Today's American Minute

On this day, July 26, 1775, Benjamin Franklin became the first Postmaster General of the United States. Before the Revolution he served in that position under the British Crown.

Franklin also established the first volunteer fire department, a circulating public library and the lighting of city streets.

He helped found the University of Pennsylvania, a hospital, an insurance company, a city police force, a night watch and the first militia.

He was a printer, scientist, philosopher and statesmen.

In 1787, as the President (Governor) of Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin hosted the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, where he made the motion: "I therefore beg leave to move - that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business."

Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1787: "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."


Tuesday, July 26th
The 207th day of 2005
There are 158 days left in the year

Today's Highlights in History

On July 26, 1947, President Truman signed the National Security Act, creating the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, the Central Intelligence Agency and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (Go to article.)

On July 26, 1875, Carl (Gustav) Jung , one of the founders of analytic psychology, was born. Following his death on June 6, 1961, his obituary appeared in The Times. (Go to obit. Other Birthdays)

On July 26, 1884, Harper's Weekly featured a cartoon about the presidential election of 1884. (See the cartoon and read an explanation.)

Reference: The New York Times

The following courtesy Iraq War Today

Today in History
1775 - Benjamin Franklin becomes the first Postmaster General.
1788 - New York becomes the 11th state to ratify the Constitution.
1908 - The Federal Bureau of Investigation is established.
1947 - The National Security Act establishes the CIA.
1948 - President Truman issues Executive Order No. 9981, directing "equality of
treatment and opportunity" in the U.S. armed forces.
1953 - Fidel Castro leads an attack on Moncada Barracks, beginning the Cuban Revolution.
1956 - Egypt seizes the Suez Canal.
1957 - The U.S.S.R. launches the first intercontinental multistage ballistic missile.
1958 - The Army launches the 4th successful U.S. satellite, Explorer IV.
1963 - US Syncom 2, the 1st geosynchronous communications satellite, is launched.
1965 - The Republic of Maldives gains independence from Britain (Nat'l Day).
1971 - Apollo 15 is launched to the Moon.
1974 - The U.S.S.R.'s Soyuz fails to dock with the Salyut 3 space station.
1975 - Soyuz 18B returns to Earth.
1991 - Paul Reubens (a.k.a. Pee Wee Herman) is arrested for exposing himself at an adult movie theater.

This Day in Terrorism
1986 - Lebanese kidnappers release Reverend Lawrence Martin Jenco.

Birthdays
1739 - George Clinton, 4th U.S. Vice President
1799 - Isaac Babbitt, invented babbitt's metal for bearings
1829 - Auguste Beernaert Belgium (Nobel Peace Prize-1909)
1875 - Dr. Carl Gustav Jung, founder of analytic psychology
1908 - Salvador Allende Gossens, Chile's last elected president (1970-73)
1928 - Stanley Kubrick, director (2001, )
1940 - Mary Jo Kopechne, killed when Ted Kennedy drove off a bridge in Chappaquiddick
1949 - William M. Shepherd, Captain, USN / astronaut (STS-27, 41)
1951 - William Surles "Bill" McArthur Jr., Lt. Colonel / astronaut

Passings
1863 - Sam Houston, president of Texas
1941 - Marx Dormoy, French socialist, killed by a time bomb
1952 - Eva "Evita" Peron, Argentina's First Lady

Reported Missing in Action
1967
Brazik, Richard, USAF (OH); F4C shot down, presumed KIA, body not recovered
Claflin, Richard Ames, USAF (KS); F4C shot down, presumed KIA, body not recovered
1969
Brenning, Richard D., USNR (NE); A4C crashed in water soon after take-off, Killed, body not recovered