24 May 1626 May 24, 2016 Author: Staff Peter Minuit buys the island of Manhattan. Famous Words of Inspiration..."Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires." Francois de La Rochefoucauld — Click here for more from Francois de La Rochefoucauld Related posts: 17 November 1973 15 May 1848 Categories: History Tags: 1626, 24 May