Institute of Technology, the Boston Univ

and the Medical School of Harvard Univ. Boston is one of the great commercial cities of the world, handling over $100,000,000 of exports and imports annually. Its manufactures are very large and varied. It was founded 1630 by Puritan colonists under Winthrop, and in late Colonial times played a most important part in the development of the spirit of independence. Opposition to both the Stamp Act and the Tea Act centered here. Its port was closed 1774; the British army evacuated it March 17, 1776, after a year's siege. It became a city 1822. The fire of Nov. 9, 1872. swept over 65 acres in the busine part and caused a lo of $75,000,000. In two years this same district was rebuilt with improvements. Pop., 1890, 448,477, one-third of foreign birth.