What happened on this day in history: Alexander Hamilton is born, Theodore Roosevelt declares the Grand Canyon a national monument, and more.
1755/57: Alexander Hamilton Is Born
Public DomainAlexander Hamilton circa 1792.
Alexander Hamilton is born in 1755 or 1757 on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies. One of America’s Founding Fathers, he went on to fight in the American Revolution, attend the Constitutional Convention, and serve as George Washington’s first secretary of the treasury. Hamilton’s life was infamously cut short in 1804 after being fatally shot during a duel with Aaron Burr.
1843: Francis Scott Key Dies
Public DomainA portrait of Francis Scott Key circa 1825.
Francis Scott Key dies in Baltimore, Maryland, at the age of 63. A lawyer and amateur poet, he wrote the words to the Star-Spangled Banner in 1814 after watching the American flag fly over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. In 1931, President Herbert Hoover made the song the U.S. national anthem.
1908: Theodore Roosevelt Declares Grand Canyon A National Monument
President Theodore Roosevelt designates 800,000 acres of the Grand Canyon as a national monument, saying: “Let this great wonder of nature remain as it now is.” Environmental conservation was a cornerstone of Roosevelt’s presidency, as he would protect 230 million acres of land.
1971: The Perron Family Moves Into The Conjuring House
YoutubeThe Perron family’s home in Rhode Island where they claimed they witnessed paranormal activity.
The Perron family moves into The Conjuring house in Rhode Island. The 14-room home in Harrisville, Rhode Island, was meant to be the forever home of Roger and Carolyn Perron and their five daughters. Almost immediately after they moved in, the Perron family began to experience strange activity. The family claims putrid smells would appear and disappear, children would levitate while they slept, and more. Their story would eventually be made into a Hollywood blockbuster titled “The Conjuring.”
2003: Illinois Governor Commutes 167 Death Row Prisoners’ Sentences
Illinois Governor George Ryan commutes the death sentences of all 167 death row inmates in the state. Calling the system “haunted by the demon of error,” and as “arbitrary as who gets hit by a bolt of lightning,” he made the announcement just a few days before leaving office. Illinois subsequently abolished the death penalty in 2011.
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