1610:
Galileo publishes a book on his astrological findings

1631:
Construction of
the Taj Mahal begins

1643:
Louis XIV becomes king of France

1775: 
Benjamin Franklin becomes the US’s
first postmaster general

1776:
US gains independence
from England

1833:
Abraham Lincoln is
appointed postmaster of New Salem, Illinois

1859:
Constructions of the Suez Canal begins

1860:
Pony Express begins

1861:
The Civil War begins

1863:
Free city delivery begins

1902:
Serving for 74 years,
Roswell Beardsley becomes the longest-serving postmaster

1905:
The end of the Russo-Japanese War

1913:
Infant James Beagle is sent to relatives by mail

1918:
Airmail service begins

1945:
WWII ends

1955:
Ethel McCoy’s “Inverted Jenny” stamps are stolen

1971:
United States Postal Service begins operations

1992:
Self-adhesive stamps are introduced

1993:
National Postal Museum opens

2007:
“Forever” stamp issued

2009:
Free usps.com iPhone app offered