The Young Men's Christian Association was founded in the United States in Boston, Massachusetts. The movement started in London in June 1844. (By John Osborne)

The first international gathering of the Young Men's Christian Association was held in Boston, Massachusetts. (By John Osborne)

In the summer of 1853, thirty-eight banks organized an exchange that had opened at 14 Wall Street that October.  This became the New York Clearing House Association on this day when a charter drawn up by George Curtis was adopted. (By John Osborne)

Congress funds a new signal section of the U.S. Army, providing $2000 and authorizing one signal officer. Former assistant surgeon Albert James Myer takes the post with the rank of major. (By John Osborne)

The Ocean Navigation Company's ship S.S. Washington sailed from New York City to Southampton in England and Bremen in north Germany carrying mail under the government's first ocean mail contract. (By John Osborne)