4th July: US Independence Day

Everyone knows July 4^th is US Independence Day, but what you may not know about it is:

1. Calvin Coolidge, 30^th President, was born on this date in 1872. Other famous Americans born on Independence Day are Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of The Scarlet Letter; Stephen Forster, a composer whose songs include Camptown Races and Oh Susannah; Rube Goldberg, a political cartoonist, famous for drawings of convoluted machinery, a kind of US Heath Robinson; Abe Saperstein, founder of the Harlem Globetrotters basketball team; Gloria Stewart, the actress who played the old Rose in Titanic; Abigail Van Buren, agony aunt famous for her “Dear Abby” column; Ann Landers, another agony aunt – these two were both born on 4 July 1918; Leona Helmsley, the millionairess who famously said that only the little people pay taxes; Bill Withers, blues singer; Ron Kovic, Vietnam veteran whose life story was told in the film Born on the Fourth of July, in which he was played by Tom Cruise (who was born on the 3^rd of July).
2. In 1826 on this date, two former presidents died: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the third and fourth presidents respectively. Jefferson died at one pm, Adams a few hours later. Jefferson’s last words were "This is the Fourth?"  And Adams’ "Thomas Jefferson still survives." James Monroe, the 5th President, died on this date in 1831.
3. Other observances on this date include Hillbilly/Redneck Day, a celebration of US working classes; Barbecue day (I wonder why!); Firecracker day (again, I wonder why!); Barbecued spare ribs day; Filipino-American Friendship Day Public holiday in the Philippines in which American institutions are honoured; Freedomfest in Arkansas; Independence from Meat Day, a vegetarian awareness day; National Country Music Day; National Toe Jam Day, the day of the year when the average American is most likely to see his neighbour's bare feet; National Huckleberry Festival; National Paralysed Veteran's Day; Oceanfest New Jersey; Providence Day 1636, Rhode Island; Sidewalk Egg Frying Contest Arizona; Tom Sawyer Fence-Painting Day, a fence painting contest to re-enact the fence painting incident in the book by Mark Twain; World’s Greatest Lizard Race Annual New Mexico sports day for lizards and Iguanas.
4. Most if not all of the above are connected in some way with Independence Day. Some observances that are likely not are: The lighting of the Baal fire in Northumberland, UK; Bullion's Day, the feast of the translation of St Martin of Bullion's relics; Family Day Lesotho; Fighter's Day Yugoslavia; Fisherman's day Marshall Islands; the King's birthday in Tonga; Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod begins in Wales.
5. Across the pond in England, on the first Independence Day, George III wrote in his diary, “nothing of importance happened today”. Two hundred years later, the sovereign of England was mush less dismissive. Queen Elizabeth II went over to join in the celebrations and congratulate the former colony on 200 years of independence.
6. It is probably not entirely coincidental that the following events took place on this date: 1827 Slavery abolished in New York; 1836 Wisconsin Territory formed; 1845 Texas Congress voted for annexation to US; 1863 Boise, Idaho was founded (now the capital of Idaho); 1868 North Carolina was readmitted to the Union; 1894 The Republic of Hawaii was established; Sanford B Dole was the first president; 1946 Manuel Roxas became the first President of the Philippines as the US granted the islands their independence; 1973 Treaty of Chaguarramas was signed establishing the Caribbean Community; 1994 The United States opened its embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The US flag that we know today has not always looked exactly as it does. Updated versions, adding stars for new states, were unfurled in 1959 and 1960, (Alaska and Hawaii respectively) and the date chosen for their unveiling was, of course, the fourth of July. In 1994, US hamburger chain McDonalds were celebrating the opening of their first outlet in Kuwait and queues 7 miles long to sample their wares. In 2004 The cornerstone of the Freedom Tower was laid on the site of the World Trade Center in New York.
7. In 2006, Space Shuttle Discovery launched – the only time a shuttle has launched on Independence Day.
8. In 1796 The first Independence Day celebration was held in the Western Reserve (Conneaut) by Moses Cleaveland and his survey party. Independence Day was not an official paid federal holiday until 1938.
9. The legal separation of the colonies from Britain actually took place on July 2^nd when Congress voted for it. Only then did they start work on the Declaration of Independence which was approved two days later. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail on the third of July: “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” He was right, he just got the date wrong as July 4 was the date on the final declaration so that was the date people celebrated.
10. There is some dispute among historians as to whether the Declaration was actually signed on the fourth of July, although there are documents written by John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin suggesting that it was. Many believe the signing did not take place until August 2^nd.