The first cornerstone is laid for Fort Hamilton in New York City.

Fort Hamilton is a historic United States Army installation located in the southwestern part of Brooklyn, New York. Situated on the Narrows, which is the entrance to the New York Harbor, the fort overlooks the waters where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean. It is the only active-duty military installation in New York City.

Fort Hamilton has a long and storied history. It was initially constructed in 1825 as a coastal fortification to protect New York City from potential invasions. The fort was named after Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and the first Secretary of the Treasury. The original fort was made of earthworks and included several gun batteries.

Over the years, Fort Hamilton underwent significant renovations and expansions. In the late 19th century, brick and granite structures replaced the original earthen fortifications. These structures include the fort’s iconic entrance, known as the Sentries’ and Officers’ Entrance Gates, which were constructed in 1873 and 1874, respectively.

During World War II, Fort Hamilton played a vital role in the defense of New York Harbor. It served as a base for the U.S. Army’s Harbor Defense Command and housed troops and artillery units responsible for protecting the city from potential attacks. After the war, the fort’s role shifted to supporting the military community and providing logistical support to various units in the area.

Today, Fort Hamilton is primarily a garrison and administrative base for the U.S. Army. It serves as the headquarters for the U.S. Army Garrison – Fort Hamilton, which manages the installation and provides support services to the military personnel and their families stationed there.

The fort is also home to the New York City Recruiting Battalion, responsible for Army recruiting efforts in the city. It hosts a variety of military units, including the Military Entrance Processing Station, the Fort Hamilton Army Education Center, and the U.S. Army Reserve’s 77th Sustainment Brigade.

In addition to its military functions, Fort Hamilton has a strong community presence. The installation features amenities such as schools, a chapel, a commissary, a gymnasium, and recreational facilities. It also offers housing options for military families.

Fort Hamilton’s historical significance and picturesque location make it a popular tourist destination. The fort’s grounds and some of the historic structures are open to the public, allowing visitors to explore the site and learn about its history.

Henry VIII of England marries Catherine of Aragon.

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Henry VIII of England marries Catherine of Aragon.

Catherine and Arthur met on 4 November 1501 at Dogmersfield in Hampshire. Little is known about their first impressions of each other, but Arthur did write to his parents-in-law that he would be “a true and loving husband” and told his parents that he was immensely happy to “behold the face of his lovely bride”. The couple had corresponded in Latin, but found that they could not understand each other, since they had learned different pronunciations. Ten days later, on 14 November 1501, they were married at Old St. Paul’s Cathedral. A dowry of 200,000 crowns had been agreed, and half was paid shortly after the marriage.

Once married, Arthur was sent to Ludlow Castle on the borders of Wales to preside over the Council of Wales and the Marches, as was his duty as Prince of Wales, and his bride accompanied him. The couple stayed at Castle Lodge, Ludlow. A few months later, they both became ill, possibly with the sweating sickness, which was sweeping the area. Arthur died on 2 April 1502; Catherine recovered to find herself a widow.

At this point, Henry VII faced the challenge of avoiding the obligation to return her 200,000 ducat dowry, half of which he had not yet received, to her father, as required by her marriage contract should she return home. Following the death of Queen Elizabeth in February 1503, King Henry VII initially considered marrying Catherine himself, but the opposition of her father and potential questions over the legitimacy of the couple’s issue ended the idea. To settle the matter, it was agreed that Catherine would marry Henry VII’s second son, Henry, Duke of York, who was five years younger than she was. The death of Catherine’s mother, however, meant that her “value” in the marriage market decreased. Castile was a much larger kingdom than Aragon, and it was inherited by Catherine’s mentally unstable elder sister, Joanna. Ostensibly, the marriage was delayed until Henry was old enough, but Ferdinand II procrastinated so much over payment of the remainder of Catherine’s dowry that it became doubtful that the marriage would take place. She lived as a virtual prisoner at Durham House in London. Some of the letters she wrote to her father complaining of her treatment have survived. In one of these letters she tells him that “I choose what I believe, and say nothing. For I am not as simple as I may seem.” She had little money and struggled to cope, as she had to support her ladies-in-waiting as well as herself. In 1507 she served as the Spanish ambassador to England, the first female ambassador in European history. While Henry VII and his councillors expected her to be easily manipulated, Catherine went on to prove them wrong.

Marriage to Arthur’s brother depended on the Pope granting a dispensation because canon law forbade a man to marry his brother’s widow. Catherine testified that her marriage to Arthur was never consummated as, also according to canon law, a marriage was not valid until consummated.

Catherine’s second wedding took place on 11 June 1509, seven years after Prince Arthur’s death. She married Henry VIII, who had only just acceded to the throne, in a private ceremony in the church of the Observant Friars outside Greenwich Palace. She was 23 years of age. The king was just days short of his 18th birthday.

King Henry VIII of England marries Catherine of Aragon.

On this day in history, 11th June 1509, the new king, Henry VIII, married his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, nearly 6 years after they had originally been betrothed. The marriage took place in a private ceremony in the queen’s closet at Greenwich Palace in front of two witnesses: Lord Steward Shrewsbury and groom of the privy chamber, William Thomas. As soon as the wedding was over, preparations began in earnest for the double coronation of King Henry VIII and Queen Catherine.
Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon was born on the 16th December 1485 and was the youngest surviving child of the Spanish Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It is interesting to note that she had a strong claim to the English throne as she was descended from John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and son of Edward III. She did not have the typical dark Spanish looks, instead she had blue eyes and auburn or strawberry blonde hair, and was said to be a great beauty. When she arrived in England in 1501 to marry Prince Arthur, heir to the throne, Thomas More said of her:-

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