New York State creates a Board of Commissioners of Emigration. Two-thirds of all emigration to America came through New York from the 1780s to the 1880s. With the onset of the Famine and thousands of Irish emigrants arriving in a constant stream, benevolent societies were established and lobbied New York State to set up a board of Commissioners of Emigration. The Board, which … [Read more...] about May 4, 1847
March 23, 1847
On this day in 1847, the Choctaw Native American tribe collected money to help starving victims of the Irish potato famine. Several years before, in 1831, President Andrew Jackson seized Choctaw territory in what is now southeastern Mississippi and parts of Alabama, forcing the Choctaw to travel five hundred miles along the "Trail of Tears" to reserved Indian Territory in … [Read more...] about March 23, 1847
January 15, 1844
On this day, The University of Notre Dame received an official college charter from the state of Indiana. The Bishop of Vincennes offered land to Father Edward Sorin for the University in 1842 on the condition that he build a college within a two year period. The school began as a primary and secondary school, after acquiring two students, and was housed in the original log … [Read more...] about January 15, 1844
August 7, 1843
Irish artist Sarah Purser, who was most well known for her portraits, died on this day in 1843. Some of her finest work such as, "Le Petit Dejeuner" resides in the National Gallery of Ireland. In 1923, Purser became the first female member of the Royal Hibernian Academy. … [Read more...] about August 7, 1843
May 13, 1842
The composer Arthur Sullivan was born in London to an Irish Italian mother, Mary Coughan and Irish-born father, Thomas Sullivan. Sullivan composed his first anthem at age 8. At age 14, he was awarded a scholarship to the London Academy of Music. Sullivan began a collaboration with W.S. Gilbert to create the comic opera "Thespis." He would work with Giblert on fourteen light … [Read more...] about May 13, 1842