Today In History
5 Fun Facts About September 17 In Connecticut History
1. On September 17, 1787, Connecticut was one of the first states to ratify the United States Constitution. Connecticut played a significant role in the creation and ratification of the Constitution, with its delegates playing an active role in the drafting of the document. 2. In 1862, the Battle of...
5 Fun Facts About September 16 In Connecticut History
1. In 1782, the first American dark horse candidate for president, DeWitt Clinton, was born in Little Britain. He later became the governor of New York and was instrumental in the construction of the Erie Canal. 2. In 1896, St. John's Episcopal Church in Bridgeport was consecrated. The church is...
5 Fun Facts About September 14 In Connecticut History
1. On September 14, 1814, 14-year-old Hiram Bingham III, known as the "discoverer" of Machu Picchu, was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Although Bingham's birthplace was not in Connecticut, he attended Yale University and later became a senator for the state. 2. In 1843, the first state agricultural fair was held...
5 Fun Facts About September 12 In Connecticut History
1. On September 12, 1972, a United Airlines Flight 553 crashed near Chicago's Midway International Airport, killing all 45 people on board. Among them was Connecticut resident Dorothy Hunt, wife of E. Howard Hunt, who was part of the infamous Watergate scandal. 2. In 1951, Connecticut state trooper Leo J....
5 Fun Facts About September 10 In Connecticut History
1. In 1802, Connecticut abolished slavery. This made it the first state to do so voluntarily, although slavery had been largely abolished in practice in the state for decades prior. 2. On September 10, 1875, the New Haven Fire Department was officially established. It was the first fire department in...
5 Fun Facts About September 7 In Connecticut History
1. On September 7, 1776, Nathan Hale, a soldier from Coventry, Connecticut, was hanged by the British as a spy during the American Revolution. He is known for his famous last words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." 2. In 1855, the...
5 Fun Facts About September 6 In Connecticut History
1. On September 6, 1781, Revolutionary War forces under General Rochambeau arrived in Hartford, Connecticut as part of the march to Yorktown, Virginia. The French forces collaborated with American forces in the battle that ultimately led to the defeat of British forces at Yorktown and the end of the war....
5 Fun Facts About September 2 In Connecticut History
1. On September 2, 1789, the first meeting of the United States Congress was held in New York City. Two Connecticut delegates, William Samuel Johnson and Roger Sherman, were part of the 69-member group that met to establish the rights and freedoms of the American people. 2. In 1862, during...
5 Fun Facts About August 29 In Connecticut History
1. In 1786, the "Connecticut Evacuation Day" was celebrated. It marked the departure of British troops from New York City at the end of the American Revolution. The event was celebrated with parades and fireworks in New Haven and other parts of the state. 2. In 1842, the Hartford Convention...
5 Fun Facts About August 28 In Connecticut History
1. In 1776, British troops led a surprise attack on American forces in Danbury, Connecticut during the Revolutionary War. The British burned down several buildings, including a supply depot, but ultimately were forced to retreat by the Americans. 2. On August 28, 1830, the first steamship to cross Long Island...
5 Fun Facts About August 27 In Connecticut History
1. On August 27, 1776, Benedict Arnold, a prominent figure in Connecticut history, was appointed as a general in George Washington's Continental Army. Despite his initial successes in battle, Arnold famously defected to the British side in 1780. 2. One of Connecticut's most famous labor strikes, the New Haven Rubber...
5 Fun Facts About August 26 In Connecticut History
1. On August 26, 1781, Connecticut soldiers played a pivotal role in the Battle of Groton Heights during the Revolutionary War. Led by Lieutenant Colonel William Ledyard, the soldiers fought valiantly against the British, but ultimately lost the battle. 2. The Hartford Courant, one of the oldest continuously published newspapers...