(Tuesday, March 4, 1873, 12:30 p.m. local time) — President Ulysses S. Grant of Illinois took the oath of office today for a second term as the 18th President of the United States on the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol. Continue reading President Ulysses S. Grant sworn in for second term, Henry Wilson as 18th VP 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1873)
Video: 'Boston Fire Trail'
(Saturday, November 9, 1872, conflagration began at 7:20 p.m. local time; during the Great Boston Fire of 1872) — The Great Boston Fire of 1872, Boston’s largest fire, and still ranks as one of the most costly fire-related property losses in American history, began tonight in the basement of a commercial warehouse at 83–87 Summer Street. Continue reading Great Boston Fire of 1872 starts in downtown warehouse basement 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 9) – will rage for 12 hours, destroy nearly 800 buildings and kill 30 people
Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 1872'
(Tuesday, November 5, 1872, during the 1872 presidential campaign) — Republican incumbent President Ulysses S. Grant of Illinois was re-elected as the 18th president of the United States today, defeating newspaper publisher Horace Greeley of New York (nominated by the Liberal Republican Party and and then nominated by the Democratic Party). Continue reading U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant re-elected over Liberal Republican / Democratic nominee Horace Greeley 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 5 1872)
Video: 'What Crime Did Susan B. Anthony Commit?'
(Tuesday, November 5, 1872; during the 1872 presidential election and first-wave feminism) — Suffragist Susan B. Anthony defied the law today by attempting to cast a vote for President Ulysses S. Grant in Rochester, New York. She is later fined $100. Continue reading Suffragist Susan B. Anthony defies the law by attempting to cast a vote for President Ulysses S. Grant 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 5 1872)
Video: 'Calvin Coolidge: The Silent President'
(Thursday, July 4, 1872, Independence Day) — Calvin Coolidge, the the 30th president of the United States from 1923 to 1929, was born John Calvin Coolidge Jr. today in Plymouth Notch, Vermont, the only U.S. president to be born on Independence Day. Continue reading U.S. President Calvin Coolidge born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 4 1872)
Video: 'The Fire Begins — The Great Chicago Fire: A Chicago Stories Special'
(Sunday, October 8, 1871, about 8:30 p.m. local time; during the Great Chicago Fire) — The Great Chicago Fire, a conflagration that burned in the American city of Chicago over three days, started tonight in or around a small barn belonging to the O’Leary family that bordered the alley behind 137 DeKoven Street, a neighborhood southwest of the city center. Continue reading Great Chicago Fire erupts on the city’s southwest side 150 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 8 1871)
Video: 'This Week In History: February 25, 1870'
(Friday, February 25, 1870) — Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Natchez, Mississippi, was sworn into the United States Senate today, becoming the first African-American to sit in Congress. Continue reading Hiram Rhodes Revels becomes first African-American to sit in Congress 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 25 1870)
Video: 'Sound Smart: The 15th Amendment | History'
(Thursday, February 3, 1870, during the Reconstruction era) — The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits the federal government and each state from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen’s “race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” was ratified today as the third and last of the Reconstruction Amendments. Continue reading Fifteenth Amendment grants African-American men the right to vote 150 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 3 1870)
Video: 'Documentary | Thomas Edison - The Wizard of Menlo Park' (light bulb at 33:38; Oct. 22, 1879, at 44:35)
(Wednesday, October 22, 1879, 1:30 a.m. local time) — After 14 months of experiments, Thomas Edison invented the first practical electric incandescent lamp today at his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. Continue reading Thomas Edison invents first practical electric light bulb 140 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 22 1879)
Video: 'Remember the Veep: The Life of Alben Barkley'
(Saturday, November 24, 1877) — Alben W. Barkley, the 35th Vice President of the United States who served under President Harry S. Truman (1949-1953), was born today in Lowes, Kentucky. Continue reading U.S. Vice President Alben W. Barkley born 140 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 24 1877)
