Knoxville, Tennessee was founded as White’s Fort in 1786.  It served as the capital of the “Territory South of the River Ohio” and was the early capital of the State of Tennessee.  The “city” was officially rebranded as “Knoxville” five years later in 1791 to honor Henry Knox, a Revolutionary War hero best known for his actions at Ticonderoga and later Secretary of War under President George Washington.