1814. On September 1, Brother Francis Scott Key, prisoner aboard a British man-of-war shelling Fort McHenry, wrote the words to our National Anthem on the back of an envelope: These words which were to become our National Anthem, also became over the years a closing for most lodge communications.
The nation's Capitol was burned by British forces during the War of 1812. On Lake Erie, Commodore and Brother O. H. Perry flew a flag that read: "Don't Give Up The Ship," and after the battle reported, "We have met the enemy and they are ours."
The Grand Lodge of Ireland, England and Scotland signed the "International Compact" in which they agree on the basic points of Masonry.
Masonic Manual, by Reverend Jonathan Ashe, published.
1815. New book of Constitutions issued by the United Grand Lodge of England.
June 18, former French emperor and suspected but unverified Freemason Brother Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo, Belgium. Napoleon had faced two armies: one led by Brother Arthur, Duke of Wellington, who commanded a combined force of Belgian, Dutch, and British troops, and the other led by Marshal and Brother Gebhardt von Blucher, who commanded a Prussian force. There were nearly 50,000 casualties. Napoleon's direct Masonic affiliation is questioned, though his brothers and sons all were Masons. Brother Wellington - was known as "The Iron Duke." His father, Brother Gafrett, Earl of Mornington, was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland in 1776, and his brother, Brother Richard, 1st Marquise of Wellesley and 2nd Earl of Mornington, was Grand Master of Ireland in 1782. The Iron Duke was initiated in the family Lodge No. 494 at Trim on December 7, 1790 as "A. Wesley" which family name became Welesely in 1790. He continued as a subscribing member until 1795. However, towards the end of his life, The "Duke" denied "any recollection of having been admitted a Freemason." In the case of Brother von Blucher, his original Lodge is not known, but he was a constant visitor in the Lodge "Pax Inimicamalis": at Emmeriah in 1800-1901; and in 1814 the Lodge "Archimedes" at Altenburg received him as an Honorary member. His nickname was"Marshall Forward." (The Learning Kingdom; Livingston Masonic Library)
The Grand Lodge of Maryland laid the cornerstone of the Washington Monument in Baltimore. The Governor of the State acted as Grand Master.
1816. Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Scotland formed.
1817. Theodore Sutton Parvin born at Cedarville, New Jersey. He established the Iowa masonic Library.
Union of Royal Arch Grand Chapters in England.
Grand Lodge of South Carolina formed.
District Deputy Grand Master appointed in Pennsylvania.
1818. Robert Morris born near Boston, Massachusetts. He became a famous Masonic author.
William Preston died, He left a substantial sum to the Benevolent Fund and also established a fund for the giving of an annual lecture, still given in England and called the Prestonian Lectures.
Grand Lodge of Indiana formed January 12.
Grand Lodge of Mississippi formed July 27.
Salem Town published his System of Speculative Masonry.
The Grand Lodge South Carolina issued a warrant to Cuba, and became the Mother of Masonry in that island.
1819. Grand Lodge of Missouri formed April 24.
Grand Lodge of Maine formed June 1.
Grand Lodge of Alabama formed June 11.
Thomas Smith Webb died, July 6, at Cleveland, Ohio.
Pope Pius VII issued his Bull Ecclesiam, September 13.
Elsiha Kent Kane born in Philadelphia. Kane Lodge in New York is named after this famous scientist and explorer.
Simon Greenleaf published a Brief Inquiry into the Origin and Principles of Free Masonry.
Jeremy L. Cross published the True Masonic Chart.
James K. Polk, eleventh President of the United States, made a Mason in Columbus Lodge No. 1, Tennessee.
1820. June 24, in the Battle of Carabobo, independentists led by Brother Simon Bolivar, defeated Spanish royalists outside of Caracas, sealing Venezuela's independence from Spain. The independentist troops -- which included horsemen from the Venezuelan plains (known as "llaneros") and English and Irish soldiers from the British Legion – were led by Brother Simon Bolivar, known as the George Washington of South America, and one of history's most outstanding military and political leaders. Brother Bolivar joined the Craft at Cadiz, Spain, and in 1807 joined The Scottish Rite and the Knights Templar in Paris. In 1824, he founded the Lodge Order and Liberty No. in Peru. (The Learning Kingdom)
1821.
The Czar forbids Masonry in the Russian empire, August 12.
1822. Andrew Jackson became Grand Master of Tennessee, October 7. He became the seventh President of the United States.
First Grand Lodge of Illinois formed December 11.
1823. Grand Lodge of Wigan formed by four erased lodges of Lancashire. It constituted six lodges during its existence. It ceased to exist in 1866 after many years of dormancy.
Unlawful Oaths law enacted in Ireland. It was directed at many organizations. Ten months after it was passed an announcement was made that it was not intended to cover Freemasonry.
Henry Holmes Bromwell born in Baltimore County, Maryland. He was active in Masonry in Illinois, later in Colorado, and author of Restorations of masonic Geometry and Symbolism.
1824. Lafayette visited many lodges in his travels in the United States and was made an Honorary Member of the Grand Lodge of Maryland.
Ferdinand VII (Spain) decreed the death of all Masons without trial, August 1.
1825. Pope Leo XII issued his Bull Quiograviora. March 13, directed against the Craft.
Charles Whitlock More started the publication of the masonic Mirror. It was continued until 1853.
1826. William Morgan of Batavia, New York, signed a contract on March 13 to write a book exposing the secrets of Freemasonry. He disappeared. The book was published. The combination of unfortunate circumstances brought about the formation of the Anti-Masonic political party.
On February 23, the Spanish government executed a person accused of being a Mason.
Reverend George Oliver published Signs and Symbols.
1827. So-called Nova Scotia Masonic Stone dated 1606, discovered. Now known not to be Masonic, it is in the wall of the Canadian Institute, Toronto, but lost to sight as it is covered with plaster.
Josiah Hayden Drummond born in maine.
1828. The Grand Lodge of Maryland laid the first stone of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
Formal organization if the Anti-Masonic political party in February at New York.
Ely S. Parker born in New York. He was a grandson of Red Jacket, who gave a medal to Washington. Both full-blooded Indians were Masons.
1829. Pope Pius VII issued his Bul Traditi, on May 21, directed against the Craft.
The Joshua B. Taylor story, Stoney Creek Lodge, Michigan Territory, began. It ended eleven years later.
1830. Grand Lodge of Florida formed July 6.
Under Baal's Bridge in Limerick was found
a brass square bearing the inscription:
"I will strive to live with love and care upon the level
by the square 1507"
"In the book by H. F. Berry, Assistant Keeper of the Irish Records, The Marencourt Cup and Ancient Square. dated 1905, Bro. Berry records that ³Ball's (or Baal's) Bridge is a beautiful structure, of a single arch, built in 1831, to replace an ancient bridge of the same name, which consisted of four arches, with a range of houses on one of its sides. The date of the erection of this ancient structure has not been ascertained, but possibly the old square, dated 1507, may have been placed, under the foundation stone in that year. In any case, Bro. Furnell informs us that the old bridge is mentioned in records of 1558.
1831. Brother Georges Chretien Frederic became Leopold I, first King of an independent Belgium, July 21, on its separation from Holland. He was initiated in the Lodge of Esperance at Berne, Switzerland in 1813, when 23 years old. After his marriage to Princess Charlotte of England, he joined an English Lodge and "took an active part in all its proceedings." One of his first acts as King was to take Masonry under his official protection. As King he could not attend the Lodges but was always interested in their workings and successes. (Source: Chase's; Livingston Masonic Library; Masonic Leadership Center)
William Florence born in Albany, New York. He conceived the idea for the Shrine while on a trip in Northern Africa.
Captain and Brother Thomas Driver of the SS Charles Daggett received a delegation of ladies aboard ship who presented him with a new flag which they had just made. Touched by the unexpected gift he immediately ordered the new colors run up the mast and as he saluted declared, "l name thee Old Glory." The name stuck. Brother Driver was to carry "Old Glory'' twice around the world.
1832. Pope Gregory XVI issued his Bull Mirari on August 15,directed against the Craft.
John James Joseph Gourgas named the first Sovereign Grand Commander upon the formation of the Northern masonic jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite.
1834. Frederick Auguste Bartholdi born in France. He wa the moving spirit and designer of the Statue of Liberty. He was a Mason.
1835. "Mark Twain" (Samuel L. Clemens) born in Missouri.
1836. Brother David (Davy) Crocket in his 1834 autobiography wrote: "I leave this rule for others when I'm dead. Always be sure you're right - then go ahead." During the heroic defense of The Alamo in Texas on March 6, he was killed. (Source: Chase's; 10,000 Famous Freemasons)
General and Brother Sam Houston was elected first President of the Republic of Texas, September 5.
Robert Freke Gould born. He became a famous student and writer of the Craft and its history.
First Book of Constitutions issued by Scotland.
1837. Grand Lodge Liberty started in England.
Grand lodge of Texas formed December 20.
1838. Grand Lodge of Arkansas formed November 21.
Benevolent Institution founded for aged and needy masons on England. It was Grand Lodge's third charitable project.
1839. James Halliwell discovered the Regius Manuscript in the British Museum.
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