Events in History
- Jan 2 British battleship Thunder explodes in Gulf of Ismid, 9 die
- Jan 2 Dr Benjamin Mays, named president of Atlanta Board of Education
- Jan 9 Cheyenne prisoners led by Dull Knife revolt at Ft Robinson
- Jan 9 Kirland Warbler discovered on Andros Island in Bahamas
Anglo-Zulu War
Jan 11 Anglo-Zulu War begins as British Lt-General Chelmsford invades Zululand in South Africa
Theater Premiere
Jan 21 Henrik Ibsen's play "Et Dukkehjem" (A Doll's House) premieres in Copenhagen
The British: 139. Zulu Warriors: 4,000. Let Battle Begin
Jan 22 Battle of Rorke's Drift: British garrison of 150 holds off 3,000-4,000 Zulu warriors. Eleven Victoria Crosses and a number of other decorations were awarded to the defenders.
- Jan 22 James Shields (D) elected US senator from Missouri after previously serving as US senator from Illinois & Minnesota
- Jan 22 Zulu warriors attack British Army camp in Isandhlwana, South Africa
- Jan 25 The Bulgarian National Bank is founded
Battle of Interest
Jan 29 Custer Battlefield National Monument established in Montana
- Jan 30 French President Patrice de Mac-Mahon resigns
Birthdays in History
E. M. Forster (1879-1970)
Jan 1 English writer and novelist (Howards End, Passage to India), born in Marylebone, Middlesex
- Jan 1 Emile Argand, Swiss geologist (Dekbladen Theory), born in Eaux-Vives, Switzerland (d. 1940)
- Jan 1 Ernest Jones, Welsh psychoanalyst (biographer of Freud - Life & Work of Sigmund Freud),born in Gowerton, Wales (d. 1958)
- Jan 2 Johannes L "Jan" Walch, Dutch literary figure (Grimaces) (d. 1946)
- Jan 2 Pieter Tesch, Dutch geologist (Pedestal of Nederlands) (d. 1961)
- Jan 3 Grace Anna Goodhue Coolidge, American First Lady (1923-29) wife of Calvin Coolidge, born in Burlington, Vermont (d. 1957)
- Jan 5 Hans Eppinger, Austrian physician, born in Prague, Czech Republic (d. 1946)
- Jan 11 Antonio Beltramelli, Italian writer (d. 1930)
- Jan 15 Mazo de la Roche, Canadian author, born in Newmarket, Canada (d. 1961)
- Jan 18 Henri Giraud, French general (French Committee of National Liberation in WWII), born in Paris, France (d. 1949)
- Jan 19 Boris Savinkov, Russian writer (d. 1925)
- Jan 22 Francis Picabia, French avante-garde artist, writer and typographist (Amorous Parade), born in Paris, France (d. 1953)
- Jan 26 Lode Baekelmans, Belgian writer (Tille), born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1965)
Weddings in History
- Jan 7 Dutch King William II marries Emma von Waldeck-Pyrmont
Deaths in History
- Jan 8 Baldomero Espartero, Spanish general and statesman (Regent of Spain for Isabella II), dies at 85
- Jan 9 Don Joaquin BF Espartero, fieldmarshall/viceroy of Navarra, dies at 86
- Jan 13 Henry the Navigator, prince of the Netherlands, third son of King William II of the Netherlands, dies at 58
- Jan 16 Octave Crémazie, French Canadian poet, dies at 51
- Jan 21 John Blair Scribner, American magazine and book publisher, dies of pneumonia at 28
- Jan 22 Anthony Durnford, British colonel, dies in Battle of Isandlwana
- Jan 22 George Shepstone, British political affiliate, dies in battle
- Jan 29 Antonio Benedetto Antonucci, Italian cardinal and diplomat, dies at 80
Authors
Civil Rights Activists
Inventors
Kings
Revolutionaries
Scientists