Events in History
Event of Interest
Jan 1 T. E. Lawrence joins the forces of the Arabian sheik Feisal al Husayn, beginning his adventures that will lead him to Damascus by October, 1918
Event of Interest
Jan 10 Suffragettes the "Silent Sentinels" first protest outside The White House, in Washington led by Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party
Event of Interest
Jan 10 The Allied Governments respond to US President Woodrow Wilson's December 1916 note, giving their terms for ending the war
- Jan 13 Ammunitions ship explosion at Ekonomiia port near Archangel, Russia kills many and injures hundreds
- Jan 13 Train at Ciurea station in Romania catches fire and explodes, between 800-1,000 die, making it the third worst rail accident in history
- Jan 16 "Zimmermann Telegram" is sent from Germany to Mexico, stating in the event of the US entering World War I on the allied side, Mexico would be given Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. Intercepted by British intelligence and partially deciphered by the next day. It's release in March shifts US public opinion in favor of war against Germany.
- Jan 16 The Greek Government accepts reparations for Allied losses sustained in recent actions in Greece
- Jan 17 US pays Denmark $25 million for Virgin Islands (or 3/21)
- Jan 19 The Silvertown explosion: 73 die when a munitions factory in Essex explodes.
- Jan 27 Coen de Koning wins 2nd official 11 cities race (9:53) (record)
- Jan 28 Municipally owned streetcars take to the streets of San Francisco, California
- Jan 29 British submarine K13 sank in Gaire Loch, Scotland; killing 32 of her crew
- Jan 31 Germany notifies US that U-boats will attack neutral merchant ship
- Jan 31 Mexican President Carranza announces a new constitution with many liberal elements; most of which his regime will not implement
Birthdays in History
- Jan 1 Jule Gregory Charney, American meteorologist (d. 1981)
- Jan 3 Roger W. Straus, Jr., American publisher (d. 2004)
- Jan 3 Vernon A. Walters, American diplomat and US permanent rep to the UN (1989-91), born in NYC, New York (d. 2002)
- Jan 5 Francis L. Kellogg, U.S. diplomat and prominent socialite, born in NYC, New York (d. 2006)
- Jan 6 Koo Chen-fu, Taiwanese businessman & diplomat, born in Taichung, Taiwan (d. 2005)
- Jan 8 Peter Taylor, American novelist, born in Trenton, Tennessee (d. 1994)
- Jan 12 Jimmy Skinner, Canadian hockey coach, born in Selkirk, Canada (d. 2007)
- Jan 15 Wang Renzhong, Chinese politician (First Secretary Hubei Province), born in Jing County, Hebei (d. 1992)
- Jan 16 Carl Karcher, founded the Carl's Jr. hamburger chain (d. 2008)
- Jan 17 Ramón Cardemil, Chilean huaso, born in Colchagua, Chile (d. 2007)
- Jan 18 Oscar Lewenstein, British impresario, born in Hackney, London (d. 1997)
- Jan 18 Wang Yung-ching, Taiwanese businessman, born in Xindian District, Taipei, Taiwan (d. 2008)
- Jan 21 Erling Persson, Swedish entrepreneur (H&M stores), born in Borlänge, Sweden (d. 2002)
- Jan 21 Rohan Butler, English historian (d. 1996)
- Jan 22 Herwig Hensen [Flor Mielants], Flemish poet and playwright, born in Antwerp, Belgium (d. 1989)
- Jan 23 Dusan Kostic, Serbian writer, born in Peja, Serbia (d. 1997)
- Jan 25 Ilya Prigogine, Russian scientist & Nobel laureate, born in Moscow, Russia (d. 2003)
- Jan 25 Jânio Quadros, Brazilian politician, born in Campo Grande, Brazil (d. 1992)
- Jan 31 Erich Geiringer, New Zealand general practitioner campaigner (founder of the New Zealand Medical Association), born in Vienna, Austria-Hungary (d. 1995)
Weddings in History
Auguste Rodin
Jan 29 Sculptor Auguste Rodin (76) weds Rose Beuret
Deaths in History
George Dewey (1837-1917)
Jan 16 U.S. Admiral of the Navy, won Battle of Manila Bay, dies at 79
Authors
Civil Rights Activists
Inventors
Kings
Revolutionaries
Scientists