History of New York City (prehistory–1664) as a city and to incidentally allow New York to celebrate its 350th anniversary just 11 years after its 300th. The English renamed the colony New York, after the king's brother James, Duke of York and on June 12, 1665, appointed Thomas Willett the first of the mayors of New York. The city grew northward, remaining the largest and most important city in the colony of New York. History of New York City (prehistory–1664) The history of New York City has been influenced by the prehistoric geological formation during the last glacial period of the territory that is today New
Thomas Hooke (mayor) the petitioner.’ He was accused of disloyalty in 1663 but escaped censure. Hooke died in 1670 and his will was proven in 1672. Thomas Hooke (mayor) Thomas Hooke (15??–1670) was a successful merchant and significant figure in Dublin politics from the 1640s until his death. He appeared in Dublin's civic records first in 1637. Hooke made his fortune selling herrings and cheese to the English Parliamentary army in Ireland. He was elected Mayor of Dublin in 1654. His close connections with the Cromwellian administration in the city brought him a succession of positions of power and influence - justice of