did you know...

...SIX OF THE ORIGINAL THIRTEEN COLONIES ARE NAMED AFTER BRITISH KINGS & QUEENS!

The US Flag that hangs in Co-Editor @Historychappy's Classroom

On 4 July 1776, the Thirteen Colonies of British North America withdrew their allegiance to King George III in the Declaration of Independence. The fighting that ensued between the British and the American Patriots was bitter, costly and was considered to be a ‘civil war’ by the British. Hence, no British Army regiment was ever awarded battle honours for their role in the conflict. The American Revolutionary War rumbled on until 25 November 1783, when the final remnants of the British Army were evacuated from Manhattan, New York.

However, while the Declaration of Independence accuses the British King of establishing an “...absolute Tyranny over these States”, you may be surprised to learn that six of the original thirteen colonies of British North America took their names from British monarchs.

Queen Elizabeth I of England, 1558-1603. She was known as the 'Virgin Queen'. Hence the name 'Virginia'.

• Virginia was named in honour of Queen Elizabeth I, the final Tudor Queen of England and daughter of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, who died in 1603. 
• Georgia is named after King George II. George II was the grandfather of King George III, the 'despot' mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.
• Maryland is named after King Charles' French Catholic wife, Queen Henrietta Maria. Her husband was executed by Parliament during the English Civil War.
• North and South Carolina were named in honour of King Charles I, the King who was executed by Parliament.
• New York was named in honour of the Duke of York, who would go on to become King James II, the final Catholic King of England, who was deposed in 1688.

Therefore, in a sense, the connection between America and its former monarchy lives on (in name only), some 243 years after independence. ​

Patrick O'Shaughnessy (@historychappy)