Two hundred ninety-nine years ago on (perhaps) this day, the first African lion in America went on exhibit at the home of Captain Arthur Savage on Brattle Street in Boston. I have no idea why Savage, a sea captain, had a lion or where he had gotten it but there it was. It would be five more years before another exotic animal, this time a camel, was exhibited in America.
About that date. November 26 is the date most sources agree this event happened. So why is the Boston News-Letter advertisement about the exhibit dated March 31, 1718? Hmm.
Also, apologies for the title pun of this post.
Read about it here: