This Day in History

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 11

1964 U.S. Surgeon General announces definitive link between smoking and cancer United States Surgeon General Luther Terry knew his report was a bombshell. He intentionally chose to release it on January 11, 1964, a Saturday, so as to limit its immediate effects on the stock market. It was on this date that, on behalf of the U.S. Government, Terry announced a definitive link be... read more

American Revolution 1775 Jewish Patriot joins Provincial Congress of South Carolina

Art, Literature, and Film History 1927 Charlie Chaplin's assets frozen 1978 "Song of Solomon" wins National Book Critics Circle Award

Civil War 1863 Battle of Arkansas Post

Cold War 1989 President Reagan gives his farewell address

Crime 2012 Joran van der Sloot admits to Peru murder

EARLY 20th CENTURY U.S. 1908 Theodore Roosevelt makes Grand Canyon a national monument

Exploration 1935 Amelia Earhart flies from Hawaii to California

Holocaust 2010 Miep Gies, who hid Anne Frank, dies at 100

Russia 1928 Stalin banishes Trotsky

Sports 1973 American League adopts designated hitter rule

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 12 2010 Massive earthquake strikes Haiti On January 12, 2010, Haiti is devastated by a massive earthquake. It drew an outpouring of support from around the globe but the small nation has yet to fully recover. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, due largely to its history of colonization, occupation and exploitation by S... read more Africa 1879 British-Zulu War begins 1984 Pyramid mystery unearthed American Revolution 1777 Hugh Mercer dies from wounds received in Battle of Princeton Art, Literature, and Film History 1926 Original "Amos 'n' Andy" debuts on Chicago radio 1981 "Dynasty" premieres on ABC Cold War 1954 U.S. announces policy of "massive retaliation" against Communist aggressors Crime 1995 Malcolm X's daughter arrested for attempted murder Inventions & Science 1904 Henry Ford sets speed record Natural Disasters & Environment 1888 Blizzard brings tragedy to Northwest Plains Vietnam War 1962 Operation Ranch Hand initiated Westward Expansion 1838 Joseph Smith abandons Ohio Women's History 1932 Hattie Wyatt Caraway becomes first woman elected to U.S. Senate World War I 1919 Leaders of the Big Four nations meet for the first time in Paris World War II 1943 Soviet forces penetrate the siege of Leningrad

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 13 1128 Pope recognizes Knights Templar On January 13, 1128, Pope Honorius II grants a papal sanction to the military order known as the Knights Templar, declaring it to be an army of God. Led by the Frenchman Hughes de Payens, the Knights Templar organization was founded in 1118. Its self-imposed mission was to protect Christian pilgrims... read more 1980s 1982 Plane crashes into Potomac River Art, Literature, and Film History 1941 James Joyce dies 1962 Comedian Ernie Kovacs dies in car crash 1968 Johnny Cash performs at Folsom Prison Civil War 1807 Union General Napoleon Bonaparte Buford is born Cold War 1950 Soviets boycott United Nations Security Council Crime 1939 Doc Barker is killed by prison guards as he attempts to escape 1958 The Manuel Massacres 1987 Connecticut man arrested for wood-chipper murder Great Britain 1842 After massacre, sole surviving British soldier escapes Kabul Immigration 1903 First group of Korean immigrants enter Hawaii Sports 1986 NCAA adopts controversial Proposition 48 1995 All-female team competes in America's Cup sailing for first time 1999 Michael Jordan retires for a second time U.S. Presidents 1966 Lyndon Johnson appoints first African American cabinet member U.S. Government 1990 Douglas Wilder of Virginia becomes the nation's first African American governor Westward Expansion 1929 Wyatt Earp dies in Los Angeles

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 14 1784 Continental Congress ratifies the Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolution On January 14, 1784, the Continental Congress ratifies the Treaty of Paris, ending the War for Independence.In the document, which was known as the Second Treaty of Paris because the Treaty of Paris was also the name of the agreement that had ended the Seven Years’ War in 1763, Britain... read more 1960s 1969 Explosion rocks USS Enterprise 19th CENTURY 1875 Albert Schweitzer born American Revolution 1741 Benedict Arnold, American traitor, born Art, Literature, and Film History 1954 Marilyn Monroe marries Joe DiMaggio 1970 Diana Ross and the Supremes perform their final concert Colonial America 1639 The first colonial constitution Inventions & Science 1920 Dodge co-founder dies Sports 1973 Miami Dolphins win Super Bowl VII to cap NFL's only perfect season U.S. Presidents 1942 FDR orders "enemy aliens" to register 1943 FDR becomes first president to travel by airplane on U.S. official business U.S. Government 1980 Gold prices soar U.S. Politics 1963 George Wallace inaugurated as Alabama governor

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 15 1929 Martin Luther King Jr. born On January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. is born in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of a Baptist minister. King received a doctorate degree in theology and in 1955 helped organize the first major protest of the African American civil rights movement: the successful Montgomery Bus Boycott. Influenced b... read more 21st Century 2009 Pilot Sully Sullenberger performs "Miracle on the Hudson" Africa 1970 Qaddafi becomes premier of Libya American Revolution 1777 Vermont declares independence from colony of New York Art, Literature, and Film History 1831 "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is finished 1972 "American Pie" hits #1 on the pop charts 1981 "Hill Street Blues" begins run EARLY 20th CENTURY U.S. 1919 Great Boston Molasses Flood Great Britain 1559 Elizabeth I crowned Queen of England Sports 1967 Packers beat Chiefs in first Super Bowl U.S. Politics 1870 First appearance of the Democratic Party donkey World War I 1919 Rebel leaders are murdered in failed coup in Berlin World War II 1951 The "Witch of Buchenwald" is sentenced to prison

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 16 1919 Prohibition is ratified by the states The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, prohibiting the "manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes," is ratified by the requisite number of states on January 16, 1919. The movement for the prohibition of alcohol began in the early 19th century, when Amer... read more 1990s 1991 The Persian Gulf War begins Art, Literature, and Film History 1605 Groundbreaking novel "Don Quixote" is published 1938 Benny Goodman brings jazz to Carnegie Hall 1942 Actress Carole Lombard killed in plane crash Civil War 1861 Crittenden Compromise is killed in Senate Cold War 1990 Soviets send troops into Azerbaijan Crime 1936 "Moon Maniac" killer is executed 1997 Bill Cosby's son murdered along CA interstate Middle East 1979 Shah flees Iran World War I 1916 Montenegro capitulates to Austro-Hungarian forces World War II 1945 Hitler descends into his bunker

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 17 1950 Boston thieves pull off historic Brink's robbery On January 17, 1950, 11 men steal more than $2 million ($29 million today) from the Brink's Armored Car depot in Boston, Massachusetts. It was the perfect crime — almost — as the culprits weren't caught until January 1956, just days before the statute of limitations for the theft expired. ... read more 1990s 1997 Ireland grants a divorce for the first time in the country's history 19th Century 1893 Americans overthrow Hawaiian monarchy American Revolution 1781 Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina Art, Literature, and Film History 1820 English author Anne Brontë is born 1966 NBC greenlights "The Monkees" Civil War 1865 Heavy rain traps Union Army Cold War 1966 H-bomb lost in Spain Crime 1977 The execution of Gary Gilmore Inventions & Science 1953 Corvette unveiled at GM Motorama Natural Disasters & Environment 1994 Earthquake rocks Los Angeles Sports 1916 PGA is formed 1995 NFL's Rams announce move to St. Louis U.S. Presidents 1961 President Eisenhower warns of military-industrial complex 1994 Paula Jones accuses Bill Clinton of sexual harassment Vietnam War 1972 President Nixon threatens President Thieu World War I 1916 Winston Churchill hears speech on the tragedy of war World War II 1945 Soviets capture Warsaw

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 18 1919 Post-World War I peace conference begins in Paris On January 18, 1919, in Paris, France, some of the most powerful people in the world meet to begin the long, complicated negotiations that would officially mark the end of the First World War. Leaders of the victorious Allied powers-France, Great Britain, the United States and Italy-would make most ... read more Art, Literature, and Film History 1975 "Mandy" is Barry Manilow's first #1 pop hit 1985 Coen brothers release debut film, "Blood Simple" Civil War 1862 President John Tyler dies Crime 1990 Washington, D.C. mayor Marion Barry arrested on drug charges Exploration 1778 Captain Cook reaches Hawaii 1912 Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole Inventions & Science 2009 GM auctions off historic cars Sports 1958 NHL is integrated 1996 MLB owners approve interleague play U.S. Presidents 1803 President Jefferson requests funding for Lewis and Clark expedition Vietnam War 1950 China and Soviet Union recognize Democratic Republic of Vietnam

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 19 1809 Edgar Allan Poe is born On January 19, 1809, poet, author and literary critic Edgar Allan Poe is born in Boston, Massachusetts. By the time he was three years old, both of Poe's parents had died, leaving him in the care of his godfather, John Allan, a wealthy tobacco merchant. After attending school in England, Poe entered... read more American Revolution 1764 John Wilkes expelled from British Parliament Art, Literature, and Film History 1993 Fleetwood Mac reunites to play "Don't Stop" at Bill Clinton's first inaugural ball 1993 Production begins on "Toy Story" China 2007 First McDonald's drive-through opens in Beijing Civil War 1807 Robert E. Lee born Crime 1999 Man charged in California cyberstalking case Exploration 1840 Charles Wilkes claims portion of Antarctica for U.S. India 1966 Indira Gandhi becomes Indian prime minister Sports 1952 PGA approves participation of Black golfers 1972 Sandy Koufax becomes youngest player elected to Baseball Hall of Fame U.S. Presidents 1977 President Ford pardons Tokyo Rose U.S. Politics 2004 The Howard Dean scream World War I 1915 First air raid on Britain

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 20 1981 Iran Hostage Crisis ends Minutes after Ronald Reagan's inauguration as the 40th president of the United States, the 52 U.S. captives held at the U.S. embassy in Teheran, Iran, are released, ending the 444-day Iran Hostage Crisis. On November 4, 1979, the crisis began when militant Iranian students, outraged that the U.S. go... read more 1990s 1996 Yasser Arafat elected leader of Palestine Art, Literature, and Film History 1971 Marvin Gaye's hit single "What's Going On?" released 1973 Country star Jerry Lee Lewis rocks the Grand Ole Opry 1993 Actress Audrey Hepburn dies China 1841 Hong Kong ceded to the British Civil War 1863 Mud March begins Crime 1974 Football player-turned-murderer born Sports 1980 President Carter calls for Olympics to be moved from Moscow 1980 Bullfight spectators die when bleachers collapse U.S. GOVERNMENT 2021 Kamala Harris becomes first female vice president U.S. Presidents 1937 FDR inaugurated to second term 1945 FDR inaugurated to fourth term 1961 John F. Kennedy inaugurated 1969 Richard Nixon takes office 1981 Ronald Reagan becomes president 2009 Barack Obama is inaugurated 2017 Donald Trump is inaugurated World War II 1942 Nazi officials discuss "Final Solution" at the Wannsee Conference

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 21 1977 President Carter pardons draft dodgers On January 21, 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter grants an unconditional pardon to hundreds of thousands of men who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War. In total, some 100,000 young Americans went abroad in the late 1960s and early '70s to avoid serving in the war. Ninety percent went to Ca... read more 21st Century 2017 Women's March 2020 First confirmed case of COVID-19 found in U.S. American Revolution 1738 Ethan Allen is born Cold War 1950 Accused spy Alger Hiss convicted of perjury Crime 1959 Actor Carl Switzer of "Our Gang" killed France 1793 King Louis XVI executed Immigration 1910 U.S. immigration station Angel Island opens in San Francisco Bay Inventions & Science 1976 Concorde takes off 2009 Toyota officially passes GM as planet's biggest car maker Russia 1924 Vladimir Lenin dies Sports 1990 John McEnroe disqualified from the Australian Open Vietnam War 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh begins

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 22 1998 Ted Kaczynski pleads guilty to bombings In a Sacramento, California, courtroom, Theodore J. Kaczynski pleads guilty to all federal charges against him, acknowledging his responsibility for a 17-year campaign of package bombings attributed to the "Unabomber." Born in 1942, Kaczynski attended Harvard University and received a PhD in mathem... read more American Revolution 1779 Claudius Smith, "Cowboy of the Ramapos," hangs Art, Literature, and Film History 1788 English poet Lord Byron is born 1981 Final portrait of John and Yoko appears on the cover of "Rolling Stone" 1984 Apple's iconic "1984" commercial airs during Super Bowl XVIII 2008 Heath Ledger dies of accidental prescription drug overdose Exploration 1840 British colonists reach New Zealand Great Britain 1901 Queen Victoria dies Native American History 1879 Chief Dull Knife makes last fight for freedom Russia 1980 Soviet dissident Andrei Sakharov arrested in Moscow U.S. Presidents 1973 Lyndon Baines Johnson dies in Texas U.S. Government 1973 Roe v. Wade is decided United States 2003 Hispanics are officially declared the largest minority group in the U.S. World War I 1905 Bloody Sunday Massacre in Russia

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THIS DAY IN HISTORY January 23 1957 Toy company Wham-O produces first Frisbees On January 23, 1957, machines at the Wham-O toy company roll out the first batch of their aerodynamic plastic discs-now known to millions of fans all over the world as Frisbees. The story of the Frisbee began in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where William Frisbie opened the Frisbie Pie Company in 1871. S... read more Art, Literature, and Film History 1976 Singer, actor, athlete, activist Paul Robeson dies Cold War 1968 USS Pueblo captured Crime 1991 Videotaped murder leads to convictions in Texas Inventions & Science 1855 Gun designer John Browning is born Natural Disasters & Environment 1556 Deadliest earthquake in history rocks China Sports 1984 Hulk Hogan beats Iron Sheik to win first WWF title U.S. Presidents 1992 President George H.W. Bush honors Women's World Cup champions Westward Expansion 1870