Tennessee Chronology
1540
Hernando de Soto led the first white expedition into the Tennessee region.
1566
Juan Pedro and a group of Spanairds built a fort near the site of present-day Chattanooga.
1584
The region of Tennessee was included in the English grant made to Sir Walter Raleigh.
1673
James Needham and Gabriel Arthur explored the eastern portion of Tennessee for Virginia. Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette explored the western part of the state for France.
1682
Robert Cavalier, Sieur de la Salle, claimed Tennessee for France. He supervised construction of Fort Prud'homme near present-day Memphis at the mouth of the Hatchie River.
1714
Charles Charleville established a French trading post near the location of present-day Nashville.
1750
Dr. Thomas Walker led a group of Virginians into Tennessee. They reached the Cumberland River and mountains which they named in honor of the Duke of Cumberland.
1757
A group of South Carolinians constructed Fort Loudon on the Little Tennessee River, 30 miles north of present-day Knoxville. The fort was named in honor of John Campbell, Earl of Loudon.
1760
The Cherokee Indians captured Fort Loudon, killing the garrison and the nearby settlers.
1763
France surrendered all claims to the land east of the Mississippi River to Great Britain.
1766
November 18. Sumner County, with its seat at Gallatin, was created. It was named for Jethro Sumner who fought in the French and Indian War and later in the Revolution.
Captain James Smith, leading a group of five people, including a mulatto slave, explored a large part of the state.
1768
The Iroquois Indians ceded their claims to Tennessee to the English.
1771
A settlement was established near present-day Rogersville.
1772
Residents of the first two settlements met in a general convention to establish the Watauga Association.
A settlement was created on the Nollichucky River.
1775
March 17. Colonel Richard Henderson and his associates eliminated the Indian title to an immense tract of land in the Cumberland Valley.
The settlement on the Nollichucky River was forced to join the Watauga Association.
1776
The Territory of Tennessee was annexed to North Carolina as the Washington District. It became Washington County in 1777.
1777
November 15. At the session of the legislature Washington County was created, with Jonesboro and Johnson City as the county seats. The county was named for George Washington who was commander
of all the Continental armies and later first President of the United States.
1779
James Robertson and a small group of settlers arrived at French Lick.
October 18
Sullivan County was established. It was named for James Sullivan, member of the Continental Congress, federal Constitutional Convention and New Hampshire official.
1780
Tennesseans helped defeat the British at King's Mountain, South Carolina.
Nashville settlers signed the Cumberland Compact. The settlement was originally called Nashborough.
1783
April 18. Davidson and Greene Counties were established at the session of the legislature. Davidson, with Nashville as its seat, was named for William Lee Davidson who served in the
Revolutionary War and was killed at the Battle of Cowan's Pass on February 1, 1781.
Greene, with Greeneville as its county seat, was named for Nathanael Greene who was a general in the Continental Army.
James Robertson was sent as a delegate to the North Carolina legislature.
1784
August 23. A convention of the Watauga settlers met at Jonesborough where they named delegates to a second convention to establish a new state.
November. The second convention met but accomplished little. The delegates did form the short-lived state of Franklin.
North Carolina ceded the land which is now Tennessee to the federal government.
1785
John Sevier became governor of the state of Franklin, serving in this capacity until 1788.
1786
November 18. At the session of the legislature Hawkins County was created, with Rogersville as its seat. It was named for Benjamin Hawkins, United States Senator from North Carolina and
Indian agent for the tribes south of the Ohio River.
1790
Population: 35,691.
February 25. North Carolina ceded the region to the federal government again on condition that all general provisions of the Ordinance of 1787 apply except that which forbade slavery.
May 26. The territory south of the Ohio River was established.
August 7. William Blount was appointed governor of the territory. He served in the post until 1796.
1791
The Knoxville Gazette was published as the first paper in Tennessee.
1792
June 11. Jefferson and Knox Counties were created. Jefferson, with Dandridge as its seat, was named for Thomas Jefferson, author and signer of the Declaration of Independence, Secretary of State in the Administration of President George Washington, and later third President of the United States. Knox, with Knoxville as its seat, was named for Henry Knox, brigadier general of the Continental Army and Secretary of War in the Cabinet of President George Washington. 1794
September 10. The University of Tennessee received its first charter as Blount College in Knoxville. It became a state university in 1806 when a federal grant provided for two state universities. Blount was selected as the eastern institution. It became East Tennessee College in 18.., East Tennessee University in 1840 and the University of Tennessee in 1879.
September 27. Sevier County, with its seat at Sevierville, was established. It was named for John Sevier, first and third governor of Tennessee and United States Representative from Tennessee. Washington and Tusculum College was founded at Greeneville.
1795
July 11. Blount County, with Maryville as its seat, was created. It was named for William Blount, governor of the territory south of the Ohio River, Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and
United States Senator from Tennessee.
1796
January 11. A state convention met to draft a constitution at Knoxville.
March 30. John Sevier, Democrat-Republican, became governor of Tennessee in which post he served until September 23, 1801.
April 9. Montgomery and Robertson Counties were created. Montgomery, with its seat as Clarksville, was named for James Montgomery who explored the Cumberland area and fought in a campaign against the Indians in 1794.
Robertson County, with its seat at Springfield, was named for James Robertson, an Indian fighter, founder of Nashborough, member of the Tennessee constitutional convention and state senator.
April 22. Grainger County, with Rutledge as its seat, was established. It was named for Mary Grainger, daughter of Colonel Caleb Grainger, who married Governor William Blount.
June 1. Tennessee was admitted to the Union as the 16th state.
July 7. Tennessee's United States Senator, William Blount, was the first person to be impeached by the United States House of Representatives for trying to stir up an Indian war. Blount was
expelled from the Senate, but the impeachment was dismissed in 1799.
October 9. Cocke and Union Counties were created. Cocke, with its seat at Newport, was named for William Cocke who explored the region with Daniel Boone, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, a member of the Tennessee constitutional convention, United States Senator from Tennessee and later a member of the Mississippi legislature. Union County has its seat at Maynardville.
1799
October 26. Smith, Williamson and Wilson Counties were established. Smith, with its seat at Carthage, was named for Daniel Smith, secretary of the Territory South of the Ohio River, member of the first Tennessee constitutional convention, and United States Senator from Tennessee. Williamson, with Franklin as its seat, was named for Hugh Williamson, a physician, surgeon-general to the general troops of North Carolina during the Revolutionary War and United States Representative from North Carolina. Wilson, with its county seat at Lebanon, was named for Daniel Wilson, who fought in the Revolutionary War and was a member and speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives.
1800
Population: 105,602.
1801
September 23. Archibald Roane, Democrat-Republican, became governor of the state. He served in the office until September 23, 1803.
October 29. Claiborne County, with Tazewell as its seat, was created. It was named for William Charles Coles Claiborne, first governor of the Louisiana Territory, member of the Tennessee state constitutional convention and United States Representative from Tennessee.
November 6. Anderson, Jackson and Roane Counties were established. Anderson, with its seat at Clinton, was named for Joseph Anderson, United States Senator from Tennessee and the first comptroller of the United States Treasury. Jackson, with Gainesboro as its seat, was named for Andrew Jackson, member of the Tennessee constitutional convention, United States Representative and Senator from Tennessee, and later seventh President of the United States. Roane, with Kingston as its seat, was named for Archibald Roane, member of the Tennessee constitutional convention and second governor of the state.
1803
September 23. John Sevier, Democrat-Republican, became governor of the state. He served in the office until September 20, 1809.
October 25. Dickson and Rutherford Counties were established. Dickson, with its seat at Charlotte, was named for William Dickson, member of the state House of Representatives and United States Representative from Tennessee. Rutherford, with Murfreesboro as its seat, was named for Griffith Rutherford, who fought in the Revolutionary War, was a member of the North Carolina Senate and president of the Tennessee legislative council.
November 1. Stewart County was established, with its seat at Dover. It was named for Duncan Stewart.
1804
July 27. The state legislature ratified the 12th Amendment to the United States Constitution.
1806
September 11. Campbell, Overton, and White Counties were created. Campbell, with Jacksboro as its seat, was named for George Washington Campbell, United States Representative and Senator from Tennessee, United States Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet of President James Madison, and United States Minister to Russia. Overton, with its seat at Livingston, was named for John Overton who founded Memphis and was a Justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court. White, with Sparta as its seat, was named for John White who fought in the Revolutionary War.
1807
November 16. Maury County, with its seat at Columbia, was established. It was named for Abram Maury.
November 26. Warren County, with its seat at McMinnville, was created. It was named for Joseph Warren, a physician who served as major general of the Continental Army and was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775.
November 30. Bledsoe and Rhea Counties were established. Bledsoe, with Pikeville as its seat, was named for Abraham Bledsoe who fought in the Revolutionary War and later in the War of 1812. Rhea, with its seat at Dayton, was named for John Rhea who served in the Revolutionary War, was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, and was United States Representative from Tennessee.
December 30. Bedford and Franklin Counties were created. Bedford, with Shelbyville as its seat, was named for Captain Bedford, captain of H Company. Franklin, with its seat at Winchester, was named for Benjamin Franklin, American official, member of the Continental Congress, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the
Constitutional Convention.
1809
September 20
Willie Blount, Democrat-Republican, became governor of Tennessee. He served in the office until September 27, 1815.
October 19. Humphreys County, with Waverly as its seat, was established. It was named for Parry Wayne Humphreys, a Judge of the Tennessee Court and later United States Representative from the state.
November 14. Giles and Lincoln Counties were created. Giles, with Pulaski as its seat, was named for William Branch Giles, 25th governor of Virginia and member of the Virginia legislature. Lincoln was named for Benjamin Lincoln, a major general in the Continental Army and Secretary of War for the Continental Congress. Its seat is at Fayetteville.
1810
Population: 261,727.
1813
The first public library in the state was opened at Nashville.
1814
February 9. George W. Campbell became Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet of President James Madison.
1815
September 27. Joseph McMinn, Democrat-Republican, became governor of the state. He served in the office until October 1, 1821.
1817
October 15. Morgan County, with Wartburg as its seat, was created. It was named for Daniel Morgan, who served in the Revolutionary War, helped to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania and was United States Representative from Virginia.
October 21. Lawrence County, with its seat at Lawrenceburg, was established. It was named for James Lawrence, naval commander who fought in the war with Tripoli and issued the famous order "Don't give up the ship."
November 20. Marion County, with Jasper as its seat, was created. It was named for Francis Marion, brigadier general in the Revolutionary War who won the Battle of Eutaw Springs and served in the South Carolina Senate.
November 24. Wayne County, with its seat at Waynesboro, was created. It was named for General Anthony Wayne who fought in the Revolutionary War, was major general and general-in-chief of the United States Army and defeated the Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1793.
1818
October 19. General Andrew Jackson negotiated a treaty with the Chickasaw Indians for the purchase of Western Tennessee.
1819
October 25. Hamilton County was established, with Chattanooga as its seat. It was named for Alexander Hamilton, member of the Continental Congress and the Continental Army and United States Secretary of the Treasury in the Cabinet of President George Washington.
November 13. Hardin and Monroe Counties were created. Hardin, with its seat at Savannah, was named for Joseph Hardin, member of the continental Army, speaker of the territorial assembly, and member of the state House of Representatives. Monroe, with Madisonville as its seat, was named for James Monroe, governor of Virginia, member of the Continental Congress, United States Senator from Virginia, United States Secretary of State in the administration of President James Madison and fifth President of the United States.
November 24. Shelby County, with Memphis as its seat, was established. It was named for Isaac Shelby, who served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, was governor of Kentucky and a member of the North Carolina legislature. Maryville College was established at Maryville, TN.
