Date with History: September 17

Thirty-nine delegates sign the Constitution, and San Francisco crowns its own emperor.

One paperback for one calendar date: what happened on September 17, and who was born on it.

What happened on September 17

1787: The Constitution Is Signed in Philadelphia

Thirty-nine delegates signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House after a summer of argument behind closed windows, in wool suits, sworn to secrecy. Benjamin Franklin, at 81 the oldest delegate, had spent months wondering whether the sun painted on Washington's chair was rising or setting, and decided at the signing that it was rising. At 4,543 words, it is still the oldest written national constitution in use.

1859: Joshua Norton Declares Himself Emperor

A failed San Francisco businessman proclaimed himself Emperor of the United States, later adding Protector of Mexico. The remarkable part is that the city played along: restaurants fed him free, theatres held seats for him, and businesses accepted the currency he issued. He dissolved Congress by proclamation, which Congress ignored, and when he died in 1880 some thirty thousand people came to his funeral.

Famous birthdays on September 17

1098 — Hildegard of Bingen
Abbess, composer, physician and visionary who was born and died on this same date, 81 years apart.

1923 — Hank Williams
Wrote the template for country heartbreak in 29 years, and the reason today is Country Music Day.

Nearby dates

September 16 · September 18 · All September dates

Part of Date with History, a 366-book collection with one book for every date of the year. 5″×8″ paperback, cream paper.

Historical selections are editorially researched. This is a date-specific book, not a personalized or custom-made product.