(1497) Explorer John Cabot claimed land near Cape Breton for King Henry VII
(1524) Explorer, Giovanni de Verranzano, first European to explore coast of Maine
(1597)Portuguese navigator, Simon Ferdinando, sought treasure on coast of Maine
1600's
(1604) First European colony in Maine established at mouth of St. Croix River by French
(1604 - 1605) Maine coastline and Penobscot River explored and mapped by French cartographer, Samuel del Champlain
(1622) Sir Ferdinando Gorges, John Mason granted rights to lands of present day Maine, New Hampshire; Gorges named territory "Maine"
(1623) First sawmill in America established near York
(1652) Maine annexed as frontier territory by Massachusetts
(1675) King Philip's War began between English, French and Indians
(1675 - 1763) Continuous conflict between North American forces
1700's
(1761) First pile bridge built at York
(1765) Mob seized quantity of tax stamps at Falmouth; attacked customs agents
(1774) Group of men burned tea shipment at York
(1775) First naval battle of Revolutionary War fought off coast of Machias; British warships shelled, bombed Falmouth; Benedict Arnold, band of revolutionaries marched through Maine, failed in attempt to capture British strongholds in Canada
(1785) Falmouth Gazette established - Maine's first newspaper
1800's
(1812) Bangor, other parts of Maine seized by British
(1820) Maine became 23rd state; first state to give suffrage, school privileges to all
(1832) State capital established in Augusta
(1839) Governor Fairfield declared war on England due to boundary dispute between New Brunswick, northern Maine
