- John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both signed the Declaration of Independence; went on to serve as Presidents of the United States; and died on July 4th, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary. Adams’ last words were said to be, ‘Thomas Jefferson still survives,’ not knowing that his friend and rival had died several hours earlier (no internet back then).
- Fifth President James Monroe, another Founding Father, died on July 4, 1831. He was the third consecutive President to die on Independence Day. Fourth time was the proverbial charm, to the relief, I’m guessing, of John Quincy Adams.
- The Declaration of Independence has been celebrated since the first anniversary in 1777, but the 4th of July was not declared a national holiday until 1941. It was first referred to as Independence Day in 1791. Ideas caught on slowly back then – like I said: no internet.
- Three times I have declared a Will Smith Day, because he is the King of Independence Day. No government either side of the pond has taken me up on it. You can read the details here, but here’s an extract to whet your appetite:
Sadly, Will won’t be starring in my forthcoming movie, in which large blonde dogs band together and betray humanity to an alien species. I call it Independence Day: Boomer’s Revenge. Tagline: The Day The Dogs Bit Back.
Happy Independence Day!
*
The Laughing Housewife 
We’re here enjoying Independence Day!
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Will Smith did make my Independence Day! I love the way you think, Boomer deserves a movie.
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Of interest….James Madison…4th President, died in 1836. He knew he was deathly ill and pleaded with his doctors to try to keep him alive until July 4th. He knew the significance of dying that day like his predecessors. Unfortunately, he only made it until June 28th….my birthday.
Happy 4th back to you, all is forgiven!
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Happy 4th you guys! We’re glad you guys were able to forgive and move on. Maybe one day we’ll do that from our own civil war.
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Wow, what an absolutely fascinating post. I’m astounded. They didn’t have the internet? Are you sure? I think I might have to Google that… 🙂
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As Al says, Happy 4th back at you, but unlike Al, I know your ancestors were Irish and many of them were here fighting the English. So what else is new? Dianne
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😀
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Can’t imagine not having Internet. 😦 Fascinating facts, Tilly. I did know that Jefferson and Adams died on the same day. Quite a coincidence. 😕
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Funny how the Will Smith movie is becoming a holiday regular event.
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Happy Fourth, Tilly!
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Pity Adams didn’t suddenly sit up again and say, ‘Oops, no, sorry: he’s already here!’ before keeling over again. THAT would have caused a stir!
Amazing that such an important date in their lives would have become one in their deaths, too!
Now, of course, people are being able to manipulate the date of death of our first post-Apartheid president – without assassination. Ironic.
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Just a little. They should be ashamed of themselves.
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Your British! Your not supposed to celebrate the 4th with us. You are supposed to wail and moan about how we should still be colony and how we cheated in the war and all that rot. 😉
But I agree with you about Will Smith. Have you seen the video of him on the Graham Norton show doing the Fresh Prince theme a month or so ago?
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I have! He is fabulous.
We British also have a sense of fair play and don’t hold grudges – and you should know that everything that happens in America comes here eventually…expect an announcement any day now that the 4th of July will be a British public holiday 🙂
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Unfortunate, that, two presidents popping their clogs on the same day. But it does show the regard these two men had for each other, doesn’t it?
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We celebrated in a small town way at the farthest reaches of the American Empire: Hilo, Hawaii!
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That’s nice!
I am reminded of ‘Rage of Angels’, when the lawyer (played by Jaclyn Smith in the TV series) was able to file a vital document in Hawaii and saved the day 🙂
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