(Saturday, April 4, 1818) — The Flag Act of 1818 was enacted by Congress today, providing for the modern rule of 13 red and white stripes to represent the original thirteen colonies and 20 stars to match the number of states, with a new star to be added for every new state of the Union.
Video: 'BBC Frankenstein Birth of a Monster'
(Thursday, January 1, 1818) — The first edition of the Gothic novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus by English author Mary Shelley, 20, which tells the story of a young scientist who creates a grotesque but sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment, was published anonymously today by the small London publishing house Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones. Continue reading ‘Frankenstein’ published anonymously in London 200 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 1 1818)
Video: 'Top 10 Things To Do In Mississippi | Southern Living'
(Wednesday, December 10, 1817) — President James Monroe today signed a congressional resolution that admitted the western portion of Mississippi Territory as the State of Mississippi, located in the Southern United States, with part of its southern border formed by the Gulf of Mexico and its western border formed by the Mississippi River, as the 20th state of the Union. Continue reading Mississippi admitted as 20th state of the Union 200 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 10 1817)
(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: '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.
