Scientific Discovery
Jan 1 German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen announces his discovery of x-rays
- Jan 2 Battle at Doornkop, South Africa (Boers beat Dr Jamesons troops)
- Jan 3 Emperor Wilhelm congratulates President Kruger on the Jameson Raid
- Jan 4 AFL charters Actors' National Protective Union, NYC
- Jan 4 Following Mormon abandonment of polygamy, Utah admitted as 45th state
- Jan 5 Isaac Albéniz' opera "Pepita Jiminez" premieres in Barcelona
- Jan 5 "Die Presse" newspaper (Germany) publicly announces Wilhelm Röntgen's discovery of X-rays and their potential for new methods of medical diagnoses in a front-page article
- Jan 6 1st US women's 6-day bicycle race starts, Madison Square Garden
Historic Event
Jan 6 Cecil Rhodes resigns as premier of Cape colony
- Jan 7 Fannie Farmer publishes her first cookbook "The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book"
- Jan 12 1st X-ray photo in US (Dr Henry Smith, Davidson NC)
- Jan 15 Henry Arthur Jones' "Michael & his Lost Angel" premieres in London
- Jan 16 Defeat of Cymru Fydd at South Wales Liberal Federation AGM, Newport, Monmouthshire.
- Jan 18 1st demonstration of an X-ray machine in US (NYC)
- Jan 18 British troops occupy Kumasi, West Africa
- Jan 18 First college basketball game with 5 players on each side is conducted by the University of Iowa; invites student athletes from University of Chicago for an experimental game; Chicago beats Iowa 15-12
- Jan 23 Edward Macdowell's 2nd Suite in E premieres
- Jan 27 Tasmania bowl out Victoria for 65 for their 1st ever innings victory
- Jan 29 Emile Grubbe is the first doctor to use radiation treatment for breast cancer