Civil War
US Naval Academy Opened
Decades after America’s first ships took to the oceans to defend its interests, the US Naval Academy was opened on October 10, 1845.
Birth of Mary Church Terrell
Mary Church Terrell was born on September 23, 1863, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Buffalo Soldiers
On September 21, 1866, the 9th and 10th Cavalry units and the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st Infantry units (later consolidated as the 24th and 25th Infantry) were formed. The units were comprised entirely of black soldiers – the first to serve in a peacetime army. They would come to be known as Buffalo Soldiers.
Proprietary Stamps
On September 2, 1871, the first Proprietary stamps with their own Scott designation (RB) were issued.
Beer Stamps
On September 1, 1866, the first US Beer stamps were issued.
Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries
On August 28, 1861, the first combined Union Army and Navy battle of the Civil War concluded at the Battle of Hatteras Inlet Batteries.
Encased Postage
On August 12, 1862, John Gault received a patent for a design to encase postage stamps to use as currency after coins became scarce during the Civil War.
Wright Brothers Set Flight Record
On July 27, 1909, Orville Wright flew a plane a record one hour and 12 minutes. Born in 1867 and 1871, Wilbur and Orville Wright had been interested in science and technology from a young age. After receiving a flying toy as a gift from their father in 1878, they became fascinated with flight. They sought to develop a heavier-than-air flying machine that could carry a man.