Where Did the Name America Come From?

Article: Lancaster – Capital of the USA

The link below is to an article that looks at a time when Lancaster was the capital of revolutionary America.

For more visit:
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/101689

Article: John Billington – The Life and Times of America’s First Murderer

The link below is to an article on the first recorded murderer in the history of America – John Billington.

For more visit:
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/140672

Article: 8 October 1871 – The Night America Burned

The link below is to an article that investigates the deadly fires that burned across the USA on the 8th October 1871, killing thousands of people.

For more visit:
http://io9.com/5897629/october-8-1871-the-night-america-burned

Today in History – 30 April 1492

Christopher Columbus: Receives His Commission of Exploration from Castile (Spain)

Christopher Columbus was born between the 22nd August and the 31st October 1451, in Genoa (now in Italy). Contrary to common belief Columbus did not discover America, but he did greatly increase European awareness of the New World.

The maritime career of Christopher Columbus began when he was 10 years old. In the years that followed he undertook a number of journeys on the open sea in various roles on various ships. In 1485 he began looking for an opportunity to explore and discover a western route to Asia. He presented his ideas to the king of Portugal and was ultimately frustrated after several attempts. He also tried England, Genoa, Venice and then Spain (Castile) in 1486. He was frustrated in all these attempts (England eventually agreed, but by that time Columbus was already in league with Castile), but the king and queen of Castile (Ferdinand II and Isabella I) retained his services and after many attempts he finally gained the support of Ferdinand II and Isabella I on this day in 1492.

In all, Columbus would make four voyages between Castile and America. His life would end in great disappointment, having been jailed and having the terms of his contract with Castile overturned due to various claims and convictions of abuse of power and mismanagement of the domains over which he governed in the New World. Columbus died on the 20th May 1506 in Valladolid, Crown of Castile (now in Spain).