On This Day

January 1797 in History

Events in History

  • Jan 1 Albany replaces New York City as capital of New York
  • Jan 7 First official use of the modern Italian flag (the Tricolor) by the Cispadane Republic

'Terrifying' Top Hat Causes Sensation

Jan 15 1st top hat worn by John Etherington of London

Queen Victoria looks uncertainly at her husband as Prince Albert tries out his new top hat
  • Jan 26 Russia, Prussia and Austria sign treaty
  • Jan 30 US Congress refuses to accept 1st petition from African American

Birthdays in History

  • Jan 4 Wilhelm Beer, German amateur astronomer (constructed 1st Moon map)
  • Jan 12 Gideon Brecher, Austrian physician (d. 1873)
  • Jan 22 Maria Leopoldina of Austria, Empress of Brazil (d. 1826)
  • Jan 30 Edwin Vose Sumner, American Major General (Union Army), born in Boston, Massachusetts (d. 1863)

Deaths in History

  • Jan 11 Francis Lightfoot Lee, American advocate for independence (signed US Declaration of Independence), dies at 62
  • Jan 13 Elisabeth C von Brunswick-Bevern, wife of Frederick II, dies at 81
  • Jan 13 Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern, Queen of Prussia as wife of Frederik II the Great, dies at 81

Historical Figures

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