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Two Revolutionary War generals lived in what is now Jefferson County: Major General Horatio Gates at Travelers Rest and Major General Charles Lee at Prato Rio.
James Rumsey demonstrated the first operational steamboat for two hours on the Potomac River at Shepherdstown on December 3, 1787.
Martin Delany, doctor, author, explorer, Black nationalist and a major in the Union army during the Civil War, was born in Charles Town in 1812.
In 1859, the abolitionist John Brown, raided and temporarily captured the firehouse at the US armory in Harpers Ferry. He was in turn captured by US Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee, tried and hanged in Charles Town for murder, conspiracy and treason against Virginia.
During the Civil War, Jefferson County provided more troops to the Confederacy than any Virginia locale other than the Richmond area. Both armies frequented the area. A number of battles and skirmishes were fought here. On June 20, 1863, Jefferson County became a part of the new state of West Virginia.
On October 2, 1867 Storer College in Harpers Ferry began admitting students. Storer, established to educate former slaves, was the first Black college in West Virginia.
In 1922, the coal miner trials, for treason against West Virginia, were held in the courthouse where John Brown was convicted.
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