Events in History Jan 9 Philip Astley stages the world's first modern circus in London Birthdays in History Jan 7 Joseph Bonaparte, King of Naples (d. 1844) Jan 10 James Varicick, founder and first bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, born in Newburgh, New York (d. 1827) Jan 28 Frederick VI, Danish king (1808-39); lost Norway to Sweden (1814) Deaths in History Jan 10 Charles Cressent, French court furniture maker, dies at 82 1767 On This Day in History 1769