March 17
Today in America's Present Past
1601 | The first recorded North American St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in St. Augustine, Florida organized by vicar Ricardo Artur.
1737 | The Charitable Irish Society was formed in Boston, Massachusetts to assist immigrants.
1756 | St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated at the Crown & Thistle Tavern in New York City, New York (with the first parade in 1762).
1776 | War of Independence: British evacuated Boston in defeat, retreating to Canada.
1777 | SCOTUS: Chief Justice Taney was born.
1780 | War of Independence: General Washington granted a day of celebration in “solidarity” with the Irish seeking independence for the Continental Army.
1804 | Explorer James Bridger was born.
1820 | General Patrick Edward Connor was born.
1824 | Savannah, Georgia held its first St. Patrick’s Day parade.
1863 | Activist Homer Plessy was born.
1866 | SCOTUS: Justice Pierce Butler was born.
1871 | The National Association of Professional Baseball Players was formed.
1876 | Indian Wars: General Crook destroyed Cheyennes & Oglala-Sioux Indian camps.
1886 | Civil Rights: Carrollton, Mississippi massacre.
1894 | The U.S. and China signed the Gresham-Yang Treaty.
1898 | John Philip Holland successfully tested the first modern submarine, which stayed below for nearly two hours.
1902 | Golfer Bobby Jones (founder of the Masters Tournament) was born.
1905 | POTUS: President Roosevelt wed Eleanor Roosevelt (a “distant” cousin).
1906 | The Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded at Miami University, Ohio.
1908 | Civil War Union Soldier Frances Hook (a.k.a. Frank Miller) died.
1912 | Activist and Civil Rights icon Bayard Rustin was born.
1917 | Delta Phi Epsilon was founded at New York University Law School.
1919 | Entertainer Nat King Cole was born.
1942 | WWII: Douglas MacArthur arrived in Australia as the Supreme Commander of Pacific Allied Forces.
1942 | Serial killer John Wayne Gacy was born.
1951 | Actor Kurt Russell was born.
1955 | Actor Gary Sinise was born.
1958 | The Vanguard 1 was launched and remains as the oldest man-made object in orbit.
1961 | Politician Susanna Salter died.
1962 | Using 100 pounds of vegetable dye, Chicago started dying its river green for St. Patrick’s Day.
1963 | New York’s Elizabeth Ann Seton was beatified (later canonized as a Saint).
1967 | Musician Bill Corgan was born.
1983 | Physiologist Haldan Keffer Hartline died.
1991 | POTUS: Republican President George H.W. Bush declared March Irish contribution month.
1995 | The U.S. approved the first Chicken Pox vaccine.
2005 | Diplomat George F. Kennan died.