- Jan 5 California Exchange opens
- Jan 18 British blockade Piraeus, Greece, to enforce mercantile claims
- Jan 20 HMS Investigator headed by Robert McClure leaves England, 1st expedition to make a Northwest passage (though some over ice)
- Jan 22 Alta California becomes a daily paper, 1st such in Calif
- Jan 26 1st German language daily newspaper in US published, NYC
Event of Interest
Jan 29 Henry Clay introduces a comprise bill on slavery to US Senate
Henry Clay