(Thursday, December 19, 1839; following the 1839 Whig National Convention) — Former Senator William Henry Harrison of Ohio accepted the Whig presidential nomination in a letter dated today. Continue reading Harrison accepts Whig presidential nomination 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 19 1839)
Video: 'History of the Slave Ship Amistad'
(Tuesday, July 2, 1839, at approximately 4:00 a.m. local time) — 53 slaves recently abducted from Africa revolted and seized the Spanish schooner La Amistad today while sailing from Havana to Puerto Príncipe, Cuba. Continue reading Slaves being shipped to Cuba revolt and seize La Amistad 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 2 1839)
Video: 'Invention of the Telegraph'
(Thursday, January 11, 1838) — Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail made the first public demonstration of the electric telegraph today at the Speedwell Ironworks in Morristown, New Jersey. Continue reading Electrical telegraph demonstrated for first time 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 11 1838)
Video: 'Elijah P Lovejoy and John Brown in November 1837'
(Tuesday, November 7, 1837, at about 10:00 p.m. local time) — Abolitionist Elijah Parish Lovejoy was fatally shot by a pro-slavery mob tonight while defending Gilman & Godfrey’s warehouse, the site of his anti-slavery newspaper, the St. Louis Observer, in Alton, Illinois. Continue reading Abolitionist Elijah Parish Lovejoy killed by pro-slavery mob 180 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 7 1837)
Video: 'Martin Van Buren & the Panic of 1837'
(Wednesday, May 10, 1837) — The Panic of 1837, a financial crisis in the United States that touched off a major recession that lasted until the mid-1840s, began today when banks in New York City suspended specie payments, meaning that they would no longer redeem commercial paper in specie at full face value. Continue reading Panic of 1837 financial crisis begins 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 10 1837)
(Saturday, April 15, 1837) — Abraham Lincoln, 28, arrived today in Springfield, Illinois, from New Salem, Illinois, with all of his belongings in two saddlebags to begin his law practice.
Video: '#22 Grover Cleveland'
(Saturday, March 18, 1837) — Grover Cleveland, the 22nd (1885-1889) and 24th President of the United States (1889-1893), was born Stephen Grover Cleveland today in Caldwell, New Jersey. Continue reading U.S. President Grover Cleveland born in Caldwell, New Jersey 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1837)
(Saturday, March 4, 1837, midday local time) — Vice President Martin Van Buren of Virginia was inaugurated today as the eighth President of the United States on the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with Chief Justice Roger Taney administering the oath of office. Continue reading Van Buren inaugurated as eighth U.S. President, Johnson as ninth VP 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1837)
Video: 'History of Chicago in Around 5 Minutes'
(Saturday, March 4, 1837) — Chicago, which would become the most populous city in the state of Illinois and the Midwestern United States, was incorporated today as a city with a population of 4,170. Continue reading Chicago incorporated 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1837)
Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1836'
(Wednesday, February 8, 1837, during the United States presidential election, 1836) — Democratic Rep. Richard Mentor Johnson of Kentucky became the first Vice President of the United States chosen by the Senate today, defeating Whig VP nominee Rep. Francis Granger of New York by a vote of 36 to 16 divided strictly along party lines. Continue reading Senate elects Richard Mentor Johnson as 9th U.S. Vice President 180 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1837)
