May 19th, 1845: The Franklin Expedition set sail for the Northwest Passage, the previously uncharted path from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean via the Arctic. The ships were likely caught in ice and wrecked. All 128 men onboard the ships were never seen again. ...
Historical Timeline
Fredrick Douglass Published Memoir
May 1st, 1845: Formerly enslaved man Fredrick Douglass published his memoir “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.” The memoir helped to fuel the abolitionist movement in the United States. Douglass was known as a powerful orator, an abolitionist, and also a supporter of the suffrage movement for women. ...
P. T. Barnum Introduced First Hoax
1842: Showman P. T. Barnum introduced his first hoax to the public. Barnum sewed the bodies of apes onto the tails of fish and advertised them as mermaids from Fiji. Barnum was a circus showman and hosted many variety shows. He was known for his publicity stunts and exploitation of people in his care. ...
President William Henry Harrison Died in Office
April 4th, 1841: William Henry Harrison died after only serving 31 days as US President. His death was attributed to an illness caught while reading a lengthy speech his inauguration, which was on a cold and rainy day. Harrison holds the record for shortest time served as US President. ...