HISTORY. Probably De Soto (q.v.) reached the Mississippi at the present site of Memphis in 1541. La Salle, about 1682, built a fort at this point, and called it Fort Prud'homme. The place was again occupied by the French in 1714. The grant by Charles IL to the Lords Proprietors of Carolina of the territory between latitudes 29° and 36° 30' N. in 1665 included this territory. (See NORTH CAROLINA.) The first English set tlement was Fort Loudon, built in 1756, at the suggestion of Governor Loudon of Virginia, and garrisoned by royal troops. but afterwards cap tured by the Cherokees. Before this, however, Dr. Thomas Walker with a party of Virginians had named the Cumberland River and Mountains, and Daniel Boone (q.v.) and others had entered the wilderness, which was regarded as a common hunting ground by the Cherokees, Creeks, Mia mis, Choctaws, and Chickasaws. In 1768 the Iro quois, who claimed sovereignty by conquest, ceded their claim to the English. and in 1769 William Bean's cabin on the Watauga marked the be ginning of real settlement. James Robertson (q.v.) and others came in 1770. another settle ment was made near Rogersville in 1771, and soon after Jacob Brown opened a store on the Nolliehucky. After the defeat, of the Regulators (q.v.) in North Carolina, a great number of settlers came, supposing the territory to be Vir ginia soil. When the territory was found to be within North Carolina, the inhabitants of the first two settlements met in 1772 and formed the Watauga Association (q.v.), which served as a form of government for several years. In 1775 Col. Richard Henderson (q.v.) bought from the Indians the territory between the Cumberland and the Kentucky Rivers. More settlers came in 1778-79 and in 1780 a compact of government was drawn up at Nashborough. by Col. Hender son, who had been Chief Justice of North Caro lina, and James Robertson, who had been one of the signers of the Watauga Association. These two compacts were much alike and served their purpose excellently.
The 'Watauga settlers in 1775 or 1776 gave the name Washington District to their colony, and in 1776 it was annexed to North Carolina, though some had dreamed of a separate State. The number of settlers increased rapidly and nearly 500 men under John Sevier (q.v.) and Isaac Shelby (q.v.) went across the mountains and took part in the attack on the British un der Ferguson, at King's Mountain (q.v.), in 17S0. All this time the settlers were harassed by severe Indian wars. In 1784 North Caro lina ceded to the General Government all the territory of the present State on condition that the cession be accepted within two years, but retained until that time full sovereignty. The inhabitants, indignant at being transferred without their consent, and thinking that they had been abandoned, elected delegates from each military conipany, who met at Jonesboro, August 23, 17S4, and formed the State of Franklin, or Frankland; John Sevier was chosen Governor. Congress ignored the request
to be recognized as a. State and North Carolina promptly repealed the act of cession and asserted its jurisdiction. Civil war was averted by the tact of the North Carolina Governors. Confu sion, however, reigned. as there were two bodies of officers, and many settlers neglected to pay taxes to either, though furs. skins, and other articles were made legal tender by the infant State. At the expiration of Sevier's term in 1788, the State of Franklin ended. In this at tempt at Statehood the Cumberland settlers did not join. Davidson County was laid out in 17S3 and the Davidson Academy (now the sity of Nashville) was founded in 1785. Indian troubles threatened the life of the settlement, and the intrigues of the Spaniards. who still held Louisiana and the Mississippi, made the position more difficult. See MeGluivaAy, ALEXANDER.
In February, 1790. North Carolina again ceded the territory to the General Government. stipulat ing that all the advantages of the Ordinance of 1787 (q.v.) should be preserved to the inhabit ants, except that slavery should not be prohibited. The act of government for the 'Territory South of the Ohio' was passed in April, 1790, and the seat of government was moved from Rogersville to Knoxville. The Indians were severely pun ished in 1794 and the Spanish influence was broken. In the same year the first Territorial Assembly met. In 1795, as the territory was found to contain more than 60,000 white in habitants, a constitutional convention was called. which met in January, 1796. A constitution for the 'State al Tennessee' modeled after that of North Carolina was adopted without submission to popular vote; the first General Assembly met March 28th, and the State was admitted June 1, 1796. Almost from the date of admission there was a sharp distinction between East and Middle (West) Tennessee, which was recognized in the appointment of the judiciary. In wealth and material progress the mountainous eastern part lagged behind. The western part of the State began to fill up after 1813, Memphis was laid out in 1819, and three sections came now to be recognized in law. The progress of the State was rapid, though the growth was almost en tirely along agricultural lines. The State early began to construct internal improvements. Turnpike roads were built in 1804, and after 1823 roads and canals were pushed forward. The first railroad was chartered in 1831, hut the Memphis and Charleston road was not built until 1857. Much State aid was voted to the railroads, and the redemption of the bonds issued for this purpose was a political issue as late as 1882. The eastern pert of the State did not share equally in these benefits.