Brief History of Annapolis
The original Annapolis-area settlement was called "Providence" by the Puritan exiles from Virginia who came to the
north shore of the Severn River. The settlers then moved to a better-protected harbor on the south shore of the
Severn. This became known as "Anne Arundel's Towne" after the wife of Lord Baltimore, who owned the proprietary
colony. In 1694, Maryland's Governor, Sir Francis Nicholson, moved the capital here from St. Mary's City. Nicholson
changed the name to Annapolis, "Anne's city," in honor of Princess Anne, heir to the throne. In 1708, as Queen, she
chartered her colonial namesake as a city. Her royal badge, with a crown over the entwined thistle of Scotland and
Tudor rose of England, is depicted on the Annapolis flag.
Sir Francis implemented a baroque street plan similar to the magnificent capitals of Europe. He drew circles with
radiating streets to create focal points and give importance to certain structures, just as L'Enfant did in
Washington, DC. The city began to attract shopkeepers, artisans, and craftsmen: furniture and clockmakers,
shipbuilders, tanners, bakers, painters, printers, and more. Its professional and landed classes also grew. All
four Maryland signers of the Declaration of Independence had impressive homes in Annapolis, which still stand today.
A thriving shipping industry brought great wealth to Annapolis. Although commerce was considerable through most of
the 18th 
century, trade declined rapidly after Baltimore, with its deeper harbor, was made a port of entry in 1780.
Water trades such as oyster-packing, boatbuilding, and sail-making became the city's chief industries.
There are two landmark focal points as one enters Annapolis: St Anne's Episcopal Church (original building started
in 1699) and the State House. The Maryland State House is the oldest in continuous legislative use in the United
States. Construction started in 1772, and the Maryland legislature first met there in 1779. It is topped by the
largest wooden dome built without nails in the country. The Maryland state house housed the first peacetime capital
of the United States from November 26, 1783 to August 13, 1784, and the Treaty of Paris was ratified there on
January 14, 1784. It was in the Maryland state house that George Washington famously resigned his commission before
the Continental Congress on December 23, 1783.
Through the efforts of the Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft, the Naval School was established without
Congressional funding, at a 10-acre Army post named Fort Severn in Annapolis, Maryland, on October 10, 1845, with a
class of 50 midshipmen and seven professors. The curriculum included mathematics and navigation, gunnery and steam,
chemistry, English, natural philosophy, and French. In 1850, the Naval School became the United States Naval
Academy. As the U.S. Navy grew over the years, the Academy expanded. The campus of 10 acres increased to 338. The
original student body of 50 midshipmen grew to a brigade size of 4,000. Modern granite buildings replaced the old
wooden structures of Fort Severn.
During the Civil War, a Parole Camp was set up in Annapolis. As the war continued, the camp expanded to a larger
location just outside of the city. Wounded Union soldiers and Confederate prisoners were brought by sea to a major
hospital in Annapolis. The area west of Solomon's Island Road is still known as "Parole" and the brand-new housing,
dining & shopping area there is known as Annapolis Towne Centre at Parole.
Today, Annapolis has more of these original 18th century structures standing than any other city in the United
States. Many are open to the public, where their beauty and architectural style is a major attraction. One of the
loveliest places to walk is on the grounds of St. John's College, founded in 1696 as King William's School. It is
the third oldest college in the United States after Harvard and William and Mary.
Sources:
www.annapolis.gov
www.annapolis.org
www.stannes-annapolis.org
www.usna.edu
