Born on this day in 1801 was Brigham Young, an American religious leader and politician. He was the second president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1847 until his death in 1877. He also served as the first governor of the Utah Territory from
Also known as the, “Negro Plot of 1741.” Today, when we look back at the Salem Witch Trials, we shake our collective heads and tell ourselves that the execution of innocent men and women in 1692 was aberrational. “Never again,” we say. Half a century later, however, it happened again,
One of the greatest of our Founding Fathers was Patrick Henry, the man who famously declared to his fellow Virginians in 1775, “give me liberty of give me death!” We honor him today on the anniversary of his birth on May 29, 1736. Background The story of Henry’s early years
John Adams said of him that he was a “flame of fire.” The Boston colonists’ nemesis, Governor Thomas Hutchinson, said that he “set the Province in a flame.” Yet, few Americans today know his name.
Last month, the nation commemorated the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington & Concord—the “Shot Heard Round the World.” The battle was mostly fought by militia men from neighboring towns; there was no American army as we think of that concept today. Following the battle, the American colonists did
One of the most interesting First Ladies in American history was Dolley Madison, who was born this day on May 20, 1768. Dolley Payne was born in a log cabin in North Carolina to parents who were devout Quakers, and she was raised in that faith. The family owned slaves
This year is the beginning of “high season” for anniversaries of major events in the history of the American Revolution, including the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington & Concord, just celebrated in April. One of the people who is closely associated in our minds with that anniversary is Paul Revere,
The history of the Mayflower voyage and the establishment of the first permanent English settlement in New England in 1620 has largely derived from the writings of one person—Governor William Bradford, who was baptized on March 19, 1590. We honor him today for his leadership of the English Pilgrims who
Born this day on April 28, 1758, James Monroe was a Revolutionary War soldier, a diplomat, a Governor of Virginia, a U.S. Senator, and our fifth President of the United States. He is known for having formulated what became known as the “Monroe Doctrine,” a cornerstone of American foreign policy
A forgotten man in the history of Jamestown and early Virginia is George Somers, who was born this day on April 24, 1554—a long, long time ago—but who during his lifetime was a celebrated military hero in England, then an Admiral who led a fleet of ships that sailed to
Today marks the 235th anniversary of Ben Franklin’s death on April 17, 1790. How can anyone sum up the life of this giant of a man in just a few paragraphs? He is one of the most legendary men in American history, and deservedly so. The list of his accomplishments
It would be an impossible task to write a commemoration of Abraham Lincoln in a few short paragraphs, so we will not even attempt it; it simply can’t be done. Lincoln is a towering figure in American history, and his actions as President of the United States during the Civil
Today we honor Clara Barton, who died this day on April 12, 1912. She has gone down in history as one of the most courageous women in the American Civil War, serving as a nurse on the battlefield, and later as the founder of the American Red Cross. Clara Barton
Phinius Taylor (P.T.) Barnum of Barnum & Baily Circus fame died this day on April 7, 1891. In his time, he was one of the most colorful entrepreneurs in America, as well as a politician and social activist. Of humble origins, he became wealthy, and in later life he became
This month marks the 160th anniversary of two major events in American history: the end of the Civil War following the surrender of the Confederate Army at Appomattox on April 9, 1865, and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865. The nation mourned Lincoln’s death as no other
We don’t often write about American business leaders of the 19th Century, most of whom are not the subject of classroom study or popular history books. If they are studied at all, it’s often the case that they are stereotyped as greedy “fat cats” who mistreated their workers or schemed