[Boston], Mass., U.S. 42N. 71W. Called Shawmut by the Indians and Trimountain by the English. In 1630 a settlement was made here by Winthrop, governor of Mass. Bay, and this year the present name was given, after the English town from which many of the colonists came; first congress of confederated colonies (Mass., Plymouth, Connect.,) 1643; seizure and expulsion of Andros, governor-general, 1688; seizure of the British sloop 'Liberty,' 1768, first action taken in the W. of Ind.; the Boston massacre, 1770; 'Boston tea party,' 1773; meeting in Faneuil Hall ('Cradle of American Liberty') denouncing the Boston Port Bill, 1774; warlike preparations begun by General Gage, 1774; besieged by Washington, 1775-6, when English evacuated; first charter, 1822. The city has suffered from several destructive fires, the latest in 1872. The 'Boston News Letter,' 1704, was the first newspaper printed in the U.S. Dr. Channing minister at Federal Street Church, 1803-40. Bp. Cotton Mather (1663-1728); T. Hutchinson, historian of Massachusetts (1711-80); Paul Revere, patriot (1735-1818) (see Longfellow's poem); W. Austin, A. of 'Peter Rugg, the Missing Man' (1778-1841); Ticknor, A. of 'History of Spanish Literature' (1791-1871); Parkman, historian (1823-93); R. Waldo Emerson (1803-82); Edgar Allan Poe (1809-49); Benjamin Franklin (1706-90); Francis J. Child, scholar (1825-96); Mrs. Craigie, novelist (1867-1906).
Boston Bay. Expedition to, under Miles Standish, 1621.
Boyaca, Colombia. 5N. 73W. Decisive victory by Bolivar, 1819 (S. A. W. of Ind.).
Boydton Plank Road, near Petersburg, Virginia. 56N. 78W. Battle, 1864 (Civil W.).
Braceti (Brazito), Texas. 30N. 109W. Mexicans defeated, 1846 (Mex. W.).
[Braintree], near Quincy, Mass. 42N. 71W. Bp. John Adams, second president of the U.S. (1735-1826), and John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the U.S. (1767-1848).
Brandywine Creek, near Wilmington. 39N. 75W. Defeat of Washington by Howe, Lafayette wounded, 1777 (W. of Ind.).
[Brazil], S.A. 10S. 52W. Discovered by the Spaniard Yañez Pinzon, 1500, and shortly after by the Portuguese Cabral; Vespucci reached the bay of Rio de Janeiro on New Year's Day, 1502 or 1504, and named it accordingly; Hawkins in 1528 and 1530, bringing a Brazilian king home with him from this latter voyage; traversed by Cabeza de Vaca, 1540-2; French colony of short duration planted at Fort Coligny by Villegagnon, 1555; Portuguese and Dutch in possession in turns; latter driven from, 1654; Portuguese court take refuge from Napoleon at Rio, 1807; independence declared and Pedro I. crowned emperor, 1822; war with Paraguay, 1865-70; emancipation of slaves, 1885; country revolts against Pedro's son and declares itself a republic, 1889; revolt of fleet and civil war, 1893-5; campaigns against Indians (Jaguncos), 1897; attempt to assassinate President Barros, 1897; disturbances continue. (See Darwin, 'Voyage of Beagle.')
Brier Creek, Georgia. 32N. 81W. Americans defeated by English under Gen. Prevost 1779 (W. of Ind.).
British Columbia (formerly New Caledonia). 49N. 114W. Cook off, 1778; coast explored by Vancouver during voyage of 1793-5; in 1858 it received its present name, and in 1871 was incorporated with the dominion of Canada.