testu's release
January 30, 1572 - Middelburg - Le Testu is released from prison
December(?) 27(?), 1572 - Honfleur(?) - Le Testu sails for the Antilles, Caribbean Sea
January(?) 5(?), 1573 - NW of Brest - Sailing towards the Caribbean
February(?) 30(?), 1573 - E of Dominica - Le Testu arrives to the Antilles
March 25, 1573 - Off Gulf of San Blas, Panama - Le Testu encounters Francis Drake
March 31, 1573 - Mouth of River Cuango - E of Nombre de Dios, Panama - Drake and Le Testu meet at the mouth of River Cuango
April 1, 1573 - Nombre de Dios, Panama - Drake and Le Testu ambush the Spanish treasure convoy of mules. Le Testu is wounded.
April 2, 1573 - Nombre de Dios - Le Testu, wounded, is captured by the Spanish
April 29, 1573 - Nombre de Dios - Guillaume Le Testu is beheaded by the Spanish, for piracy =(END)