March 17,1762
The first New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held on lower Broadway, organized by homesick Irish ex-patriots and Irish military. In recent years, approximately 150,000 marchers participate in the parade; floats and automobiles are not permitted.
The Beatles’ single “Penny Lane” reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song’s title is often mistaken as an ode to a road in Liverpool, England called “Penny Lane” but it is actually a reference to a bus station that Paul McCartney frequented.
American musician and songwriter Bob Dylan released his self-titled debut, under Columbia Records. The album featured folk classics and two original songs, “Talkin’ New York” and “Song to Woody”.
Author Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was published. It was translated into all major languages and became the best-selling book of the 19th century in the U.S., following the bible.
Alcatraz, the federal prison on Alcatraz Island that is located in the middle of San Francisco Bay, closed. It was designed to be the highest security prison in the world. Today, Alcatraz is managed by the National Park Service and is open to tours.
The Football League, the world’s oldest professional soccer league, was founded in England. It is also known as the npower football league and, since 1995, features 72 professional soccer clubs from England and Wales.
Founding Father Patrick Henry delivered his “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech at the House of Burgesses in Saint John’s Church in Richmond, Va. His speech argued in favor of mobilizing military action against the intruding British military force.
