(Tuesday, March 4, 1817, midday local time) — Secretary of State James Monroe of Virginia was inaugurated today as the fifth President of the United States in front of the Old Brick Capitol (where the Supreme Court building now stands) with Chief Justice John Marshall administering the oath of office. Continue reading Monroe inaugurated as fifth U.S. President, Tompkins as sixth VP 200 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1817)
(Friday, February 7, 1817) — America’s first public gas street lamp was lighted today in Baltimore at the corner of Market and Lemon streets (now East Baltimore and Holliday streets), provided by Peale’s Gas Light Company of Baltimore.
Video: 'Indiana Bicentennial Minute 01'
(Wednesday, December 11, 1816) — President James Madison signed an act of Congress today admitting Indiana, located in the midwestern and Great Lakes regions of North America, into the Union as the nineteenth state. Continue reading Indiana becomes 19th state 200 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 11 1816)
Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1816'
(Wednesday, December 4, 1816, during the United States presidential election, 1816) — Democratic-Republican Secretary of State James Monroe of Virginia was elected President of the United States today over Federalist Senator Rufus King of New York. Continue reading Monroe defeats King in presidential election landslide 200 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 4 1816)
Video: 'Philadelphia Savings Fund Society Top # 15 Facts'
(Monday, December 2, 1816) — The first savings bank in the United States, the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society, opened for business today in the office of the Saving Fund Society’s first Secretary and Treasurer, George Billington, located on the west side of South Sixth Street, between Chestnut and Market Streets.
Video: '4/14/16 1816: The Year Without A Summer'
(Thursday, June 6, 1816) — A snowstorm struck the northeastern U.S. today, specifically in Albany, New York, and Dennysville, Maine, heralding what would become known as the “Year Without a Summer.”
Evidence suggests that the anomaly was predominantly a volcanic winter event caused by the massive 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in the Dutch East Indies.
Video: 'Top 5 Most Bizarre Disasters' (Oct. 17, 1814, at 0:07)
(Monday, October 17, 1814, around 5:30 p.m. local time) — The London Beer Flood inundated the St. Giles district of the British capital as a vat at Meux’s Brewery on Tottenham Court Road ruptured, causing other vats to burst as well and sending more than 320,000 gallons of beer into the streets; up to nine people were reported killed.
Video: 'The Forgotten War of 1812.' (Sep. 13, 1814, at 1:48:05)
(Tuesday, September 13, 1814, dawn local time; part of the Battle of Baltimore and War of 1812) — British naval forces began bombarding Fort McHenry in Baltimore today but were driven back by American defenders in a battle that lasted until the following morning.
Video: 'The Forgotten War of 1812.' (Sep. 12, 1814, at 1:40:13)
(Monday, September 12, 1814, 1:00 p.m. local time; part of the Battle of Baltimore and War of 1812) — The Battle of North Point took place in Maryland today as American forces slowed British troops advancing on Baltimore.
Video: 'Battle of Lake Champlain'
(Sunday, September 11, 1814, 10:30 a.m. local time; during the War of 1812) — An American fleet scored a decisive victory over the British today in the Battle of Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, New York, finally ending British invasions of the northern States.
