Tag Archives: Steven W. Allen

Christopher Columbus and James Madison Stood by Their Decisions

Posted on by October 13, 2011

October 12 is officially Columbus Day. I hope you enjoyed it, and maybe even thought a little bit about Christopher Columbus! Columbus was a gifted sailor, mapmaker, navigator, and astronomer. One of his foremost characteristics was being persistent. He was decided that he could find a way across the oceans to sail East by going West.

He devised a plan and prepared a presentation to obtain funding. He first presented this plan to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. It was rejected. With dogged determination he went to Portugal and laid out his plans to the King. It was rejected. He moved on to France and showed the possibilities to their Monarch. It was rejected. He traveled to England and made another attempt to convince someone to support his ideas. It was rejected. read more

Patrick Henry’s Red Hill

Posted on by September 29, 2010

He didn’t become a player on the national stage like George Washington or Thomas Jefferson. But he did serve in the House of Burgesses with both of them. And one of them, Thomas Jefferson, said that the speech given by this Founding Father, on his fifth day of membership in that House lit the flame in him that let him know that the colonies were on their way to Independence. His name is Patrick Henry. His last resting place is at Red Hill in Virginia.

Thomas Jefferson’s Home – Monticello

Posted on by September 26, 2010

Thomas Jefferson’s home – Monticello

Thomas Jefferson loved classical architecture and he loved to tinker and  invent. Today he’d be Bill Gates. If you haven’t seen President Jefferson’s home you’ve missed out on a lot. If you ever get a chance, go and visit Monticello.

James Madison’s Home – Montpelier

Posted on by September 26, 2010

James Madison’s home – Montpelier
What a wonderful sight to see the window to the study where the Father of the Constitution did his research. That research which eventually led to the drafting and signing of that marvelous document upon which the new nation, The United States of America was founded. You can see that window of the upstairs study, just over the front door to the mansion. Just watch this video.

Patrick Henry, Why Do You Want to Be A Lawyer?

Posted on by March 8, 2010

When I was in law school, one of our first cases for review in our estate planning class was about a trust which had been written up by Patrick Henry in the 1750’s. His trust was upheld.

But did you know that Patrick Henry became a lawyer just by circumstance? As a young man, Patrick Henry fell in love with a neighbor girl, Sarah Shelton, nicknamed “Sallie.” When they were married, her parents gave them a 300 acre tobacco farm as a wedding gift.

Patrick was 18 at the time, Sarah wasn’t much over 16. Neither knew farming. Patrick grew up in a Merchantile household. Sallie’s parents owned an inn. read more

George Washington: What Happened to Your Birthday?

Posted on by March 2, 2010

George Washington was born on February 11, 1732. Yes, that’s February 11. The British colonies (which is what the United States of America was then) still used the “old style” , or Justinian, calendar. They didn’t begin using the Gregorian (or new style) until 1752, when George would have been 20 years of age, and before we declared our Independence from Great Britain.

Then George’s birthday was changed to February 22, because of corrections in the dates of the new calendar. When our new President’s Day celebration began, the celebrations of George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday were combined to create this holiday. Now many have forgotten George Washington’s birthday all together. read more