It’s Cake and Candles today for James Brown Mason, a doctor in South Carolina and then his home state of Rhode Island.
Later on he began a career in politics as one of the last of his political party to take office in Congress. We think Mike had too much fun making this episode.
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It’s Cake and Candles today for Brigadier General John Harrison, born this day in 1775 in Pennsylvania.
Harrison became a local official in his home county until the War of 1812, when he enlisted and his company was sent to defend Baltimore against the British in one of the war’s biggest victories for the American side.
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Daniel Dobbins was born this day in 1775. We’re pretty sure that’s the date; listen in and find out why.
Dobbins spent most of his time on the waters of Lake Erie. He—and most of the people in the Lower Peninsula of modern-day Michigan—didn’t even know that the War of 1812 was going on until he and his ship were captured by the British.
He managed to escape and an interesting coincidence saved his life. Eventually he became a Sailing Master in the US Navy and redesigned the gunboats so they’d handle better in the Great Lakes. After the war his career took some interesting turns that had literally nothing to do with him.
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