Historical Events Jan 1 John V succeeds his father Pedro II as King of Portugal Jan 16 The Act of Union is ratified by the Scottish Parliament Famous Birthdays Jan 22 Carl Hockh, German composer and violinist (d. 1773) Famous Deaths Jan 4 Louis Willem I, Margrave of Baden-Baden, dies at 51 Jan 8 John Dalrymple, 1st Earl of Stair, Scottish politician (b. 1648) Jan 10 Philibert, comte de Gramont, French writer (b. 1621) Jan 20 Humphrey Hody, English theologian (b. 1659) 1706 History by Year 1708