Video: 'Zachary Taylor | President's Day | Kentucky Life | KET'
(Wednesday, November 24, 1784) — Zachary Taylor, the 12th President of the United States (1849-1850), was born today on a plantation in Orange County, Virginia, to a prominent family of planters of English ancestry. Continue reading U.S. President Zachary Taylor born in Orange County, Virginia 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 24 1784)
Video: '3rd September 1783: Treaty of Paris ends the American Revolutionary War'
(Wednesday, September 3, 1783, 9:00 a.m. local time; during the American Revolutionary War, part of the Atlantic Revolutions, American Revolution) — Representatives of the United States and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris today at the Hotel d’York at present-day 56 Rue Jacob in Paris, formally ending the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain on one side and the United States of America and its allies on the other and recognizing the Thirteen Colonies, which had been part of colonial British America, as an independent and sovereign nation. Continue reading Treaty of Paris signed, ending American Revolutionary War and recognizing U.S. independence 240 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 3 1783)
Video: 'American President #8: Martin Van Buren (1837-1841)'
(Thursday, December 5, 1782) — Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States from 1837 to 1841 and the eighth vice president of the United States (under President Andrew Jackson) from 1833 to 1837, was born today in the village of Kinderhook, New York. Continue reading U.S. President Martin Van Buren born in Kinderhook, New York 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 5 1782)
Video: '3rd September 1783: Treaty of Paris ends the American Revolutionary War'
(Saturday, November 30, 1782, during the American Revolutionary War, part of the Atlantic Revolutions, American Revolution) — The preliminary Treaty of Paris was signed today in Paris, bringing the hostilities of the American Revolution between the United States and Great Britain to a close. Continue reading United States and Britain sign preliminary peace articles in Paris for ending American Revolutionary War 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 30 1782)
Video: 'Almanac: Purple Heart'
(Wednesday, August 7, 1782, during the American Revolutionary War) — The original Purple Heart, designated as the Badge of Military Merit, was established today by General George Washington — then the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army — by order from his Newburgh, New York, headquarters. Continue reading General George Washington creates Order of the Purple Heart to honor Americans who fought in Revolutionary War 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Aug 7 1782)
Video: 'John C. Calhoun'
(Monday, March 18, 1782) — John C. Calhoun, the seventh vice president of the United States who served under presidents John Q. Adams (1825-1829) and Andrew Jackson (1829-1832) while adamantly defending slavery and protecting the interests of the white South, was born John Caldwell Calhoun today in Abbeville District, South Carolina. Continue reading U.S. Vice President John C. Calhoun born 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1782)
Video: 'Now Or Never: Yorktown Campaign of 1781 (Full Movie)'
(Friday, October 19, 1781, 2:00 p.m. local time; during the Siege of Yorktown, part of the Yorktown Campaign, part of the Southern Theater of the American Revolutionary War during the American Revolution) — Britain’s Lord Charles Cornwallis surrendered today with 8,000 troops to General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending the American War of Independence and guaranteeing the colonialists freedom from the crown. Continue reading British troops surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending American Revolutionary War 240 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 19 1781)
Video: 'Uranus 101 | National Geographic'
(Tuesday, March 13, 1781) — German-born British astronomer William Herschel today discovered Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun.
Continue reading Planet Uranus discovered by British astronomer William Herschel 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 13 1781)
Video: 'What Were the Articles of Confederation? | History'
(Thursday, March 1, 1781, noon local time; during the American Revolutionary War, part of the American Revolution) — The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, an agreement among the 13 original states of the United States of America that served as its first constitution, came into force today after being ratified by all 13 states.
Continue reading Continental Congress declares Articles of Confederation to be in force 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 1 1781)
Video: 'Julia Chinn | Kentucky Life | KET.org' (story of Johnson's relationship with Julia Chinn, a mixed-race slave)
(Tuesday, October 17, 1780) — Richard Mentor Johnson, the ninth vice president of the United States, who served during the administration of President Martin Van Buren (1837–1841), was born today on the settlement of “Beargrass” in the Kentucky frontier and what became present-day Louisville. Continue reading U.S. Vice President Richard Mentor Johnson born in Louisville 240 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 17 1780)
