This Day in History

Botanist John Bartram was born on March 23, 1699, in Darby, Pennsylvania Colony. Called the “greatest natural botanist in the world,” he started one of the first botanic gardens in the United States.

On March 22, 1941, James Stewart was inducted into the US Army, making him the first major US movie star to don a military uniform during World War II.

On March 21, 1826, the Rensselaer School was incorporated in Troy, New York.  Later named the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, it’s considered the oldest continuously operating technological college in America and the English-speaking world.

Fred McFeely Rogers was born on March 20, 1928, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Hosting Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for over 30 years, he helped transform children’s television.

William Jennings Bryan was born on March 19, 1860, in Salem, Illinois.  Known as “The Great Commoner,” Jennings ran for president three times, but is remembered for his impassioned speeches on a variety of topics, including anti-trust, anti-imperialism, prohibition, populism, and trust-busting.

On March 18, 1855, the Niagara Railway Suspension Bridge officially opened. A joint project between the US and Canada, the bridge opened a new transportation route and marked the start of more than a century of friendship between our two nations.

March 17, 1893 marked the first recorded reference to Paul Bunyan in the Gladwin County Record. A series of tall tales made their way from lumber camps to newspapers, to books, and beyond, making Paul Bunyan an American folklore hero.

James Madison was born on March 16, 1751, in Port Conway, Virginia. One of America’s Founding Fathers and the fourth US president, Madison is considered the “Father of the US Constitution” and led America through the War of 1812.

On March 15, 1938, the Merchant Marine Cadet Corps was established.  Merchant Marines transport cargo and passengers in peacetime and are called upon in times of war to deliver troops and supplies wherever needed.