January 251787—Shays’ Rebellion suffers a setback when debt-ridden farmers, led by Capt. Daniel Shays, fail to capture an arsenal at Springfield, Mass.
1799—1st US patent for a seeding machine, Eliakim Spooner, Vermont.
1825—1st US engineering college opens, Rensselaer Polytechnic, Troy, NY.
1863—Battle of Kinston, NC.
1863—General Joseph Hooker replaces Burnside as head of Army of Potomac.
1881—Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell form the Oriental Telephone Company.
1890—United Mine Workers of America form.
1915—Alexander Graham Bell in NY calls Thomas Watson in San Francisco.
1937—1st broadcast of “Guiding Light” on radio.
1939—Joe Louis KOs John Henry Lewis in 1 for heavyweight boxing title.
1945—-New York Yankees sold by Ruppert estate to construction magnate Del Webb and partners Dan Topping and Larry McPhail for $2.8 million.
1950—73 degrees highest temperature ever recorded in Cleveland in January.
1951—UN begins counter offensive in Korea.
1955—US & Panama sign canal treaty.
1961—1st live, nationally televised presidential news conference. (JFK)
1961—Walt Disney’s “101 Dalmatians” released.
1964—Beatles 1st US #1, “I want to hold your hand.” (Cashbox)
1971—Charles Manson and 3 women followers convicted of Tate-LaBianca murders.
1974—Ray Kroc, CEO (McDonald’s), buys San Diego Padres for $12 million.
1978—Muriel Humphrey (D-Mn) appointed to fill late husband’s Senate seat.
1981—52 Americans held hostage by Iran for 444 days arrived back in US.
1982—9th American Music Award: Pat Benatar & Kenny Rogers win.
1988—VP George Bush & Dan Rather clash on “CBS Evening News” as Rather attempts to question Bush about his role in Iran-Contra affair.
1989—Michael Jordan scores his 10,000th NBA point in his 5th season.
1993—Sears announces it is closing its catalog sales department after 97 years.
1994—Accused of molesting a 13 year-old boy, Michael Jackson settles a civil lawsuit out of court.
2004—Opportunity rover (MER-B) lands on surface of Mars.
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