Happy Birthday, Martha Gellhorn
One of the world’s first female war correspondents, Martha Ellis Gellhorn, was born on November 8, 1908, in St. Louis, Missouri.
This Day in History
Marines Ordered to Guard Mail
On November 7, 1921, President Warren G. Harding ordered 2,200 Marines to guard the mail in the wake of a series of daring mail robberies.
Birth of Ignacy Paderewski
Ignacy Jan Paderewski was born on November 6, 1860, in Kuryłówka, Podolia (in present-day Ukraine). He was an accomplished pianist and composer as well as the first Prime Minister of independent Poland.
America’s First Postmaster
On November 5, 1639, Richard Fairbanks was made the first official postmaster in an American colony. Many consider this to be the first public postal service in America.
Iranian Hostage Crisis
On November 4, 1979, Islamic militants seized the American embassy in Tehran, taking hostages. The crisis lasted for over a year, drawing worldwide attention, and playing a significant role in the 1980 presidential election.
Rare Double Transfer Souvenir Sheet
On November 3, 1994, the USPS issued a souvenir sheet honoring the 100th anniversary of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing producing US postage stamps. A relatively small number of sheets were discovered with a rare double transfer.
Birth of Warren G. Harding
The 29th president of the United States, Warren Gamaliel Harding, was born November 2, 1865, in Blooming Grove, Ohio. He was a popular president at the time, but a series of scandals were then revealed that tarnished his reputation.
Birth of Crawford Long
Crawford Williamson Long was born on November 1, 1815, in Danielsville, Georgia. Long became the first person to use ether on a patient in surgery and the publication of his findings lead to its widespread use among other doctors.
Birth of Juliette Low
Juliette Magill Kinzie Gordon was born on October 31, 1860, in Savannah, Georgia. She brought the Girls Guides to the US, which later became the Girl Scouts.