Birth of a Circus Legend
Showman Phineas Taylor “P.T.” Barnum was born on July 5, 1810, in Bethel, Connecticut. Barnum became known as the “Shakespeare of Advertising” because of his many innovative ideas for the time.
This Day in History
Start of the Bicentennial Series
On July 4, 1971, the USPS issued the first stamp in the Bicentennial Series. Over the course of six years, the USPS issued 113 commemorative stamps honoring the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution.
Union Wins the Battle of Gettysburg
On July 3, 1863, Union forces turned the tide of the Civil War with their victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. It helped to raise morale in the North and was a major turning point in the war.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army was established as the East London Christian Mission on July 2, 1865. Now operating 133 countries, they’re currently assisting over four million people worldwide with over $57 million in donations.
First U.S. Postage Stamp Goes on Sale
On July 1, 1847, America’s first postage stamps were issued. While the use of stamps wasn’t mandatory until 1856, this was a historic philatelic milestone.
First U.S. Rotary Stamp
On June 30, 1914, the US issued its very first stamp printed on the rotary press, US #459. It’s also the only imperforate US rotary press coil. Just 21,000 were printed and they went unnoticed for three years.
Birth of George Washington Goethals
US Army general and civil engineer, George Washington Goethals was born on June 29, 1858, in Brooklyn, New York. Under his leadership, the Panama Canal was completed two years ahead of schedule.
Battle of Sullivan’s Island
On June 28, 1776, South Carolina patriots won their first decisive victory of the Revolutionary War at Sullivan’s Island.
Birth of Helen Keller
Helen Adams Keller was born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Thanks in part to the teachings of Anne Sullivan, she went on to become the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.