a Elizabeth was the first English speaking community in New Jersey. The first Capital of New Jersey. The first home of Princeton University. The home of New Jersey’s first Governor, Phillip Carteret. The home of the first Colonial Assembly and Council meeting. The home of the first Governor of the State after the Declaration of Independence, William Livingston. It was here, at the foot of Elizabeth Avenue, that the first British ship was sunk by Americans after the Declaration of Independence. It was the home of the first President of Congress after the Peace Treaty with the English, Elias Boudinot. Elizabeth, among so many celebrities of Elizabethan birth, produced the first Mayor of Jewish faith of any major community in the United States, David Naar. Elizabeth has given us Mickey Walker and Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey. It has given us the developer of "Tom Swift" and the "Bobsey Twins" and it has given us "Mickey" Spillane. It has given us Statesmen, United States Senators, Governors, Political Leaders, Church Dignitaries, Inventors, Scientists, Actors, Musicians, Composers, and hundreds of other renown professionals. It has given us James P. Mitchell, the Secretary of Labor under President Eisenhower, after whom our Board of Education Administrative Building is named. Elizabeth has given us w  the first ice cream soda... w  the Singer sewing machine... w  the first submarine...and w  the first assembly line automobile producer in the state.   1664 - First English speaking commuity in New Jersey 1665 - First capital of New Jersey 1665 - Home of first Governor of New Jersey (Phillip Carteret) 1667 - First English speaking school 1668 - First assembly meeting 1668 - February 15. First whale industry in New Jersey (John Ogden and partners) 1746 - First charter in New Jersey granted to a college (now Princeton University) led by Reverend Jonathan Dickenson 1776 - Home of first Governor of State after Declaration of Independence (William Livingston) 1776 - July 4. First British ship sunk by Americans after official date of Declaration of Independence (Captain David Neil’s artillery) at foot of Elizabeth Avenue 1776 - Abraham Clark of Elizabethtown, signer of Declaration of Independence 1782 - First ice cream soda - Phillip Mohr (Fulton and First Streets) 1783 - Home of President of Congress receiving Treaty of Peace with British (Elias Boudinot) 1794 - First anatomy lessons in medicine (Dr. Paul Micheu) 1819 - First steam driven ship to cross Atlantic. Boiler made by Daniel Dodd. Foundry was located at present site of Jefferson House of Elizabeth High School 1842 - First Mayor of Jewish faith of any major community in the United States (David Naar) 1873 - First major sewing machine company - Singer Sewing Machine 1906 - First submarine to be accepted by US Navy built at Moore’s Shipyards at Port Elizabeth 1920 - First assembly line automobile production in the state (Durant Corporation)