A guide book of art, architecture, and historic interests in Pennsylvania
History
A guide book of art, architecture, and historic interests in Pennsylvania
Architecture -- Pennsylvania; Art -- Pennsylvania; Historic buildings -- Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania -- Guidebooks; Pennsylvania -- History
“American Ornithology” was the work of Alexander Wilson, a resident of
Philadelphia. Eight volumes were issued, the first in September, 1808.
It was published in Philadelphia by Bradford, and was the first book
upon ornithology published in this country.
The first American shot was made in Philadelphia, two towers being
completed at practically the same time. The advertisements appear under
the following dates:
Bishop & Sparks, October 20, 1808.
Paul Beck, October 27, 1808.
The first Bible Society in America was instituted December 12, 1808, and
was incorporated January 30, 1810, as the “Bible Society of
Philadelphia.” By an amendment to the charter, dated March 7, 1840, the
name was changed to the “Pennsylvania Bible Society,” which name has
been retained to the present day.
The first cotton goods printed from engraved cylinders in the United
States were produced near Germantown in 1809 by Thorp, Siddall & Co.,
from cylinders brought from England.
The first experimental railroad track in the United States was
constructed by Somerville, a Scotch millwright, for Thomas Leiper of
Philadelphia, and laid down in the yard of the Bull’s Head Tavern, on
Second Street above Callowhill, in the Northern Liberties. It was
sixty-four feet in length. The test was made July 31, 1809, and was so
successful that Leiper had a railroad constructed at his quarries on
Crum Creek, in Delaware County, September, 1809. This was the first
practical railroad built in the United States.
First institution in the United States chartered to do a trust business
was the “Pennsylvania Company for Insurances on Lives and Granting
Annuities.” Application for charter made January, 1810; refused by the
House of Representatives, but finally granted March 10, 1812.
The first chemical society in America was the “Columbian Chemical
Society,” formed in Philadelphia in 1811.
The first soup society in America was the “Northern Soup Society,” on
Fourth Street above Brown, formed January, 1817.
The “Academy of Natural Sciences” was the first of its kind in the
United States. It was organized January 25, 1812, by John Speakman,
Jacob Gilliams, and four others. The society was incorporated by the
Pennsylvania Legislature, March 24, 1817.
The first lithograph published in the United States was a portrait of
Rev. Abner Kneeland, by Bass Otis, in 1818.
John Farr, a chemist of Philadelphia, in 1818 introduced into this
country the manufacture of Seidlitz powders. He associated with him in
business Abram Kunzi, and as Farr & Kunzi, located on Arch Street
near Twelfth, they manufactured the first quinine in the United
States. This firm, by various steps, has become a part of the
Powers-Weightman-Rosengarten Company.
First savings bank, the “Philadelphia Saving Fund Society,” commenced
business December 2, 1816. Chartered February 25, 1819.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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