July 19,1840 Boston Massachusetts - Samuel Cunard's first steamship, the paddle steamer Britannia arrives at Boston from Halifax 14 days and 8 hours after leaving Liverpool, England; first scheduled transatlantic mail service by steamship, and a blow to the age of sailing ship; won the Admiralty contract to provide a fixed schedule mail service to Halifax and Boston in 1839, started the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, and launched Britannia in May. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 19,1833 Montreal Quebec - City council adopts coat of arms with the four national flowers of France (fleur-de-lys), England (rose), Scotland (thistle), and Ireland (shamrock), and the motto 'Concordia Salus'. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 19,1814 Prairie du Chien Wisconsin - Lt. Colonel William McKay captures Fort Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; British now have base for potential 1815 attacks on St. Louis, Missouri, and down the Mississippi. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 19,1812 Sacketts Harbor, NY - British launch unsuccessful attack on Sacketts Harbor during the War of 1812. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 19,1759 Youngstown, NY - English General Prates mistakenly steps in front of a mortar and is blown to pieces during the bombardment of the French at Fort Niagara; Sir William Johnson assumes command under protest of Lieutenant Colonel Eyre Massey, who argues he has seniority. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 19,1654 Trois-Rivières Quebec - Marguerite Sedilot marries Jean Aubuchon at the age of 11 years, 5 months; youngest bride in Canadian history. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 19,1616 Quebec Quebec - Marguérite Vienne dies; first French woman in New France. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --