On This Day In History
January 3rd
1496 Leonardo da Vinci unsuccessfully tests a flying machine
1521 Martin Luther is Excommunicated by Pope Leo X from the Roman Catholic Church for failing to recant parts of his Ninety-five Theses which started the Protestant Reformation
1777 General George Washington‘s revolutionary army defeats British forces at Battle of Princeton, New Jersey
1925 Benito Mussolini dissolves the Italian parliament and proclaims himself dictator of Italy, taking the title “Il Duce” (the Leader)
1977 Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs incorporate Apple Computer, Inc
1985 Israel government confirms resettlement of 10,000 Ethiopian Jews
Did You Know?
Previously unknown ancient Beringians group of people unearthed in Alaska, earliest known Native Americans at 11,500 years old
Would You Believe?
1st clamshell flip mobile phone, the Motorola StarTAC, goes on sale. Eventually 60 million are sold.
This day 420 years ago – 3 January 1602 – the Battle of Kinsale was fought, in which Lord Mountjoy's forces defeated those of Hugh O'Neill.
To read more, pick up a copy of This Day in Irish History. Perfect for those with an interest in Ireland's past!https://t.co/Y4VENuK4Fb pic.twitter.com/xU2DZGUEAi
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) January 3, 2022
In Jan 2021, Midshipman [sic] Sydney Barber became a brigade commander, leading 4,400 trainees at the US Naval Academy. She is the first Black woman to do so in its 175-year history. https://t.co/Mf3rSJaWto pic.twitter.com/eGJZ9hS54u
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) January 3, 2022
On this day in 1895, federal authorities imprisoned 19 Hopi leaders at Alcatraz on sedition charges for opposing the U.S. government's forced education and assimilation of Indigenous children. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/g3Fb7sUBqJ
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) January 3, 2022
January 4th
1847 Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the United States government
1865 New York Stock Exchange opens its 1st permanent headquarters at 10-12 Broad St, near Wall Street in New York City
1959 Luna 1 (Mechta) becomes 1st craft to leave Earth's gravity
1961 Longest recorded strike ends as the Danish barbers' assistants end a 33 year strike
2007 The 110th United States Congress convenes and elects Nancy Pelosi as the 1st female Speaker of the House
2021 1st Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines given to the general public with 82 year old Brian Pinker in the UK first to be jabbed [1]
Did You Know?
4 wheeled roller skates patented by James Plimpton of NY
Would You Believe?
Topsy the elephant is electrocuted by her owners at Luna Park, Coney Island and filmed by Edison Manufacturing movie company
This day 36 years ago – 4 January 1986 – Phil Lynott died, aged 36.
After a requiem mass at Howth Parish Church, Lynott was buried in St. Fintan's Cemetery.
His memorial stone was inscribed with the words, “Go dtuga Dia suaimhneas da anam (May God give peace to his soul)”. pic.twitter.com/LYFlNDLj0O
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) January 4, 2022
#OTD in 1975, Indian chemist Asima Chatterjee addressed the Indian Science Congress as its first female General President. Her most important research was on alkaloids used in chemotherapy. In her centenary year, she was a Google Doodle. https://t.co/RnDDOPDdqX #womeninSTEM pic.twitter.com/8pyhQZSL4O
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) January 4, 2022
On this day in 1876, Mississippi enacted laws to strengthen convict leasing. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/CHhJFr5EhJ
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) January 4, 2022
January 5th
1477 Battle of Nancy, Burgundy vs Switzerland, 7,000 + killed including their leader Charles Duke of Burgundy
1781 British naval expedition led by Benedict Arnold burns Richmond, Virginia
1919 German Workers' Party forms, precursor to the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi)
1930 Mao Zedong writes "A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire"
1949 US President Harry Truman labels his administration the "Fair Deal"
Did You Know?
FCC hears the 1st transmission of FM radio with clear, static-free signal
Would You Believe?
First batsman to ever score 1000 runs in a single innings in cricket - 15 year-old Mumbai schoolboy Pranav Dhanawade is 1009 not out
This day 49 years ago – 5 January 1973 – the reference to the Catholic Church's “special position” was removed from the Constitution.
Taoiseach Jack Lynch said it would help “all, in North and South, who are working for peace and reconciliation among all the people of Ireland.” pic.twitter.com/nCokh2ngNK
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) January 5, 2022
Happy 299th birthday to Nicole-Reine Lepaute, French astronomer and mathematician. Lepaute was part of a scientific team which predicted the cycle of Halley's Comet and catalogued celestial bodies. "She had too much spirit not to be curious," said her peer, Jerome Lalande. pic.twitter.com/QEmnHKAIFX
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) January 5, 2022
On this day in 1923, over 200 white men attacked the Black community in Rosewood, Florida, killing over 30 Black women, men, and children and burning down the town. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/oMDlLvWPQb
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) January 5, 2022
January 6th
1649 The English Rump Parliament votes to put Charles I on trial for treason and other "high crimes"
1912 Geophysicist and meteorologist Alfred Wegener presents his controversial theory of continental drift in a lecture at the Geological Association (Geologischen Vereinigung) at the Senckenberg-Museum, Frankfurt
1987 Astronomers at University of California see 1st sight of birth of a galaxy
2021 Supporters of President Donald Trump storm US Capitol in Washington during congressional certification of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's win, resulting in five deaths and prompting evacuation of lawmakers and vice-president Mike Pence
Did You Know?
Pan American Airlines becomes the first commercial airline to schedule a flight around the world (“Pacific Clipper”).
Today in History in 1942
Would You Believe?
The Village People’s Y.M.C.A becomes their only UK #1 single. At its peak it sold over 150,000 copies a day.
Today in History in 1979
This day 183 years ago – 6 January 1839 – Ireland was hit by the most devastating storm in its recorded history, leaving thousands homeless.
To read more, pick up a copy of This Day in Irish History. Perfect for those with an interest in Ireland's past.https://t.co/Y4VENustgB pic.twitter.com/NVslVIXugK
— This Day in Irish History (@ThisDayIrish) January 6, 2022
In January 1946, artist Laura Knight began three months observing the Nuremberg war crimes trials. The resulting paintings joined a body of work which made her one of the most successful and popular painters in post-war Britain. https://t.co/OKjqpF0jch pic.twitter.com/e0zvTsh0U4
— On This Day She (@OnThisDayShe) January 6, 2022
On this day in 1959, Richard and Mildred Loving were convicted of interracial marriage in Virginia, given a one-year suspended sentence, and banished from the state. To overcome racial inequality, we must confront our history. https://t.co/3Q9P18sUcg
— Equal Justice Initiative (@eji_org) January 6, 2022