Marathon Pundit: On this day in 1870: First Thanksgiving as a federal holiday; Grant's proclamation

Thursday, November 24, 2011

On this day in 1870: First Thanksgiving as a federal holiday; Grant's proclamation

Stephenson County, IL

Here's an item that will trip up most history buffs: The president who signed the legislation into law that made Thanksgiving a federal holiday was not George Washington or even Abraham Lincoln--it was Ulysses S. Grant.

New Year's Day, Independence Day, Christmas, and Thanksgiving were declared federal holidays in 1870, although the current date of Thanksgiving, the fourth Thursday in November, wasn't settled until 1941.

The first federal Thanksgiving occurred on November 24, 1870--exactly 141 years ago.

Below follows Grant's proclamation from that year:

Whereas it behooves a people sensible of their dependence on the Almighty publicly and collectively to acknowledge their gratitude for his favors and mercies and humbly to beseech for their continuance; and

U.S. Grant home, Galena, IL

Whereas the people of the United States during the year now about to end have special cause to be thankful for general prosperity, abundant harvests, exemption from pestilence, foreign war, and civil strife:

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States, concurring in any similar recommendations from chief magistrates of States, do hereby recommend to all citizens to meet in their respective places of worship on Thursday, the 24th day of November next, there to give thanks for the bounty of God during the year about to close and to supplicate for its continuance hereafter.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 21st day of October, A.D. 1870, and of the Independence of the United States the ninety-fifth.

U. S. GRANT.

By the President:

HAMILTON FISH,

Secretary of State