Historical Events
- Jan 3 France, the United Kingdom, and Austria form an alliance against Russia and Prussia
- Jan 8 Battle of New Orleans (War of 1812); the war had ended on 24th December 1814 but none of the combatants knew
- Jan 15 War of 1812: the USS President, an American frigate, is captured by four British frigates
Event of Interest
Jan 30 Burned US Library of Congress re-established with Thomas Jefferson's 6,500 volumes

Thomas Jefferson
Famous Birthdays
- Jan 1 Charles Renouvier, French philosopher, born in Montpellier, France (d. 1903)
- Jan 8 George Webb Morell, American Major General (Union Army), born in Cooperstown, New York (d. 1883)
- Jan 8 Lawrence Pike Graham, American Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Amelia County, Virginia (d. 1905)
- Jan 9 William Jackson of Masham, English composer and organist, born in Masham, Yorkshire (d. 1866)
- Jan 10 Alexander Brydie Dyer, American Brevet Major General (Union Army), born in Richmond, Virginia (d. 1874)
- Jan 10 Thomas Williams, American Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Albany, New York (d. 1862)
John A. Macdonald
Jan 11 John A. Macdonald, First Prime Minister of Canada (1867-1873 and 1878-1891), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 1891)

John A. Macdonald
- Jan 13 William Henry French, American Major General (Union Army), born in Baltimore, Maryland (d. 1881)
- Jan 15 Henry Morris Naglee, American Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 1886)
- Jan 16 Adolph Trube, German organist, teacher and composer, born in Waldenburg, Saxony (d. 1857)
- Jan 16 Henry Wagner "Old Brains" Halleck, American expert in military studies and Major General (Union Army), born in Oneida County, New York (d. 1872)
- Jan 18 James Chesnut Jr, Brigadier General (Confederate Army), (d. 1885)
- Jan 18 Richard Yates Gov, MC (Union), (d. 1873)
- Jan 18 Constantin von Tischendorf, German biblical scholar (d. 1874)
- Jan 21 Horace Wells, dentist (pioneered use of medical anethesia)
- Jan 21 John Bingham, American politician and lawyer (d. 1900)
- Jan 22 Ferdinand Christian Wilhelm Praeger, composer
- Jan 28 Andrew Jackson Hamilton, American Brigadier General (Union Army), born in Huntsville, Alabama (d. 1875)
Famous Weddings
Wedding of Interest
Jan 2 Leading Romantic poet Lord Byron (27) marries Anne Isabella Milbanke (22) by special licence, at Seaham Hall in County Durham

Lord Byron
Famous Deaths
- Jan 8 Edward Pakenham, Engl general (Battle of New Orleans), dies in battle
- Jan 15 Emma, Lady Hamilton, English mistress of Lord Nelson, dies of liver failure at 49
- Jan 21 M Claudius, writer, dies at 74
- Jan 21 Matthias Claudius, German poet, dies at 74
- Jan 31 José Félix Ribas, Venezuelan independentist leader (b. 1775)