1. The University of Delaware was founded on October 20, 1743. Originally known as the Academy of Newark, it was the first institution of higher learning in the state of Delaware.
2. On October 20, 1783, a group of Delaware delegates gathered in New York City to sign the Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the American Revolutionary War and recognized the independence of the United States.
3. On October 20, 1827, the first steam-powered railway in Delaware began operation between New Castle and Frenchtown. The Wilmington and Susquehanna Railroad Company had been chartered two years earlier and the inaugural journey was celebrated with a grand parade and ceremony.
4. On October 20, 1881, the University of Delaware's first football team played its first game against nearby Swarthmore College. The game ended in a scoreless tie, but it marked the beginning of a longstanding football tradition at UD.
5. On October 20, 1952, the DuPont Company in Wilmington unveiled the first commercially successful synthetic fiber, nylon. The creation of nylon revolutionized the textiles industry and paved the way for other synthetic materials like polyester and spandex.
5 Fun Facts About October 20 In Delaware History
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