Database: New York

The Dutch West India Company created a settlement in what is now Albany in 1617 and founded New Amsterdam on Manhatten Island. New Amsterdam surrendered to Colonel Richard Nicholls in 1664, who renamed it the Province of New York. Over the next several years, the area transitioned to British Rule, and remained there, despite a few conflicts such as the Third Anglo-Dutch War and the Glorious Revolution.

At the turn of the 17th Century, New York was the largest importer of slaves to the colonies and a supply port for pirates. Almost 3000 Palatine German emigrants were sent to New York by Queen Anne's government in 1710, and Sephardic Jews expelled from Dutch Brazil found a home there. These factors helped make New York a diverse and cosmopolitan city.