Stamp Series

Born on December 31, 1880, in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, Army general and American statesman George C. Marshall was a distant relative of former Chief Justice John Marshall.

On December 26, 1972, America’s 33rd president, Harry S. Truman, died.

Lawman and gunfighter William Barclay “Bat” Masterson was born on November 26, 1853, in Quebec, Canada.

On October 1, 1885, the Special Delivery service was first available and the first stamp, US #E1, went on sale.

On July 31, 1971, U.S. Astronauts David Scott and James Irwin became the first humans to drive on the Moon.

On July 27, 1789, the Department of Foreign Affairs was created, which was later renamed the Department of State. When the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1788, it specified that the President would be responsible for the country’s foreign relations. President George Washington soon realized he’d need help and requested the creation of a new executive department to help handle foreign affairs.

On July 26, 1775, former deputy postmaster general of the American colonies, Ben Franklin, was made the first postmaster general of the United States. Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and only attended school until the age of 10. He was an avid reader and quick learner. As a polymath (a person with expertise in a large number of areas), Franklin would eventually become an accomplished author, printer, freemason, scientist, inventor, activist, and statesman.

On June 23, 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Civil Aeronautics Act, creating the Civil Aeronautics Authority.

On June 22, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill into law creating the U.S. Department of Justice.