On April 3, 1776, the Harvard Corporation and Overseers convened at the Watertown Meeting House, as Harvard had temporarily relocated due to the Revolutionary War. During this meeting, they decided to award George Washington an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his leadership and service.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
On April 3, 1868, during President Andrew Johnson’s impeachment trial, the Senate continued to hear evidence and arguments about his alleged violation of the Tenure of Office Act, which prohibited the president from removing certain officials without Senate approval. This pivotal moment in U.S. history is also marked by artifacts like the gallery ticket from that day, signed by Geo T. Brown, the Sergeant-at-Arms, granting access to witness the proceedings. The trial, the first impeachment of a U.S. president, ultimately ended with Johnson’s acquittal in May 1868.
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The first national issue of TV Guide was released on
April 3, 1953
The cover featured Lucille Ball’s baby boy Desi Arnaz Jr.
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Alexander Macomb, “the Hero of Plattsburgh” who commanded a greatly outnumbered American force of 1,500 against a British invasion in the northern states of nearly 11,000, was born on April 3, 1782 in Detroit, Michigan.
Before the Battle of Plattsburgh he and his men hoaxed the British invaders by creating false roads that led them away from American fortifications.
He later became Commanding General of The U.S. Army.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
The Pony Express began its 18 months of operation on April 3, 1860. Mail would leave St. Joseph, Missouri and a relay of riders carried it 1,900 miles to Sacramento, California in 10 days, ideally. Shown are riders (clockwise, upper left) Billy Richardson, Johnny Fry, Gus Cliff, and Charles Cliff.
‘To San Francisco in 8 days by the Central Overland California and Pike’s Peak Express Company. The first courier of the Pony Express will leave the Missouri River on Tuesday, April 3rd at 5 o’clock P. M. and will run regularly weekly hereafter, carrying a letter mail only. The point of departure on the Missouri River will be in telegraphic connection with the East and will be announced in
due time.
Telegraphic messages from all parts of the United States and Canada in connection with the point of departure will be received up to 5 o’clock P. M. of the day of leaving and transmitted over the Placerville and St. Joseph telegraph wire to San Francisco and intermediate points by the connecting express, in 8 days.
The letter mail will be delivered in San Francisco in ten days from the departure of the Express. The Express passes through Forts Kearney, Laramie, Bridger, Great Salt Lake City, Camp Floyd, Carson City, The Washoe Silver Mines, Placerville, and Sacramento.
Letters for Oregon, Washington Territory, British Columbia, the Pacific Mexican ports, Russian Possessions, Sandwich Islands, China, Japan and India will be mailed in San Francisco.
Special messengers, bearers of letters to connect with the express the 3rd of April, will receive communications for the courier of that day at No. 481 Tenth St., Washington City, up to 2:45 P. M. on Friday, March 30, and in New York at the office of J. B. Simpson, Room No. 8, Continental Bank Building, Nassau Street, up to 6:30 A. M. of March 31.
Full particulars can be obtained on application at the above places and from the agents of the Company.’
“This sudden announcement of the long desired fast mail route aroused great enthusiasm in the West and especially in St. Joseph, Missouri, Salt Lake City, and the cities of California, where preparations to celebrate the opening of the line were at once begun. Slowly the time passed, until the afternoon of the eventful day, April 3rd, that was to mark the first step in annihilating distance between the East and West. A great crowd had assembled on the streets of St. Joseph, Missouri. Flags were flying and a brass band added to the jubilation. The Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad had arranged to run a special train into the city, bringing the through mail from connecting points in the East. Everybody was anxious and excited. At last the shrill whistle of a locomotive was heard, and the train rumbled in — on time. The pouches were rushed to the post office where the express mail was made ready.”
From: The story of the pony express: An account of the most remarkable mail service ever in existence, and its place in history by Glenn D. Bradley, published in 1913
https://archive.org/details/ofponyexprestory00bradrich/page/27
Source says not in copyright
Image by Earnest and Elaine Hartnagle via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.
On April 3, 1882 outlaw Jesse James was shot and killed by Robert Ford in St. Joseph, Missouri.
22 years earlier on the same day (April 3, 1860) in the same town (St. Joseph, Missouri) the Pony Express made its first run to the west.
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The F4 Saugatuck (Michigan) tornado shortly before dissipating.
April 3, 1956
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On today’s date April 3, 1842: Colonel Ulric Dahlgren was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Ulric began his military career in the U.S. Navy but later transferred to the U.S. Army where he became a Captain and fought in many Civil War battles. Shortly after the Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863, Dahlgren was shot in the foot on his way to Maryland. According to a memoir written by Ulric’s father (Rear Admiral John Dahlgren) “…the sensation was so slight that he thought it was nothing more than a glancing ball and little dreamed that his heavy boot and foot had been pierced.”
The injury ultimately resulted in amputation, but he returned to fighting the following February. Sorrowfully, Colonel Ulric was killed in combat during a failed Union raid in Richmond, Virginia on March 2, 1864.
Photo: Union Colonel Ulric Dahlgren via Wikimedia Commons
On April 3, 1968 Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech in Memphis, Tennessee.
Image of the MLK Memorial in Washington, D.C. via Shutterstock
Gary Cooper and Eleanor Roosevelt at Lake Success, New York
– April 3, 1950
via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
On April 3, 1949 The Martin & Lewis show began on the NBC Radio Network
Image: Studio publicity photo of Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin in 1950 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
American actor Marlon Brando was born on April 3, 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska.
For his performance in the 1954 film “On The Waterfront,” Brando won the Academy Award for Best Actor and a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama.
Image of Marlon Brando about 10 years old c. 1934
via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Doris Mary Kappelhoff, born April 3, 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio sang and acted as Doris Day throughout her long career. Her string of hit songs began with 1945’s “Sentimental Journey” and throughout the 1950s and ‘60s she starred in a number of romantic comedy films. Day was also a passionate advocate for animal welfare.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright, public domain in the US.
