On This Day

What Happened in January 1773

Historical Events

  • Jan 6 Massachusetts slaves petition legislature for freedom
  • Jan 12 First public museum established in north American colonies (Charlestown, SC)

DiscoveryHistoric Discovery

Jan 17 Captain James Cook becomes 1st to cross Antarctic Circle (66° 33' S)

Explorer James Cook
Explorer
James Cook

Famous Birthdays

  • Jan 4 Johann Peter Heuschkel, composer
  • Jan 5 Pieter Fontijn, Dutch painter & drawer, born in Dordrecht, Netherlands (d. 1839)
  • Jan 9 Cassandra Austen, English watercolorist and sister of Jane Austen (d. 1845)

Famous Deaths

  • Jan 4 Anton Losenko, Russian painter (b. 1737)
  • Jan 21 Alexis Piron, French dramatist (La Métromanie), dies at 83