William Creech (1814 - 1887)

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

In 1814, in the year that William Creech was born, mechanical engineer George Stephenson - who taught himself to read and write at age 18 - built the first practical steam locomotive. Named Blücher, the train was built to haul coal. It could haul 30 tons of coal up a hill at 4 mph.

In 1837, at the age of 23 years old, William was alive when on February 25th, in Philadelphia, the Institute for Colored Youth (ICY) - the oldest African-American university in the United States - was founded. It was the first institution for the higher education of black people in the United States. Founded by Quaker Richard Humphreys who gave $10,000 to establish the school, it still exists today - although the location has moved and it has been renamed Cheyney University. Humphreys was concerned about the struggles of free African Americans to make a living.

In 1840, when he was 26 years old, on May 7th, the Great Natchez Tornado hit Mississippi. Around 2p, the second deadliest tornado in U.S. history hit Natchez and the surrounding area. It has been estimated to be a F4 or F5 storm and over 317 people were killed - 109 were injured.

In 1857, at the age of 43 years old, William was alive when on October 13th, New York banks closed due to the Panic of 1857. The banks didn't reopen until December 12th.

In 1887, in the year of William Creech's passing, on January 20th, the US Senate gave the US Navy the right to lease Pearl Harbor as a naval base. Pearl Harbor is on the island of Oahu, a part of the Hawaiian Islands. The Navy was given direction to maintain "a coaling and repair station" at the harbor.