[Utah], U.S. 37N. 109W. Settled by Mormons under Brigham Young, 1847; ceded by Mexico to U.S. by Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848; Mormons form independent government under name of Deseret (land of the honey bee); created a territory, 1850; admitted to Union, 1896. (See [Mountain Meadow] and [Salt Lake City].)
[Valdivia], cap. of province, Chili. 40S. 75W. F. by P. de Valdivia, 1551; taken by Cochrane, 1820.
Valley Forge, Penn. 39N. 75W. Washington's winter quarters, 1777-8.
[Valparaiso], Chili. 33S. 71W. Bombarded by Spaniards, 1866.
[Vancouver Island], British Columbia. 48-50N. 122W. Named after the English explorer, who was on his voyage of discovery, 1791-5; secured to Great Britain by treaty with U.S., 1846.
[Venezuela], S.A. 1N. 60W. Sighted and named Gracia by Columbus, 1498; partly explored by Ojeda, 1499; revolt against Spanish rule, headed by Bolivar, 1813-23, when Spaniards lost their last post in, at Puerto Cabello; continual civil war in since; revolution in 1901 under Matos; blockaded by England, Germany, and Italy, 1903; Castro in power from 1907; Venezuela question between England and U.S. settled, 1899.
[Venezuela], Gulf of. 10N. 70W. Discovered and named Gulf of Venice by Ojeda, 1499.
[Vera Cruz], state, Mexico. 17N. 95W. Coasted by Grijalva, 1518; Cortés landed in, 1519.
[Vera Cruz], Mexico. 19N. 96W. Original town f. near by Cortés, as Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz; defeat of Drake and Hawkins off by Spaniards, 1568; fort of San Juan de Ulua taken from Spaniards by Mexicans, 1825; by French, 1838; by Americans, 1847; standard of revolt raised by Juarez at, and 'War of Reform' begun, 1858; occupied by Allies (England, France, Spain), 1862 (revolutions in Mexico); retaken by Juarez, 1867.
[Vermont], U.S. 42-45N. First settlement in at Fort Dummer, 1724; ceded by French to English, 1763; declaration of independence, 1777; admitted to Union, 1791.