11 June 1825

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.

6 August 1825

Bolivia gets it independence from Spain.

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The Bolivian war of independence began in 1809 with the establishment of Spanish American Independence. Sucre and La Paz, after the Chuquisaca Revolution. These Juntas were defeated shortly after, and the cities fell again under Spanish control. The May Revolution of 1810 ousted the viceroy in Buenos Aires, which established its own junta. Buenos Aires sent three military campaigns to the Charcas, headed by Juan José Castelli and José Rondeau”, but the royalists ultimately prevailed over each one. However, the conflict grew into a Guerrilla warfare, preventing the royalists from strengthening their presence. After Simón Bolívar and Antonio José de Sucre defeated the royalists in northern South America, Sucre led a campaign that was to defeat the royalists in Charcas for good when the last royalist general, Pedro Antonio Olañeta, suffered death and defeat at the hands of his own defected forces at the battle of Tumusla. Bolivian independence was proclaimed on August 6 of 1825.

The deliberating Assembly convened anew in Chuquisaca on 9 July 1825. It concluded with the determination of the complete independence of Upper Peru, in the form of a republic, for the sovereignty of its children. Finally, the president of the Assembly – José Mariano Serrano – and a commission wrote the “Act of Independence”, which bears the date 6 August 1825 in honor of the Battle of Junín won by Bolívar.

The Act of Independence’s introduction says, in a vibrant voice: The world knows that Upper Peru has been on the American continent, the altar on which was spilled the first blood of the free and the land where exists the tomb of the last of the tyrants…The provinces of Upper Peru, united in resolution, proclaim on the face of the whole earth, that their irrevocable resolution is to govern themselves.