This Day in Minnesota History

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Today's Date: December 23

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1832

Hans Mattson is born in Sweden. An advocate for Swedish immigration to Minnesota, he would establish the Vasa colony in Goodhue County in 1853. He would serve as colonel of the Third Minnesota Regiment during the Civil War and as US consul general in India from 1881 to 1883. In 1877 he would found the Swedish newspaper Minnesota Stats Tidning (Minnesota State Times).
1846

A bill is introduced in Congress to create a territory called "Minasota." Although the bill fails, this is the first legislative use of the name.
1926

Robert Bly is born in Madison, Minnesota. After becoming a poet, translator, editor, and activist in the men's movement, he wrote numerous books, including the best-selling nonfiction work on men and myth Iron John: A Book About Men.