=Utah=, U.S. 37N. 109W. Settled by Mormons under Brigham Young, 1847; ceded by Mexico to U.S. by Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848; Mormons form independent government under name of Deseret (land of the honey bee); created a territory, 1850; admitted to Union, 1896. (See Mountain Meadow and Salt Lake City.) =Valdivia=, cap. of province, Chili. 40S. 75W. F. by P. de Valdivia, 1551; taken by Cochrane, 1820. =Valley Forge=, Penn. 39N. 75W. Washington's winter quarters, 1777-8. =Valparaiso=, Chili. 33S. 71W. Bombarded by Spaniards, 1866. =Vancouver Island=, British Columbia. 48-50N. 122W. Named after the English explorer, who was on his voyage of discovery, 1791-5; secured to Great Britain by treaty with U.S., 1846. =Venezuela=, S.A. 1N. 60W. Sighted and named Gracia by Columbus, 1498; partly explored by Ojeda, 1499; revolt against Spanish rule, headed by Bolivar, 1813-23, when Spaniards lost their last post in, at Puerto Cabello; continual civil war in since; revolution in 1901 under Matos; blockaded by England, Germany, and Italy, 1903; Castro in power from 1907; Venezuela question between England and U.S. settled, 1899. =Venezuela=, Gulf of. 10N. 70W. Discovered and named Gulf of Venice by Ojeda, 1499. =Vera Cruz=, state, Mexico. 17N. 95W. Coasted by Grijalva, 1518; Cortés landed in, 1519. =Vera Cruz=, Mexico. 19N. 96W. Original town f. near by Cortés, as Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz; defeat of Drake and Hawkins off by Spaniards, 1568; fort of San Juan de Ulua taken from Spaniards by Mexicans, 1825; by French, 1838; by Americans, 1847; standard of revolt raised by Juarez at, and 'War of Reform' begun, 1858; occupied by Allies (England, France, Spain), 1862 (revolutions in Mexico); retaken by Juarez, 1867. =Vermont=, U.S. 42-45N. First settlement in at Fort Dummer, 1724; ceded by French to English, 1763; declaration of independence, 1777; admitted to Union, 1791. =Vicksburg=, Mississippi. 32N. 90W. Captured after nearly two months' siege by Federals, 1863 (Civil W.). =Villa de la Plate=, see Chuquisaca. =Vinland.= Name given by Scandinavian seamen to the land they discovered, end 9th to 10th century—Labrador and Newfoundland (q.v.), or some think the shores of New England. =Virginia=, U.S. 36-39N. 76W. One of the 13 original states; expedition sent to by Raleigh, under Barlow and Amadas, 1584 (see Roanoke); colony settled by John Smith and others at Jamestown, 1607; Lord Delaware appointed first governor, 1609; massacre of settlers by Indians, 1622 and 1640; 'Bacon's rebellion,' 1676; attempt by John Brown to free the slaves, 1859; seceded, 1861; western portion, which had remained loyal, admitted to Union, 1863; readmitted to Union, 1870. =Virgin Islands=, Atlantic. 17N. 64W. So named by the discoverer Columbus, 1494; St. Thomas and St. John twice taken by English, but finally restored to Danes, 1815. =Warwick=, Penn. 40N. 76W. First cannon made in America at W. furnace, cast by P. F. Antes and Mr. Potts, 1776.