Stately Individuals
Sunday
The state of Louisiana is named for King Louis XIV of France, since French explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle first claimed the Louisiana Territory.
Monday
The state of Virginia is named for “The Virgin Queen,” Elizabeth I of England, who gave explorer Sir Walter Raleigh permission to colonize it in 1584.
Tuesday
The state of Georgia is named for King George II of England, since the US was not yet a country when this future state was named by Europeans in 1733.
Wednesday
Maryland was named for Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I, the English king who granted the charter to form the Maryland colony.
Thursday
King Charles I also granted the charter for the colony of what is now the Carolinas, and they are named after the Latinized version of his name, Carolus.
Friday
Pennsylvania, or “Penn’s Woodlands” is named for William Penn, who granted the land to King Charles II to repay a debt owed by his admiral father.
Saturday
Washington is named for…yep, George Washington, and is the only state named for an American president.