The U.S. Post Office was established on this day in 1775 with Benjamin Franklin was named as its first Postmaster at a salary of $1000 a year. He had already served as Deputy Postmaster of the Colonies since 1753, and was subsequently responsible for many of the innovations and practices of the new Federal agency. Franklin is seen reading intently in a portrait. 
26 1775 July 26th, 1775: The American Continental Congress establishes a postal system for the colonies with Benjamin Franklin as the first postmaster general.
POST OFFICE DAY
On this day in 1775, a postal system was established by the 2nd Continental Congress of the United States. The first Postmaster General was the same gentleman who graces the U.S. $100 bill and who flew a kite with a key attached in a thunderstorm -- Benjamin Franklin. Mr. Franklin was paid $1,000 a year for his job as Postmaster General. 

Just fifty-four years later, the U.S. Post Office had grown to 7,600 offices and in some places, especially big cities, lines of people were kept waiting as postal clerks determined correct postal charges. Citizens were angered over the long lines and by the U.S. Government’s enforcement of postal rates. 

Here we are, over 200 years later, still complaining about postal rates while we wait in long lines at the post office. 

Some things never change. 
 

Philipp Scheidemann, German Parliament (SPD)/mayor of Kassel, geboren