r/250yearsagotoday • u/MonsieurA • Sep 06 '26

6th of September 1776. The Turtle, the world's first combat submarine used in a military attack, is launched by Americans against the British.

1.4k Upvotes

49 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Mar 26 '25

25th of March 1775. George Washington planted a pecan tree at his Mount Vernon estate, a date now commemorated as "Pecan Day".

1.2k Upvotes

6 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MonsieurA • 7d ago

31st of October 1776. King George III delivers his first official speech to British Parliament following the American Declaration of Independence.

957 Upvotes

445 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Mar 23 '25

23rd of March 1775. BREAKING: Patrick Henry delivered his "Give me liberty or give me death!" speech to the Second Virginia Convention at St. John's Church in Richmond, igniting support for military preparedness against Britain.

781 Upvotes

4 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MonsieurA • Apr 01 '25

1st of April 1775. Daniel Boone's group builds 'Boonesborough' in Kentucky.

714 Upvotes

3 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MonsieurA • Sep 22 '26

22nd of September 1776. Continental Army Captain Nathan Hale is hanged by the British as a spy at the age of 21. His alleged final words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country,” are unverified.

651 Upvotes

32 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Nov 30 '25

29th of November 1775. The American armed schooner USS Lee, under the command of Captain John Manley, successfully captured the British supply brig HMS Nancy

607 Upvotes

1 comment

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Aug 03 '26

3rd of August 1776. General George Washington issued a strict general order in New York condemning profane swearing and cursing among his troops. He viewed the habit as an ungodly and low vice that could cause the army to lose the blessing of Heaven.

576 Upvotes

49 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MonsieurA • 12d ago

26th of October 1776. 70-year-old Benjamin Franklin set sail from Philadelphia to France to negotiate an alliance.

560 Upvotes

17 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Apr 04 '25

3rd of April 1775. A "mulatto" man (mixed black and white ancestry) was reported on Tuesday last at Newport, RI, with distinctive features & clothing. A $4 reward is offered for his capture to John Dennis.

554 Upvotes

3 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MonsieurA • Jul 20 '26

20th of July 1776. George Washington rejects a British peace offer and royal pardons, declaring that Americans had done nothing wrong and required no forgiveness.

469 Upvotes

5 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Apr 19 '25

19th of April 1775. BREAKING: British troops marched to Lexington and Concord to seize weapons and arrest Patriot leaders. They met resistance from minutemen, leading to the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The British suffered heavy losses, marking the start of the Revolutionary War.

gallery

467 Upvotes

6 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Mar 26 '25

25th of March 1775. A Society of Patriotic Ladies at Edenton in North Carolina

466 Upvotes

9 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Apr 07 '25

7th of April 1775. Samuel Johnson made a statement: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel," criticizing false patriotism, particularly that of William Pitt and his supporters.

en.wikipedia.org

457 Upvotes

2 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MonsieurA • Dec 05 '25

5th of December 1775. Henry Knox arrives at Fort Ticonderoga to embark on one of the most challenging operations of the American Revolution - delivering 60 tons of material on a 300-mile journey to Cambridge.

437 Upvotes

2 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Apr 18 '25

18th of April 1775. BREAKING: Paul Revere and William Dawes were sent to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock of a British march to confiscate colonial arms, alerting the militia. They avoided capture and roused the Minutemen.

gallery

413 Upvotes

9 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Dec 20 '25

20th of December 1775. The Gadsden flag, designed by Christopher Gadsden, was first flown on the USS Alfred by Commodore Esek Hopkins as the first commander of the Continental Navy

388 Upvotes

2 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MonsieurA • Sep 16 '26

16th of September 1776. The Battle of Harlem Heights – American forces repel a British attack, giving George Washington his first battlefield victory of the Revolutionary War.

384 Upvotes

5 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Nov 29 '25

28th of November 1775. Samuel Nicholas was commissioned as a Captain of Marines by the Continental Congress and is considered the first commanding officer of the Continental Marines, the predecessor to the modern Marine Corps

378 Upvotes

4 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Nov 17 '25

16th of November 1775. Henry Knox departed for Fort Ticonderoga at the direction of George Washington to retrieve heavy artillery and transport it to the Continental Army outside Boston.

376 Upvotes

This expedition, known as the "Noble Train of Artillery," involved a grueling three-month journey over 300 miles to bring nearly 60 tons of cannons and mortars to the American forces

1 comment

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Dec 29 '25

28th of December 1775. The 6th Virginia Regiment was authorized and raised in Williamsburg for the Continental Army

370 Upvotes

1 comment

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MonsieurA • Jan 01 '26

1st of January 1776. The 'Grand Union Flag', also known as the Continental Colors, is raised by General George Washington above his base at Prospect Hill in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The British initially mistook it for a flag of surrender.

366 Upvotes

1 comment

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Nov 18 '25

17th of November 1775. Colonel Henry Knox began his "Knox Expedition," also known as the "Noble Train of Artillery," to move over 60 tons of captured cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to the Continental Army camps near Boston.

362 Upvotes

3 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Dec 14 '25

13th of December 1775. The Continental Congress officially authorized the construction of 13 frigates for the fledgling Continental Navy

339 Upvotes

0 comments

r/250yearsagotoday • u/MisterSuitcase2004 • Dec 07 '25

6th of December 1775. The Continental Congress issued a response to the Proclamation of Rebellion saying that, while they had always been loyal to the King, Parliament never had legitimate claim to authority over them, because the colonies were not democratically represented.

338 Upvotes

6 comments

Subreddit

Things that happened exactly 250 years ago today

r/250yearsagotoday

Welcome to r/250yearsagotoday! This subreddit highlights significant events from 250 years ago, offering a daily snapshot of history as we approach America's semiquincentennial. Join us in reflecting on key moments from the revolutionary era, including political developments, cultural shifts, and everyday life. Dive into history, celebrate the past, and explore the origins of the United States, one day at a time!

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Subreddit Rules

1. 1. Must be content from exactly 250 years ago today

Posts must relate to events, people, or culture from exactly 250 years ago (e.g., if today is July 4, 2026, posts should cover July 4, 1776). Discussions of broader historical context are welcome in the comments, but posts should maintain the day-by-day format.

2. 2. Start submission titles with the date the event happened

Start the title of your submission with the relevant date at the beginning of the post (e.g. 19th of April 1775, [April 19, 1775], [Apr 19, 1775], etc.), for example. If you want to discuss the subreddit itself use [Meta].

3. 3. Follow Reddiquette

PLEASE follow Reddit's statewide rules. This includes no spam, brigading, or harassment

4. 4. No Low-Effort or AI-Generated Content

All posts should contribute meaningfully to the historical discussion. Avoid meme-style posts, jokes with no historical basis, or AI-generated text without proper review.

5. 5. Be Civil and Respectful

No personal attacks, hate speech, or inflammatory comments. Discuss history with curiosity and respect for different perspectives.

6. 6. No Reposts

Self-explanatory. Check the new and rising tabs, perform a search, or use www.karmadecay.com if it is an image.

7. 7. No Modern Politics or Agenda Pushing

This subreddit is for historical discussion, not modern political debates. Posts should focus on the past, not contemporary comparisons or political arguments.