What Happened Today in History on January 1

The Julian Calendar takes effect, under the direction of Julius Caesar, replacing the traditional Roman calendar which had been introduced around the seventh century B.C. which followed the lunar cycle. It introduced a solar year of 365 days with a leap year every fourth year to keep the calendar aligned with the seasons.  Expand +

Michael VIII Palaiologos was proclaimed co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire on January 1, 1259 through a coup, becoming the senior co-ruler to the young John IV Laskaris. He later became the sole emperor in 1261 after overthrowing and blinding John IV. Expand +

Portuguese explorer Gaspar de Lemos reaches the Bay of Guanabara in Brazil and, mistaking the bay's entrance for a river, named it "Rio de Janeiro" (River of January). The name was given to honor the month of their arrival.  Expand +

Sir Francis Drake's forces captured the Spanish city of Santo Domingo on January 1, 1586, and occupied it for about a month during England's war with Spain. The raid was part of a larger expedition to the Spanish New World, commanded by Drake under orders from Queen Elizabeth I.

Scotland adopts January 1 as the start of the new year while continuing to use the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar had been introduced in 1582, but Scotland did not adopt until much later, in 1752, when it was joined with England. More

Sweden adopts the Gregorian calendar, moving from the Julian calendar.

The Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland comes into effect on January 1, 1801, creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The act had been  passed by both Legislative branches on March 2, 1800.

Haiti's independence from France, is proclaimed by Jean-Jacques Dessalines becoming the first independent black-led nation in the Western Hemisphere.  Expand +

William Lloyd Garrison publishes the first edition of the Boston abolitionist newspaper, "The Liberator." The weekly paper became a leading voice for the immediate emancipation of enslaved people; it was published until the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States in 1865.

The first claim under the Homestead Act is made by Daniel Freeman for a farm in Nebraska. The law went into effect on January 1, 1863, and Freeman staked his claim near Beatrice, Nebraska, initiating a process that would continue until 1988, when Ken Deardorff received the deed for his claim in Alaska.  Expand +

The Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln, issued on September 22 1862, goes into effect, freeing slaves in Confederate-held territories. The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." More

The Commonwealth of Australia is established by the Federation of six colonies.

The Hewlett-Packard Company is officially founded as a Partnership in a one-car garage in Palo Alto, California. Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard had began their part-time operations in the garage in 1938. Incorporation took place later on August 18, 1947.

Emperor Hirohito of Japan announces he is not a living god during a radio broadcast in the "Declaration of Humanity" (Ningensengen)

Canada's Citizenship Act comes into effect, allowing Canadians to acquire separate Canadian citizenship from British nationality.

Cuban President Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba following the collapse of his government during the Cuban Revolution and flies to the Dominican Republic with his chief military aides. Leaving behind a junta which the rebels refused to recognize. His eldest son and over 50 other military leaders left on a plane to Jacksonville, Florida.

Czechoslovakia peacefully splits into two nations, the Czech Republic and Slovakia The event is known as the "Velvet Divorce"

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) comes into effect. NAFTA immediately lifted tariffs on the majority of goods produced by the signatory nations. It also calls for the gradual elimination, over a period of 15 years, of most remaining barriers to cross-border investment and to the movement of goods and services among the three countries. More

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is established to promote free trade globally. More

January 1, is the traditional effective date for a European Union country to adopt the Euro. The first adoption was on January 1, 1999 by eleven countries, As of now, 20 countries have adopted the Euro and they will be joined by Bulgaria, on January 1, 2026.  Expand +

Romania and Bulgaria join the European Union (EU).