On This Day
·

House of Burgesses in Virginia forms, first elected American governing body

The House of Burgesses () was the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly from 1619 to 1776.

The House of Burgesses () was the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly from 1619 to 1776. It existed during the colonial history of the United States in the Colony of Virginia in what was then British America. From 1642 to 1776, the House of Burgesses was an important feature of Virginian politics, alongside the Crown-appointed colonial governor and the Virginia Governor's Council, the upper house of the General Assembly.

When Virginia declared its independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain during the Fifth Virginia Convention in 1776 and became the independent Commonwealth of Virginia, the House of Burgesses was transformed into the House of Delegates, which continues to serve as the lower house of the General Assembly.

Historical Significance

The House of Burgesses () was the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly from 1619 to 1776.

Events Before

  1. German astronomer Johannes Kepler discovers the third of his three planetary laws, the "harmonic law"

    German astronomer Johannes Kepler discovers the third of his three planetary laws, the "harmonic law"

  2. Second Defenestration of Prague: Two Catholic Lords Regent and their secretary are thrown out of a window and amazingly

    Second Defenestration of Prague: Two Catholic Lords Regent and their secretary are thrown out of a window and amazingly are not seriously injured by the 70 foot (21m) fall. Triggers the Thirty Years' War.

  3. Captain John Gilbert patents first dredger in Britain

    Captain John Gilbert patents first dredger in Britain

  4. Prince Maurits' troops pull into Utrecht

    Prince Maurits' troops pull into Utrecht

  5. "Rodi" avalanche destroys Plurs, Switzerland, and kills 1500

    "Rodi" avalanche destroys Plurs, Switzerland, and kills 1500

Events After

  1. Pilgrim Fathers depart Leiden, Netherlands, for England on their way to America

    Pilgrim Fathers depart Leiden, Netherlands, for England on their way to America

  2. The Mayflower sets sail from Southampton, England, with 102 Pilgrims bound for the New World

    Mayflower was an English square-rigged merchant sailing ship, active from before 1609 until 1622. Her tonnage was 180+, and she was 110 feet long and 25 feet in the beam, with several decks.

  3. The Mayflower departs Plymouth, England, with 102 Pilgrims and about 30 crew for the New World [O.S. Sep 6]

    The Mayflower departs Plymouth, England, with 102 Pilgrims and about 30 crew for the New World [O.S. Sep 6]

  4. Great Patent granted to Plymouth Colony

    The Pilgrims, also known as the Pilgrim Fathers, were the English settlers who travelled to North America on the ship Mayflower and established the Plymouth Colony at what now is Plymouth,...

  5. Mayflower Compact is signed by Pilgrims at Cape Cod, establishing the first framework of government in the territory tha

    Mayflower Compact is signed by Pilgrims at Cape Cod, establishing the first framework of government in the territory that is now the USA [N.S. Nov 21]

More from the 1610s

Galileo Galilei discovers the first three moons of Jupiter: Io, Europa and Ganymede

There are 97 known moons of the planet Jupiter. This number does not include a number of meter-sized moonlets thought to be shed from the inner moons, nor hundreds of possible kilometer-sized outer…

King James I's daughter Elizabeth marries Frederick V of the Palatinate

The wedding of Frederick V of the Palatinate (1596–1632) and Princess Elizabeth (1596–1662), daughter of James VI and I, was celebrated in London in February 1613.

Michael Romanov, son of the Patriarch of Moscow, is elected the first Russian Tsar of the House of Romanov

The House of Romanov was the reigning imperial house of Russia from 1613 to 1917. They achieved prominence after Anastasia Romanovna married Ivan the Terrible, the first crowned tsar of all Russia.

English sea captain Gabriel Towerson marries Maryam Khan, an Armenian Christian bought up at the Mughal court, in London

English sea captain Gabriel Towerson marries Maryam Khan, an Armenian Christian bought up at the Mughal court, in London

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on July 30, 1619?
The House of Burgesses () was the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly from 1619 to 1776. It existed during the colonial history of the United States in the Colony of Virginia in what was then British America. From 1642 to 1776, the House of Burgesses was an important feature of Virginian politics, alongside the Crown-appointed colonial governor and the Virginia Governor's Council, the upper house of the General Assembly.
Why is House of Burgesses in Virginia forms, first elected American governing body significant?
The House of Burgesses () was the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly from 1619 to 1776.

Explore More

July 30 in HistoryYear 1619