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Events of the World: Feb 1863
Posted By Brian Tomlin on February 28, 2013
February 1863
February 2: American writer Samuel Clemens begins using the pen name “Mark Twain” for the first time
February 7: The HMS Orpheus (built 1860) sinks attempting to enter Manukau Harbor, which was not in its intended route. The ship was behind schedule and attempted to take a short cut while delivering supplies for the New Zealand wars. 189 of the ship’s crew of 259 died.
February 10:The first U.S. patent for a fire extinguisher , by Alanson Crane, of Virginia. The tube-container was a step up from the fire suppression glass “grenades” that were previously the most popular form of emergency firefighting.
February 10: Famous little person and circus performer Gen. Tom Thumb, married another little person, Lavinia Warren, at a ceremony in New York City. Promoter P.T. Barnum, who was Tom’s employer, sold tickets to the event.
February 17: First meeting of the “Committee of Five,” in Geneva, Switzerland, a group that was the foundation of the International Red Cross.
The Gratz Historical Society was organized in 1977. The mission of the society is to preserve and protect the history of the upper part of Dauphin County, PA. The Society has a museum and research library at 8 W. Market Street in Gratz. Today the society has over 300 members. Visit the Society's
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