―“If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree. ” ― Michael Crichton
JANUARY: Day in History and Birthdays
January 9, 1905
January 13, 1990
January 14, 1539
January 15, 1559
January 16, 1920
January 20, 1942
January 21, 2003
January 22, 1997
January 23, 1989
January 26, 1950
January 27, 1880
January 28, 1986
January 29, 1845
January 9, 1905
- The Russian Revolution of 1905 was sparked by troops firing on petitioners to Czar Nicholas in St. Petersburg.
- Richard Nixon (1913-1994) The 37th President of the United States, Richard Nixon is best known for the Watergate affair, during which members of Nixon's reelection committee broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Party to set up wiretaps. The scandal forced him to resign his position.
January 13, 1990
- Douglas Wilder of Virginia became the first African-American elected governor in the United States.
- Author James Joyce Died (1941)
- Horatio Alger (1832-1899) American author of boys' stories, Horatio Alger published his first book, Ragged Dick, in 1867. This novel tells the story of a poor boy living the American Dream; he moves from the fringes to become a respected member of society
January 14, 1539
- Spain annexes Cuba.
- Revolutionary War Ended (1784)
- Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) General Benedict Arnold is best known for his traitorous actions against the United States during the American Revolutionary war. The British gave Arnold money to surrender West Point, the fort he commanded.
January 15, 1559
- Queen Elizabeth I was crowned in Westminster Abbey.
- Hat Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) King is the best-known figure of the American Civil Rights Movement. He led the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which resulted in the desegregation of buses, advocated a policy of passive resistance, and organized the March on Washington. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. King was assassinated in 1968 at the age of 39.
January 16, 1920
- A year after it was ratified, the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages, went into effect.
- Operation Desert Storm Announced (1991)
- William Kennedy (1928—) An American novelist, William Kennedy won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for his 1984 book Ironweed, about a struggling farmer in 1930's Albany, New York.
January 20, 1942
- The Nazis formulated their "Final Solution"—regarding treatment of Jews—at the Wannsee Conference.
- Barack Obama Became First Black President (2009)
- MLK Day Celebrated as Federal Holiday (1986)
- Reagan Became Oldest President (1981)
- World's First Organized Basketball Game (1892)
- Buzz Aldrin (1930—) An American astronaut, Buzz Aldrin (born Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr.) was the second man to walk on the moon. Aldrin and fellow astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, traveled via the space shuttle Apollo 11.
January 21, 2003
- The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Hispanics had surpassed African-Americans as the largest minority group.
- First Atomic Submarine Launched (1954)
- Vietnam Draft Evaders Pardoned (1977)
- Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (1824-1863) An American Confederate General, "Stonewall" Jackson is best known for the first battle of Bull Run during the Civil War, when he and his brigade stood "like a stone wall" against incoming forces
January 22, 1997
- The U.S. Senate confirmed Madeleine Albright as the first female secretary of state.
- 500 Russians Killed on "Bloody Sunday" (1905)
- Abortion Legalized in Roe v. Wade (1973)
- André Marie Ampère (1775-1836) A French physicist and mathematician, André Marie Ampère worked extensively on the relationship between electricity and magnetism. The "ampere," a basic unit of electrical current, is named for him.
January 23, 1989
- Salvador Dali died in Spain at age 84.
- Elizabeth Blackwell Becomes First Female Physician in U.S. (1849) Gr. 3–12
- Handwriting Day
- Edouard Manet (1832-1883) A French painter, Edouard Manet was one of the artists credited with creating the Impressionist movement in art, which employed sketchy brushstrokes and emphasized light
January 26, 1950
- India formally became a republic, three years after gaining its independence from the United Kingdom.
- Australia Day
- Michigan Admission Day (1837)
- Bessie Coleman (1892–1926) Bessie Coleman was the first African-American pilot in the world. Though she was born in the U.S., she had to move to France in order to attend flying school and obtain her pilot's license
January 27, 1880
- Thomas Edison was granted a patent for his incandescent light.
- Composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Birthday (1756)
- Vietnam War Peace Accords Signed (1973)
- Lewis Carroll (1832–1898) An English writer, Lewis Carroll is most known for his classic children's novels Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.
January 28, 1986
- The U.S. shuttle Challenger exploded 72 seconds after lift off, killing all seven crew members aboard, including school teacher Christa McAuliffe.
- Challenger Shuttle Exploded (1986)
- Louis Brandeis Appointed First Jewish Supreme Court Justice (1916)
- Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) Jackson Pollock was an influential American painter in the art movement known as abstract expressionism. His paintings are recognizable for the drip markings
January 29, 1845
- Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven was published.
- Kansas Admission Day (1861)
- Poe's "The Raven" Published (1845)
- Puzzle Day
- Oprah Winfrey (1954—) One of the most famous women and celebrities in the world, Oprah Winfrey hosted a talk show for over 20 years and now runs her own network on cable television. She is also an actress and producer, and has worked on many movies, including The Color Purple and Beloved. She is the first African-American woman to become a billionaire
February: This Day in History and Birthdays
February 4, 1789
February 5, 1994
Febraury 6, 1952
February 9, 1861
February 10, 1763
Febrauary 12, 1909
Febrauary 13, 1894
February 16, 1923
February 17, 1904
February 18, 1885
February 19, 1878
February 20, 1962
February 23, 2015
February 24, 1582
February 36, 1919
February 27, 1844
March 2 1917
March 3, 1931
March 4, 1789
March 5, 1946
March 6, 1997
March 9, 1841
March 10, 1876
March 11, 1993
March 12, 1933
March 13, 1925
March 16, 1850
March 17, 1762
March 18, 1766
March 19. 1953
March 20, 1602
March 23, 1775
March 24, 1882
March 25, 1634
March 26, 1982
March 27, 1917
March 30, 1847
March 31, 1949
February 4, 1789
- George Washington and John Adams are elected the first president and vice president, respectively, of the United States.
- Confederacy formed (1861)
- First U. S. Presidential Election (1789)
- Girls and Women in Sports Day
- World Cancer Day
- Rosa Parks (1913-2005) Rosa Parks is one of the best-known civil rights activists in U.S. history. She became famous in 1955 when she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a city bus to a white man. The event sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a protest to end segregation on public transit.
February 5, 1994
- Byron De La Beckwith was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Medgar Evers, 30 years after the crime was committed in Jackson, Mississippi.
- Baseball Player Hank Aaron's Birthday (1934) Henry "Hank" Aaron hit 755 home runs during his career and was Major League Baseball's home run leader from 1974 to 2007
- National Weatherperson's Day
Febraury 6, 1952
- Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
- Baseball Player Babe Ruth's Birthday (1895)
- Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) The 40th president of the United States, Reagan was one of the most popular leaders in American history, winning both his elections–in 1980 and 1984–by a landslide. Formerly a successful film star, Reagan was sidelined by both an assassination attempt and colon cancer during his presidency, but he recovered fully from both.
February 9, 1861
- Jefferson Davis was chosen as the president of the Confederate States of America.
- Hershey"s Chocolate founded (1894)
- National Weather Service established (1870)
- Toothache Day
- William Henry Harrison (1773-18410) Harrison was the ninth president of the United States and, unfortunately, the first president to die in office. His famous campaign slogan, "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too" helped him win the presidential election. Harrison fell ill soon after his inauguration and passed away just one month into his presidency.
February 10, 1763
- The Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the French and Indian War. France ceded Canada and all of its North American territories east of the Mississippi to Great Britain.
- Umbrella day
- Boris Pasternak (1890-1960) A Russian writer, Boris Pasternak is most famous for his epic novel Doctor Zhivago, for which he won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1958. However, the controversial nature of the story, which exposes Russia's troubled history and Communist principles, led to the threat of government persecution. Pasternak had to retract his acceptance of the award and lived the remainder of his life in virtual exile in an artists' community near Moscow
Febrauary 12, 1909
- The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded.
- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) The 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln is credited with bringing an end to slavery in America. His election to the presidency is considered partly responsible for the secession of the Confederate States and a cause of the Civil War. Just after making plans for the post-war Reconstruction of the country, Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
- Red Hand Day
Febrauary 13, 1894
- The Lumière brothers patented the first movie camera and projector, called theCinematograph.
- First public school founded in U.S. (1635)
- Strauss's Blue Danube premiered. (1867)
- Chuck Yeager (1923 - ) An American aviator, Chuck Yeager was the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound. He broke the sound barrier in 1947. He was also a combat pilot in World War II and the Vietnam War, and helped train the first American astronauts.
February 16, 1923
- The tomb of King Tutankhamen was opened for the first time.
- Fidel Castro became leader of Cuba. (1959)
- Nylon patented. (19370
- President's Day
- Margot Frank ( 1926-1945) Margot Frank, the older sister of famed diarist Anne Frank, was called to report to a labor camp shortly before her family went into hiding in Amsterdam during World War II. She died in a concentration camp in 1945, just days before Anne's death.
February 17, 1904
- Puccini's opera Madame Butterflypremiered in Milan.
- Last classic VW Beetle assembled (1972)
- Maha Shiratri
- Mardi Gras
- Michael Jordan (1963- ) Michael "Air" Jordan's NBA career spanned three decades, though he retired on three separate occasions. One of the best basketball players of all time, Jordan was the lead scorer in the league from 1986 to 1993 and from 1996 to 1998. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
February 18, 1885
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain was published.
- Pluto discovered. (1930)
- Toni Morrison (1931 - ) A fiction writer with a poetic style, Toni Morrison writes stories about life from the African-American perspective. In 1987, she won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Beloved, a story of love, murder, and slavery. She was the first African American to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1993.
February 19, 1878
- Thomas Edison patented the gramophone (phonograph).
- Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus's Birthday (1473)
- Chinese New Year
- FDR Authorized Japanese Internment(1942)
- U.S. Marines Went Ashore at Iwo Jima (1945)
- Nicholas Copernicus (1473=1543) Copernicus, a Polish astronomer, is best known for correctly theorizing that the Sun is the center of our solar system. His collection of beliefs about the universe, called the Copernican System, is credited with laying the groundwork for the modern structure of astronomy.
February 20, 1962
- John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth.
- Metropolitan Museum of Art Opened in NYC (1872)
- "Batman & Robin" Comic Debuted(1944)
- Ansel Adams (1902-1984) One of the most celebrated landscape photographers of all time, Adams is best known for his images of the American Southwest. He began photographing the High Sierra and Yosemite Valley in 1930, and was dedicated to the preservation of America's National Parks.
February 23, 2015
- Mexican general Santa Anna began the siege of the Alamo.
- Santa Anna Began Siege of the Alamo(1836)
- The Tootsie Roll Debuted (1896)
- George Frideric Handel (1658-1759) A talented, prolific, and celebrated composer of the 18th-century baroque period, Handel is best known for his masterful oratorio Messiah.
February 24, 1582
- Pope Gregory XIII issued a papal bull introducing Gregorian calendar reform.
- Author Wilhelm Carl Grimm's Birthday(1786)
- First Uranus "Flyby" by Voyager 2(1986)
- Steve Jobs (1955-2011) A visionary and entrepreneur, Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Computers in 1976 and helped launch the personal-computer revolution. He left Apple in 1985 and returned in 1996 as CEO, and the company, which had been struggling for years, went on to become one of the most successful companies in the world, featuring the must-have Macs and ubiquitous iPods.
February 36, 1919
- Grand Canyon National Park was established.
- Author Victor Hugo's Birthday (1802)
- Grand Canyon National Park Established (1919)
- Tell a Fairy Tale Day
- Victor Hugo (1802-1885) A French poet, dramatist, and novelist, Hugo is the author of such classic masterpieces as Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Both stories have been adapted for the stage and screen countless times. Hugo was exiled from his native France in 1851, but returned in 1870 to the respect and admiration of his countrymen.
February 27, 1844
- The Dominican Republic gained independence from Haiti.
- 15th Recorded Passage of Halley's Comet (837)
- Poet H.W. Longfellow's Birthday(1807)
- Polar Bear Day
- John Steinbeck (1902-1968) Steinbeck is best known for his novel The Grapes of Wrath, which follows a struggling American family during the Great Depression. He won the Pulitzer Prize for that book in 1939, as well as the 1962 Nobel Prize in Literature. His other notable works include Of Mice and Menand Tortilla Flat.
March 2 1917
- Puerto Rico became a U.S. territory, gaining Puerto Ricans American citizenship.
- Dr. Seuss's Birthday (1904-1991) One of the most prolific and celebrated children's writers in history, Dr. Seuss (real name Theodor Seuss Geisel) wrote 46 books. Some of his most famous books are The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- National School Breakfast Week
- Read Across America Day
- Texas Declared Independence from Mexico (1836)
March 3, 1931
- The "Star-Spangled Banner" was adopted as the national anthem.
- Florida Admission Day (1845)
- Inventor Alexander Graham Bell's Birthday (1847-1922) A scientist and inventor from Scotland who later became an American citizen, Alexander Graham Bell is best known for inventing the telephone in 1876. Famously, the first sentence transmitted through his device was "Watson, come here; I want you," spoken to his assistant.
March 4, 1789
- The Constitution of the United States went into effect.
- U.S. Constitution Went into Effect(1789)
- Vermont Admission Day (1791)
- World Orphan Week
- World Read Aloud Day
- Garrett Morgan (1877-1963) In 1923, Garrett Morgan patented his best-known invention, the three-way traffic signal, based on signs that signaled stop and go. He sold his patent rights to General Electric, which developed an electrical version.
March 5, 1946
- Winston Churchill delivered his famous Iron curtain speech, "From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an Iron Curtain has descended across the continent."
- Boston Massacre (1770)
- Stapler Invented (1868)
- Lady Augusta Gregory (1859-1932) An Irish dramatist, Lady Augusta Gregory founded the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. One of her most famous works, Cathleen ni Houlihan, which she wrote with friend and playwright W.B. Yeats and published in 1902, is about Irish peasantry.
March 6, 1997
- Queen Elizabeth II launched the first royal website.
- Artist Michelangelo's Birthday (1475=1564) An Italian sculptor, painter, architect, Michelangelo is one of the most well-known and revered artists of the Renaissance. His most famous masterpieces include the paintingThe Last Judgment on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Florence, and for his classically style sculpture David.
March 9, 1841
- The Supreme Court ruled that the Amistad slaves were free.
- Amistad Slaves Freed (1841)
- Barbie Debuted (1959)
- Jumbo Arrived in U.S. (1882)
- Charles Gibson (1943- ) "Charlie" Gibson is a former American broadcast television anchor and journalist. He hosted the TV morning news showGood Morning America for nearly 20 years, then anchored World News with Charles Gibson.
March 10, 1876
- The first telephone call ("Mr. Watson, come here. I want you.") was made by Alexander Graham Bell.
- Harriet Tubman Day
- Kim Campbell (1947 - ) The first and (so far) only female Prime Minister of Canada, Kim Campbell held the position for a short 132 days in 1993 when the seated PM, Brian Mulroney, retired from office during his term.
March 11, 1993
- Senate confirmation to become the first female U.S. Attorney General.
- Great East Japan Earthquake (2011)
- Johnny Appleseed Day
- Terrorist Bombing in Madrid Killed 200 (2004)
- Ezra Jack Keats (1916-1983) One of the most talented children's authors and illustrators of the 20th century, Keats is credited with bringing multicultural, urban settings to children's literature. His works include The Snowy Day,Whistle for Willie, and Over in the Meadow.
March 12, 1933
- President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the first of his nation-wide "fireside chats" on radio.
- Janet Reno Made U.S. Attorney General (1993)
- Truman Doctrine Enacted (1947)
- World Kidney Day
- Writer Jack Kerouac's Birthday(1922-1969) An American novelist and poet, Kerouac was one of the leaders of the Beat generation, an anarchic movement of the 1950s.
March 13, 1925
- Tennessee passed a bill prohibiting the teaching of evolution in public schools.
- Pres. Andrew Johnson's Impeachment Trial Began (1868)
- Teaching Evolution Prohibited in Tenn. Schools (1925)
- Uranus Discovered (1781)
- Charles Grey, 2nd Earl (1764-1845) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1830 to 1834, his name was famously given to Earl Grey Tea, a blend that uses bergamot oil as flavoring.
March 16, 1850
- Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel The Scarlet Letter was published.
- Barnum & Bailey Circus Debuted(1919)
- Brain Awareness Week
- Pres. James Madison's Birthday(1751-1836) The third President of the United States (1809-1817), James Madison is considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the primary author of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
March 17, 1762
- The first St. Patrick's Day parade was held in New York City.
- Mia Hamm (1972 - ) The best-known female soccer player in U.S. history, Mia Hamm competed with the U.S. team during championships runs for the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. She was named the women's FIFA World Player of the Year in both 2001 and 2002.
March 18, 1766
- After months of American protests, Britain repealed the Stamp Act.
- Britain Repealed the Stamp Act(1766)
- First Space Walk (1965)
- ohn Updike (1932-2009) John Updike, a prize-winning and bestselling author, wrote dozens of novels and short stories in the course of his lifetime. His books Rabbit Is Rich(1981) and Rabbit at Rest (1990) each won the Pulitzer Prize.
March 19. 1953
- The Academy Awards were first televised.
- Iraq War Began (2003)
- Wyatt Earp (1848-1929) Law officer of the American frontier, gunfighter, and famed participant of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral with Doc Holliday and Earp's brothers Virgil and Morgan.
March 20, 1602
- The Dutch East India Company was established. During its 196-year history, it became one of the world's most powerful companies.
- Agriculture Day
- Uncle Tom's Cabin Published (1852)
- Spring Begins
- Bobby Orr (1948- ) A Canadian hockey player, Bobby Orr was famously "discovered" by the NHL at age 12, and began playing for the Boston Bruins at just 18. He helped revitalize the team and is now known as one of the greatest hockey players of all time.
March 23, 1775
- Patrick Henry declared "Give me liberty, or give me death."
- Lewis & Clark Began Expedition(1806)
- Near Miss Day (1989)
- Ponce de Leon Discovered & Named Florida (1513)
- World Meteorological Day
- John Bartram (1699-1777) John Bartram was a pioneer botanist who planted the first botanical garden in the United States along the banks of the Schuylkill River, near Philadelphia.
March 24, 1882
- Robert Koch announced the discovery of the tuberculosis bacillus.
- Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (1989)
- Magician Harry Houdini's Birthday(1874=1926) The most famous magician of all time, Harry Houdini, born in Hungary, emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of four. An illusionist as well as a magician, he was known for his famous escapes from harrowing situations, including being buried alive.
March 25, 1634
- Maryland was founded by settlers sent by the late Lord Baltimore.
- Fire at Triangle Shirtwaist Co. Killed 145 (1911)
- Meteorite Exploded in Wisconsin(1865)
- North America's First Test Tube Twins Born
- Gloria Steinem (1934- ) A feminist, social and political activist, and supporter of women's rights, Gloria Steinem became well known in the 1960's and 1970's for leading the Women's Liberation Movement. She remains active in raising awareness of women's issues across the world.
March 26, 1982
- Groundbreaking ceremonies for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial took place in Washington, D.C.
- Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's Birthday (1930)
- Make Your Own Holiday Day
- Playwright Tennessee Williams's Birthday (1911)
- Robert Frost (1874-1963) One of the most popular poets of the 20th century, Robert Frost wrote most frequently of the people and landscape of his native New England. He recited his poem "The Gift Outright" at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy. He won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1924, 1931, 1937, and 1943.
March 27, 1917
- The Seattle Metropolitans became the first U.S. hockey team to win the Stanley Cup.
- World Theatre Day
- Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969) A German-American architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is known as a pioneer of modern architecture and a supporter of minimalist styles and designs. He practiced the Bauhaus aesthetic.
March 30, 1847
- A treaty for the purchase of Alaska from Russia for the sum of $7.2 million, approximately two cents an acre, was submitted to the U.S. Senate.
- Artist Vincent Van Gogh's Birthday(1853-1890) The best known of the post-impressionist painters, Vincent Van Gogh's paintings are also among the most recognized artistic works of the 20th century. His masterpieces include his series of sunflowers, The Night Café, and Starry Night.
March 31, 1949
- Newfoundland became Canada's tenth province.
- Eiffel Tower Officially Opened (1889)
- Major League Baseball Strike Ended(1995)
- Al Gore (1948- ) Vice-President of the United States from 1993 until 2001 (under Pres. Clinton), Al Gore represented the Democratic Party in his run for President in 2000. He lost in electoral votes (but won in popular votes) to Pres. George W. Bush. After retiring from politics, Gore became an environmental activist and is considered one of the most influential environmentalists of the 21st century, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008.