American History

1999 33¢ John and William Bartram
March 23, 1699

Birth of John Bartram 

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.

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1986 $2 Great Americans: William Jennings Bryan
March 19, 1860

Birth of William Jennings Bryan

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.

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1948 3¢ A Century of Friendship, United States - Canada
March 18, 1855

Niagara Railway Suspension Bridge

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.

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1996 32¢ Folk Heroes: Paul Bunyan
March 17, 1893

The Legend of Paul Bunyan

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.

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1894 $2 Madison, unwatermarked
March 16, 1751

Happy Birthday, James Madison

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.

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1946 3¢ US Armed Forces: Merchant Marine
March 15, 1938

Merchant Marines

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.

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1984 20¢ Harry S. Truman
March 12, 1947

Truman Doctrine

On March 12, 1947, President Harry S. Truman introduced his Truman Doctrine, a foreign policy aimed at reducing Soviet expansion during the Cold War.

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1979 10¢ Summer Olympic Games
March 11, 1980

Olympic Stamps Removed from Sale

On March 11, 1980, the USPS removed all the stamps it had issued for the upcoming Summer Olympics in Moscow from sale as part of an American boycott of the games.  According the USPS, this was the first time they removed stamps from sale for political reasons since the Civil War.

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1973 8¢ Postal Service Employees: Mail Pickup
March 9, 1858

Street Mailbox Patented

On March 9, 1858, iron manufacturer Albert Potts of Philadelphia patented an early mail collection box.  His mailbox was affixed to a lamp post for the convenience of mailers.

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