Birth of Philip Mazzei
Italian physician, merchant, horticulturalist and close friend of President Thomas Jefferson, Philip Mazzei was born on December 25, 1730, in Poggio a Caiano (Prato) in Tuscany.
Revolutionary War
New York’s Evacuation Day
On November 25, 1783, the British Army left New York City following the American Revolutionary War. The date was celebrated for over a century as Evacuation Day, with celebrations rivaling those held on the Fourth of July.
Happy Birthday George Rogers Clark
On November 19, 1752, George Rogers Clark was born in Albemarle County, Virginia. A hero of the American Revolution, he’s most famous for his captures of Kaskaskia, Vincennes, and Fort Sackville.
Carolina and Charleston
On October 30, 1629, the Carolina Province was named, and plans were made for early settlement. That settlement would be delayed for many years, but the name was retained.
The Granite Railway
On October 7, 1826, the Granite Railway opened in Massachusetts. Built to carry granite for the Bunker Hill Monument, it’s been called the first chartered and commercial railroad in the United States.
Establishment of Germantown, PA
On October 6, 1683, thirty-three Germans arrived in Pennsylvania to establish the first major German settlement in America. The settlement would go on to become the birthplace of the anti-slavery movement, first bank of the United States, and more.
The Right to Trial by Jury
On September 12, 1787, it was proposed that trial by jury in civil cases be included America’s Constitution. There was extensive debate over the topic, and it was ultimately left out of the Constitution. It was finally made law as part of the Bill of Rights in 1791.
The Origins of “Uncle Sam”
On September 7, 1813, a newspaper referred to the United States as “Uncle Sam.” The name reportedly came from Troy, New York’s Uncle Sam Wilson, and has since become one of America’s most enduring national symbols.
First Continental Congress
On September 5, 1774, the First Continental Congress opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It marked the first time the colonies gathered together to resist English oppression.