The first medical school in America was begun by the University of Pennsylvania, May 3, 1765. The first medical commencement was held June 21, 1768, when ten students were given degrees.
“Captains of Ships Charitable Club” was instituted July 4, 1765, and incorporated February 4, 1770, as “The Society for the Relief of Poor and Distressed Masters of Ships, their Widows and Children.” This was the first society of its kind organized in America.
The first permanent theatre in America was the “Southwark Theatre,” erected at South and Leithgow Streets, Philadelphia. It was opened by David Douglass, November 21, 1766.
The first American play was “The Prince of Parthia,” by Thomas Godfrey, Jr., a young Philadelphia poet, and the son of the inventor of the mariner’s quadrant. It was produced at the Southwark Theatre, April 23, 1767.
The first American publication on pedagogy was “A Simple and Thoroughly Prepared School-Management,” by Christopher Dock, “the pious schoolmaster of Skippack.” It was published in Germantown by Christopher Saur, 1770.
“The Pennsylvania Packet; and the General Advertiser,” was first issued October 28, 1771. This was a weekly publication printed by John Dunlap. In 1784, Dunlap had taken as his partner David C. Claypoole, and on Tuesday, September 21, 1784, they issued “The Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser.” This was the first daily newspaper published in America.
The first active protest against the importation of tea, on account of the obnoxious tax, occurred in Philadelphia (not Boston) in 1773. An immense meeting was held in the State House Yard October 16, 1773. Under date of November 27, 1773, a broadside was issued warning against an attempt to land any of the objectionable article. On Christmas Day the ship Polly, Captain Ayres, reached Chester. Captain Ayres was brought to Philadelphia and informed of the situation. On December 27th he started on his return trip to England, taking his cargo of tea with him. The people of Boston held their tea party December 16, 1773, and cast the tea into the harbor, thus entailing a heavy loss upon the innocent merchants.
“The Garden of the Soul: Or, a Manual of Spiritual Exercises and Instructions for Christians who (living in the World) aspire to Devotion.” London; Printed. Philadelphia: Re-printed, by Joseph Cruikshank, on Market Street, between Second and Third Streets (1774). This was the first Roman Catholic prayer book printed in English in America.
“The Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery” was founded in Philadelphia in 1774. It was the first society in the country formed for this purpose. It was reorganized February 10, 1784, as the “Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and for the Relief of Free Negroes Unlawfully held in Bondage, and for Improving the Condition of the African Race.”
The earliest mention of the manufacture of carpets in this country is that of William Calverly of Loxley’s Court, date supposed to be 1774.