Category Archives: Nifty History People

Abraham Lincoln and The Prince

Spoiler alert: Abraham Lincoln never met Prince Albert or Queen Victoria….but…. The Protocol of Nations In the earlier days of the country, long before “the hot line” existed, direct communication between heads of state was not considered proper. Written communication … Continue reading

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The Great White Jail

“The White House is the finest prison in the world.” Harry S Truman. The White House Paradox The White House, or the Executive Mansion, is undoubtedly the finest residence the country has to offer the President of the United States, … Continue reading

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George Washington and the Purloined Packet

Delivering the Mail Written communication i.e. letters, documents, newspapers, etc., was not nearly as common in early colonial times as it would become in later generations. First of all, literacy. A large percentage of people could not read or write. … Continue reading

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Admiral George Dewey: The Boom and the Bust

The Admirable Admiral George Dewey (1837-1917) was a Vermont man, from a prominent family. He was sent to Norwich University when he was fifteen, and expelled two years later for disciplinary matters, perhaps not uncommon for 15-year-olds. He then was … Continue reading

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Joseph Jones, James Monroe and General Washington

The Hon. Joseph Jones Joseph Jones (1727-1805) practiced the triple professions of many well-to-do Colonial men: planter, attorney, and political office-holder. One can easily list Jefferson, Madison, Jackson, Tyler, and a slew of others in that category. Born in Westmoreland … Continue reading

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Lucretia Garfield: The 6-Month FLOTUS

Crete Lucretia “Crete” Rudolph Garfield (1832-1918) was a well educated young woman. She was sent first to the Geauga Eclectic (similar to a prep school), followed by attending Hiram College, today part of Case-Western Reserve in Ohio. She had known … Continue reading

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Grant, Buckner and the Pillow Flight

Gideon Pillow was first and foremost a “political” general of massive pretensions. The Stuffed Pillow Gideon Pillow (1806-78) was born and raised to a prosperous and well-connected Tennessee family. He attended the University of Nashville, became an attorney, and went … Continue reading

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John Adams: Four Months in the White House

On November 1, 1800, 65-year-old President John Adams took up residence in the unfinished Executive Mansion in Washington, DC, only a few days before the quadrennial election. The White House…  …was neither “white” (it was sandstone), nor would it be … Continue reading

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Edward Porter Alexander. Soldier. Engineer. Gettysburg.

EPA: The Young and Handsome Edward Porter Alexander wanted to be a soldier from early youth. His well-to-do father, a successful Georgia planter, wanted him to be an engineer. When a family friend advised the senior Alexander that a West … Continue reading

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The Lincolns: A Tale of Two Stepmothers

Among the many commonalities between Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd was the sad memory of being motherless at an early age. Abraham Lincoln: Semi-orphaned at Nine Nancy Hanks Lincoln died of the milk sickness, said to be from poisonous grasses … Continue reading

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