Month: January 2014

January 5: Peter F. Dailey, burlesque comedian whose epitaph reads, “He Laughed And The World Laughed With Him” (what more could any comedian want?), was born on this date in 1861.

January 4: Co-founder with his brothers of what would become one of the largest private banks in America, now Brown Brothers Harriman, James Brown was born on this date in 1794.

January 3: James Merritt Ives, partner in the famous print-making firm of Currier and Ives, died on this date in 1894.

January 2: Elected to Congress and the developer of the Potter Building at 38 Park Row in Manhattan 1882-1886, the latest in fireproof construction (and now a New York City Landmark), Orlando Bronson Potter also co-founded the New York Architectural Terra Cotta Company to build other fireproof buildings. He died on this date in 1894.

January 1: Tom Hyer was born on this date in 1819; he would win the bare-knuckle boxing championship of America in 1841, triumphing in 101 rounds.