Events in History
- Jan 1 London's Daily Universal Registrar becomes the Times
- Jan 1 Quakers in Pennsylvania emancipate their slaves
Constitution of the United States
Jan 2 Georgia is 4th state to ratify US constitution
- Jan 9 Connecticut becomes 5th state to ratify the US constitution
- Jan 18 First elements of the First Fleet carrying 736 convicts from England to Australia arrives at Botany Bay to set up a penal colony
- Jan 20 Pioneer African Baptist church organizes in Savannah, Georgia
- Jan 24 French La Pérouse expedition arrives in Botany Bay, Australia, meeting the newly arrived "First Fleet" penal colony
British Empire
Jan 26 Captain Arthur Phillip and British colonists hoist the Union Flag at Sydney Cove, New South Wales, now celebrated as Australia Day. Referred to as Invasion Day by some First Nations people.
- Jan 28 Lord Gordon found guilty of libel of Queen of France
Birthdays in History
Deaths in History
Bonnie Prince Charlie (1720-1788)
Jan 30 English pretender to throne (Jacobite rebellion), dies of a stroke at 67