Today In History
5 Fun Facts About January 10 In Pennsylvania History
1. Benjamin Franklin was born on January 10, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. Although he wasn’t born in Pennsylvania, he spent a majority of his life in the state and was one of its most famous residents. Franklin was a polymath who made many important contributions to science, literature, and politics....
5 Fun Facts About January 9 In Pennsylvania History
1. On January 9, 1760, an important treaty was signed between the British and the Delaware tribe in Easton, Pennsylvania. The treaty signaled the end of the French and Indian War, and marked the beginning of British dominance in North America. 2. In 1788, Pennsylvania became the second state to...
5 Fun Facts About January 8 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1836, Samuel Morse was granted a patent for his invention, the telegraph, which revolutionized communication across great distances. The development of the telegraph paved the way for modern telecommunications and the internet. 2. On January 8, 1890, the major league baseball player Larry Cheney was born in Belleville,...
5 Fun Facts About January 7 In Pennsylvania History
1. On January 7, 1789, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the United States Constitution, which established the framework for the federal government and remains the supreme law of the land. 2. January 7, 1896, marked the beginning of the infamous "White Caps" reign of terror in Indiana County,...
5 Fun Facts About January 6 In Pennsylvania History
1. The Battle of Trenton took place on January 6, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War. General George Washington led his troops across the Delaware River to surprise and defeat the Hessian mercenaries stationed in Trenton, New Jersey. This victory was a turning point in the war and boosted morale...
5 Fun Facts About January 5 In Pennsylvania History
1. On January 5, 1867, the first civil rights bill to be passed by the Pennsylvania state legislature was signed into law. This bill prohibited discrimination in public accommodations based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 2. On January 5, 1895, the Pittsburgh Dispatch newspaper reported that "Jim...
5 Fun Facts About January 4 In Pennsylvania History
1. On January 4, 1699, the Pennsylvania Assembly passed an act establishing the first public school in the colony. The school was located in Philadelphia and taught reading, writing, and arithmetic to children of all social classes. 2. In 1776, on January 4, the Continental Congress authorized the first national...
5 Fun Facts About January 3 In Pennsylvania History
1. Battle of Trenton: On January 3, 1777, General George Washington led an attack on Hessian troops in Trenton, New Jersey, just across the Delaware River from Pennsylvania. The surprise attack, which began in the early morning hours, resulted in an American victory and boosted morale for the Continental Army....
5 Fun Facts About January 2 In Pennsylvania History
1. In 1893, the first police officer killed in the line of duty in the history of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, was buried on January 2. Officer John Kenny was shot and killed while attempting to serve a warrant, and his death shocked and saddened the community. 2. On January 2, 1918,...
5 Fun Facts About January 1 In Pennsylvania History
1. Pennsylvania became a state on January 1, 1787, making it one of the original 13 colonies. Interestingly, the statehood process was not without controversy, as some residents of Pennsylvania were opposed to ratifying the U.S. Constitution. 2. On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which...
5 Fun Facts About December 31 In Pennsylvania History
1. The Last Public Execution in Pennsylvania Occurred on December 31, 1962 On December 31, 1962, Elmo Smith became the last individual to be publicly executed in the state of Pennsylvania. Smith was executed for the murder of a police officer and his execution marked the end of capital punishment...
5 Fun Facts About December 30 In Pennsylvania History
1. On December 30, 1862, the Union Army won the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, near Vicksburg, Mississippi, during the American Civil War. Although the battle was a victory, it was costly for the Union, with over 1,700 casualties. 2. In 1903, the first successful flight of the Wright brothers' airplane...