%^^" : . ^, 6o^ ^ f //re»\\\v - „ A "-^O^ •s.-vo< Q^O. ^^^ V #' v.o.V'"-^ V V o ^.^^?5 ^^Q^ -^ , ^ , X .^^ ^^:^^^^^^ cp^.:i;;:^% f^'^% c>, % ^ ^ * « ^ ^ V ^ ^.d' i^*^ i."? tf-. ©IIS . ^ f^ "*^ ^°^-^2^^'% ^°^:;^^^% ^°^:^^^"^ = .<?> °x> ^^^ ^^^:^;;l^^% ^''^1^;;:^% ^^^:^;^^^% <H c v^ X,** -* <^N^ v^^^ f^^ ADMIRAL GEOEGE DEWEY THE HERO OF MANILA. 19th CENTURY T CALENDARS AND FACTS BY A. P. CONNOLLY CONTAINING 101 CALENDARS from 1800 to 1900 With Historical and Important Events OF Each Year CHICAGO LAIRD & LEE, Publishers •ECONO CPP¥. ..„ 201899 42172 Copyright, 1898. by a P. CONNOLLY. Copyright, 1890. by WILLIAM H. LEE. it^aooi^ige KrecgiVfe . rf — OUR PRESIDENTS. True nobility is derived from virtue, not from birth. Title may be purchased, but virtue is the only coin that makes the bargain valid.—Bwrton. The long line of illustrious men who have held the exalted position of Presi- dent of the United States has not its counterpart in the world's history. Not "rulers by Divine right" but by the will of the people,—occasionally not by the majority of the popular vote, but, by the majority of the Electoral College, which is a conception of the early Congress, and, while we perhaps think that the majority ought to rule, yet this is not the law, and we are a wonderfully good people to obey the law. The men who have filled these exalted positions came from the people, —some had wealth, 'tis true, others came from the farm and other humble walks of life, but with a desire to serve the people and advance the interests of the Republic. No czars, no emperors, no kings with an entailed succession, with or without brains ; no blue blood, made bluer by running back into barbarism, but good, rich, American blood that thrills the very soul, —inde- pendent, honest. God-fearing men, whose counsels have carried the Republic through the perils of birth at Bunker Hill and Yorktown and Valley Forge until to-day we can dictate terms of peace to the proudest nations on the globe. The 19th Century to Americans is most important, for it is our initial cent- ury. We had just seen the light of day in our new condition when 1800 was ushered in. The declaration had gone forth to be free but the experiment was yet to be tried. When the bold, determined men signed the Declaration and the gauntlet was thrown down to the arrogant, proud Briton, it was faith in God and powder, the free men of America and George Washington of Virginia that in- spired our forefathers to wondrous deeds of valor amid great sacrifices and a holy determination to be free. Washington was called by his countrymen to lead the armies of the young republic to victory; and, as they marched and counter- marched and suffered for country, and country alone, the tide of battle rolled back; the sacrifices and the life blood of the fathers and sons hallowed the ground and cleared the skies and peace was declared. The armies disbanded and the modest hero bade farewell to his comrades in arms, retiring to his estate in Virginia to live in quietude for the balance of his life, but the people willed it otherwise, and GEORGE WASHINGTON, the First President, was honored by a two- term service from 1789 to 1797. He was born on February 22, 1732, near Bridges Creek, Va-, and inherited large landed estates from his father. The first election occurred in January, 1789. Tiie two houses of congress had been organ- ized in New York about April 4, 1789, although March 4th had been the appointed time. The organization of the gOTernment was completed on April 30th. The President and Vice-President John Adams, were sworn in by Hod. Robert R. Livingston, chancellor of New York, in the gallery of the old city hall in Wall street. In the first cabinet were Thomas Jefferson, secretary of state; Alexander HamiltoD, secretary of the treasury; Henry Knox, secretary of war; Edmund Randolph, attorney general, and Samuel Osgood, postmaster general. John Jay was the first chief justice. At this time the country had a debt of $80,000,000,—a fabulous sum considering the country's small population and resources. After a re-election of Washington and John Adams for a second term, the cabinet was Timothy Pickering, secretary of state; Oliver Wolcott, secretary of the treasury; James McHenry, secretary of war; and Charles Lee, attorney general. There was no navy at this time. General Washington died at Mount Vernon, Va., December 14, 1799. JOHN ADAMS, Second President, was born at Braintree, Mass., on October 30, 1735. In early life he was a school teacher and had ambition to enter the army, but lacked the requisite influence to accomplish what he desired, and then he thought of theology, but finally turned his attention to law and was admitted to the bar. He married Abigail Smith and removed to Boston in 1768. On the organization of the first Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia in 1774, he was one of the five members to represent Massachusetts. In 1777 he was sent as minister to France, where he remained until the mid-summer of 1779, when he returned home to be again called into service, and in October of the same year, went as commissioner to Great Britain. He remained abroad until 1788, when he returned home and received the thanks of congress. He was elected President and inaugurated at Philadelphia on March 4, 1797, in the sixty second year of his age. As Vice-President he opened the electoral vote and declared himself President and Thomas Jefferson Vice-President. During his administration the seat of the general government was removed to the District of Columbia, its present location. Virginia and Maryland had ceded ten miles square of land for this purpose. His cabinet remained about as General Wash- ington had left it, with the addition of the navy portfolio, to which Benjamin Stoddard, of Pennsylvania was appointed. General Washington died during this administration. Mr. Pickering failing to be in accord with the President was ''discharged from further service as secretary of state." Mr. Adams died on July 4, 1826 THOMAS JEFFERSON, the Third President, was born in Shad well. Va., on April 2, 1743. His family was of Welsh ancestry and his education of a classical order. He was graduated from the William and Mary College with honors, and then turned his attention to law and soon built up a large practice. In 1769 he was elected member of the house of burgesses. He entered the arena of politics deliberately, for the benefit of his fellow men and not to enrich him- self, except in contentment, deeming the respect and consideration of his fellows of far greater worth than riches. He married on January 1, 1772, Mrs. Martha Skelton, a childless widow, who, upon the death of her father adHed to her husband's estate 50,000 acres and 135 slaves. On June 20, 1775, he took his seat in the Continentai Congress in Philadelphia, and on the same day learned and apprised congress of the battle of Bunker Hill. The die was cast and he was appointed on a committee to draft a declaration, which has become an immortal document. He was elected President and Aaron Burr Vice-President by the house of representatives, and for the second term his running mate was Mr. George Clinton, of New York ; James Madison was his secretary of state. During his second administration, Georgia ceded 100,000 square miles of land which now form the states of Alabama and Mississippi; Louisiana was purchased from France; Aaron Burr was tried for treason; the slave trade was abolished and Judge Pickering was impeached. Mr. Jefferson died on July 4, 1826. JAMES MADISON, the Fourth President, was born in Virginia. March 16, 1757. His father was a large landed proprietor and a leading man of affairs. James was educated at Princeton College where he graduated with high honors. At the outbreak of the revolutionary war he would have joined the army but his health would not permit. He turned his attention to politics and the affairs of the country became of great interest to him. He and Mr. Jefferson met for the first time on October 7, 1776, at the first session of the independent legislative assembly of Virginia, where he was one of the delegates to represent the state in the congress of the confederation. His abilities were recognized, and he was placed on most important committees. He was secretary of state under Jefferson in 1801, and took an active part in the negotiations then pending with foreign nations. He was twice elected President, serving from March 4, 1809, to 1813, with George Clinton of New York, as Vice-President the first term, and Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, for the second. In his cabinet were found Robert Smith, of Maryland; William H. Eustis, of Massachusetts; Paul Hamilton, of South Carolina; Albert Gallatin, of Pennsylvania and Csesar A. Rodney, of Delaware. The most important event of the administration was the declaration of war against England which cost the United States $100,000,000. Mr. Madison died on June 28, 1836, and his wife died on July 12, 1849. JAMES MONROE, the Fifth President, was born in West Walden county, Virginia, on April 28, 1758. He was educated at William and Mary College, but left in 1776 to enter the army, was commissioned a lieutenant and promoted to captain, and again as major on the staff of Lord Sterling. He fought at Brandy wine and Germantown, and also took part in the War of the Revolution.