The Continental Congress gave a speech full of metaphor, diplomacy, and urgency to the Six Nations—Mohawk, Oneida, Tuscarora, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca—on July 13, 1775, as the flames of revolution grew. Sixty-five representatives from the Twelve United Colonies, including leaders like Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, and John Hancock, met in Philadelphia to craft the message. Their objective: to explain the colonies’ departure from British rule while preserving harmony with Indigenous allies. The speech invoked shared ideals of justice and autonomy, likening the colonies to a child weighed down by an unfair pack—symbolizing British oppression. Despite the threat of war, Congress reaffirmed the importance of maintaining the ‘covenant chain’ of friendship. This became one of the earliest formal diplomatic overtures to Native nations during the American Revolution, illuminating both strategic intent and the power of metaphor in revolutionary statecraft.
Image: An Iroquois warrior holding a tomahawk and ceremonial club, c. 1796. From Encyclopédie des Voyages by Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur, Paris. Image via Wikimedia Commons
From the Millennium Falcon to Dr. Jones, Harrison Ford’s journey reminds us that heroes age—gracefully, and with a smirk. Happy Birthday to the man who gave adventure its swagger.
Image: Before the whip and the blaster, there was just a carpenter with a dream. Harrison Ford, circa the cusp of legend via Alamy.
Mary Belle Brown who was dean of New York Medical College and who developed a remedy for motion sickness, passed away at the age of 76 on July 13, 1924.
She was one of only a small number female physicians who performed surgery during her time.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
An American mine detector crew is demonstrating what they do before going to work on or around telephone poles in France.
July 13, 1944
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
John F. Kennedy arriving at the convention after being named presidential candidate on July 13, 1960.
Two days later he delivered his acceptance speech.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
On today’s date July 13, 1832 the source of the Mississippi River in Minnesota was discovered by Henry Schoolcraft…
“At length, the glittering of water appeared, at a distance below, as viewed from the summit of one of these eminences. It was declared by our Indian guide to be Itasca Lake the source of the main, or South fork of the Mississippi. I passed him, as we descended a long winding slope, and was the first man to reach its banks. A little grassy opening served as the terminus of our trail, and proved that the Indians had been in the practice of crossing
this eminence in their hunts. As one after another of the party came, we exulted in the accomplishment of our search. A fire was quickly kindled, and the canoes gummed, preparatory to embarkation.
We had struck within a mile of the southern extremity of the lake, and could plainly see its terminus from the place of our embarking. The view was quite enchanting. The waters were of the most limpid character. The shores were overhung with hard wood foliage, mixed with species of spruce, larch, and aspen. We judged it to be about seven miles in length, by an average of one to two broad. A bay, near its eastern end, gave it somewhat the shape of the letter “y.” We observed a deer standing in the water. Wild fowl appeared to be abundant. We landed at the only island it contains a beautiful spot for encampment, covered with the elm, cherry, larch, maple, and birch, and giving evidence, by the remains of old camp-fires, and scattered bones of species killed in the chase, of its having been much resorted to by the aborigines.
This picturesque island the party honored me by calling after my name in which they have been sanctioned by Nicollet and other geographers. I caused some trees to be felled, pitched my tent, and raised the American flag on a high staff, the Indians firing a salute as it rose.”
From: Personal memoirs of a residence of thirty years with the Indian tribes on the American frontiers: with brief notices of passing events, facts, and opinions, A. D. 1812 to A. D. 1842
by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, published in 1851
https://archive.org/details/personalmem00schorich/page/413
Source says not in copyright
Image: Mississippi River headwaters signpost in Itasca State Park by Mark Evans (CC BY 2.0) via Wikimedia Commons
Born July 13, 1864 John Jacob Astor IV was a millionaire and real estate developer of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. An inventor and Spanish-American War veteran Astor, his pregnant wife Madeleine, and their dog Kitty were all aboard the RMS Titanic. Madeleine, her maid and nurse survived, Jack and Kitty did not.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
The iconic “HOLLYWOOD” sign was dedicated on July 13, 1923.
The sign originally read “HOLLYWOODLAND” and advertised a housing development in the hills above Los Angeles. The 45 foot-high letters were restored in 1978 with each letter sponsored by a celebrity or corporation.
Image via Alamy
Illustration from Harper’s Weekly showing a scene during the draft riots in New York City that occurred July 13-16 in 1863.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
On July 13, 1896, Ed Delahanty of the Philadelphia Phillies hit 4 home runs in the same game. “Big Ed” was the second MLB player to accomplish this feat.
Image: Ed Delahanty in 1898 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Darrell Johnson, manager of the Boston Red Sox and George “Sparky” Anderson, manager of the Cincinnati Reds escort President Gerald R. Ford onto the field prior to the All-Star Game at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PA
on July 13, 1976
via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
American jazz clarinetist George Lewis was born on July 13, 1900 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
After an injury he received while working the docks to make ends meet, fellow band members came to George’s bed at the hospital to practice their songs.
Image of George Lewis c. 1940s via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
U.S. Army officer, Emerson H. Liscum, who was severely wounded at both the Battle of Gettysburg during The American Civil War and at The Battle of San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War, was shot and killed on July 13, 1900 in China during the Boxer Rebellion.
It’s believed his last words were “Keep up the fire.”
Image via Wikimedia Commons, no known restrictions
Werner Klemperer as Colonel Klink and Bob Crane as Colonel Hogan from Hogan’s Heroes in 1965
Bob Crane was born on July 13, 1928 in
Waterbury, Connecticut.
Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Roger McGuinn, frontman for the American rock band The Byrds, was born on July 13, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois.
Image: Roger McGuinn (center) with fellow band members of The Byrds in 1965 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
