The Ottoman Sultan Selim I occupies Egypt, marking the end of the Mamluk Sultanate following the decisive Battle of Ridaniya on January 22, 1517.
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On This Day in History: January 22
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on January 22nd. From major milestones to cultural achievements, see what happened on this day in history. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The German mathematician and physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit invents the first reliable mercury thermometer in 1714 and also develops the Fahrenheit scale for it in 1724; leading to its widespread use and standardization making significant improvements to temperature measurement.
The first group of European settlers arrive at Petone New Zealand on January 22, 1840 aboard the ship the Aurora, to found the settlement that would become Wellington, named for the first Duke of Wellington.
By July of 1840 there were over 1000 settlers in New Zeeland .On May 21 1840, Lieutenant-Governor William Hobson proclaimed British sovereignty over all of New Zealand even though copies of the treaty with the Māori were still circulating throughout the country for the Māori to sign.
Edward VII is proclaimed King on January 22, 1901, immediately following the death of his mother, Queen Victoria; he was crowned on August 9, 1902 Edward died on May 6, 1910 of heart failure and was succeeded by his son George V.
The coastal liner British SS Valencia caught in heavy fog and rain runs aground on Walla Walla Reef off Vancouver Island. resulting in over 136 deaths.
The catastrophe led to the development on Vancouver Island of the West Coast Trail and the construction of the Pachena Point Lighthouse.
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President Woodrow Wilson delivers his famous "Peace Without Victory" address to the United States Senate on January 22, 1917. As Wilson attempted to position the nation as a mediator to end the conflict through diplomacy rather than total military conquest.
President Hoover signs the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) Act ,on January 22, 1932, establishing the Independent government Agency, to aid the struggling U.S. economy during the Great Depression.
It went on to become a vital government agency as the lender of last resort providing emergency financing to banks, railroads, and industries fostering stability during the Great Depression.
Starting in 1933, under Franklin D. Roosevelt the RFC's mandate expanded significantly. It began purchasing preferred stock in banks to boost their capital, helped finance New Deal public works, and supported mortgage relief (including the creation of Fannie Mae). During the World War II Era, the RFC became a massive driver of war production, financing the construction of synthetic rubber plants, defense factories, and funding military-industrial efforts. as private capital returned, the agency was deemed unnecessary and its lending powers were transferred to the Small Business Administration in 1953, and it was officially dissolved in 1957.
The Japanese 55th Division launched a major invasion into Burma during World War II on January 22, 1942 across the Kawkareik Pass, following its initial attacks in late December 1941.
Shortly before his 90th birthday, on January 22, 1962, Bertrand Russell responds to a letter from British Fascist, Sir Oswald Mosley, inviting Russell to lunch and to engage in a debate on the merits of fascism. Russell declined, stating his opposition to fascism's repugnant cruelty and violent nature. Read Russell's response at the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation/ Spokesman Books
The U.S. Supreme Court’s issues its ruling in Roe v. Wade on January 22, 1973; recognizing that the decision whether to continue or end a pregnancy belongs to the individual, not the government.
Roe held that the specific guarantee of “liberty” in the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects individual privacy, includes the right to abortion prior to fetal viability. After Roe, the Supreme Court repeatedly reaffirmed that the Constitution protects for abortion as an essential liberty, which is tied to other liberty rights to make personal decisions about family, relationships, and bodily autonomy. However, the Supreme Court overturned Roe in 2022. More
Theodore J. Kaczynski, confesses and pleads guilty, on January 22, 1998, admitting that he was the terrorist Unabomber who killed three and maimed dozens more in a deranged campaign against scientists, computers and jet airplanes.
Under terms of the agreement. As part of a last minute plea deal where he was, Kaczynski pleaded guilty to all federal charges against him including 13 counts of transporting explosive devices with the intent to kill or maim. Kaczynski also admitted in court that he placed or mailed another 11 bombs, for which he was not charged. He was spared the death penalty and will serve life in prison without possibility of release. More
Evo Morales is sworn in as president of Bolivia on January 22, 2006, becoming Bolivia's first president of indigenous descent, a country with a majority indigenous population that had historically been excluded from power. During his presidency, Morales focused on empowering indigenous peoples, nationalizing resources, and reducing poverty.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) enters into force on January 22, 2021, 90 days after the 50th ratification, as per Article 15 of the Treaty. marking a significant step in nuclear disarmament efforts.
While major nuclear-armed states have not signed, the TPNW has strong support, with numerous countries as Parties and Signatories, creating a growing global norm against nuclear weapons.