Silima Oakman (1795 - 1803)

Refresh this page to see various historical events that occurred during Silima's lifetime.

In 1800, by the time she was just 5 years old, Alessandro Volta presented his findings about the first electrical battery, proving that electricity could be generated chemically and debunking the widely held theory that electricity was generated solely by living beings.

In 1801, by the time she was just 6 years old, on January 1st, after a brief period of independence, Ireland was merged with Great Britain, creating The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

In 1802, she was only 7 years old when on May 22, 1802, the first First Lady of the United States, Martha (Dandridge) Custis Washington died of a severe fever at age 70. Martha was buried next to her husband George Washington, at Mt. Vernon.

In 1803, in the year of Silima Oakman's passing, the first public library in the United States - free to everyone - opened in Salisbury, Connecticut. Damage to books was most often caused by "greasing" - candle wax dripping onto the books. Candles were the only source of light in the evenings.

In 1809, when she was only 14 years old, on March 4th, James Madison was inaugurated as the fourth President of the United States. Madison ended his inaugural address with "gratitude towards people in the past who had done so much for the United States, and wished the best for the future of this young thriving country".