February 20th


1547: Edward VI of England is crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey, embarrassing thousands of loyal subjects who thought the ceremony was being held at Temple Beth Israel.


1792: The Postal Service Act, establishing the United States Post Office Department, is signed by President George Washington. But it takes six more months to enact the plan because it got lost in the mail.


1962: While aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth, making three orbits in 4 hours, 55 minutes… or about the time it currently takes to get through security at JFK.