Sarah Catherine (Lewis) Cannon (born 1840)

In 1840, in the year that Sarah Catherine (Lewis) Cannon was born, on July 23rd, Upper Canada and Lower Canada were merged by the British Parliament, creating the United Province of Canada. This area later became the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

In 1852, on February 11th, the first women's public toilet was opened in London. Paris had public toilets much sooner and Berlin had opened one in 1820.

In 1882, on March 22nd, the Edmunds Act - passed by Congress - made polygamy a felony. The Act also banned "bigamous" relationships and "unlawful cohabitation", making it illegal for polygamists and those who simply lived together without marrying to vote, be on a jury, or hold a public office.

In 1931, in March, “The Star Spangled Banner” officially became the national anthem by congressional resolution. Other songs had previously been used - among them, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", "God Bless America", and "America the Beautiful". There was fierce debate about making "The Star Spangled Banner" the national anthem - Southerners and veterans organizations supported it, pacifists and educators opposed it.

In 1945, on April 12th, President Roosevelt died of natural causes and Harry S. Truman, his Vice-President, became the 33rd President of the United States.