Following exploration by Champlain and Hudson in 1609, the first permanent settlement in New York began in the Hudson Valley in 1624. Dutch rule was displaced in 1664 by the English, who named New York after the King’s brother, the Duke of York and Albany. Conflict between England and France over posts in western and northern New York ended in 1763. The American Revolution then brought war to all parts of the state, and at Saratoga (Schuylerville) in 1777 the decisive battle of the Revolution was fought. One of the thirteen original states, New York adopted its Constitution in 1777. George Washington referred to it as “the seat of the Empire,” and New York City became the first capital of the United States. A pivotal force in national politics, it has produced numerous presidents and other high officials. Its exceptional natural resources, immigration-augmented population, and unsurpassed transportation routes helped make New York a leader in agriculture, industry, finance, and the arts while spurring the development of both the state and the nation. New Yorkers continue to add significant chapters to the history of the Empire State, fulfilling its motto of Excelsior, “ever upward.”