1638

Arrivals from New England seek religious and political freedom. Former Governor Minuit dies on a ship at se during a storm.

Adam Roelantsen founds 1st school. Collegiate School can trace its origin to him.

March 28
Willem Kieft now Director General. Soon he imposes severe penalties for, "adulterous intercourse with heathens, blacks or other persons .. mutiny, theft, false testimony, slanderous language". He also emphasizes ban on sexual relations between Dutch and Native Americans.

May
Soldier, Gerrit Jansen, stabbed in a brawl outside fort - the colony's 1st murder.

August 1st
With wampum, cloth, axes, iron, kettles and knives, Kieft purchases what will be the town of Bushwick from Keskaechquerem chiefs.

Shimabara uprising in Japan.

Turks conquer Baghdad.

Galileo's Principles of Falling Bodies.