Marcus Tullius Cicero, one of Rome's most famous orators, statesmen, and philosophers was born on January 3, 106 BCE, in Arpinum, a town southeast of Rome, into a wealthy equestrian family
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On This Day in History: January 3
Explore the historical events that shaped our world on January 3rd. 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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Sultan Murad II of the Ottoman Empire abdicates the throne in favor of his son, Mehmed II.
The Swiss Confederation defeats the Holy League at the Battle of Ravenna in Italy.
Cardinal Wolsey becomes Lord Chancellor of England under Henry VIII.
Pope Leo X, excommunicated Martin Luther from the Catholic Church, after Luther refused to recant his teachings, which challenged church practices like selling indulgences, marking a pivotal moment in the Protestant Reformation.
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The Continental Army soldiers under the command of General George Washington defeats a force of British troops near Princeton, New Jersey. (Battle of Princeton).
The British suffer heavy losses in the Battle which was part of a larger campaign for the Continental Army to regain momentum following a string of defeats in the New York City area throughout the summer and fall of 1776.
The long-reigning Tokugawa shoguns of the Edo period who represented over 250 years of peace and prosperity in Japan and the last era of traditional Japanese society, government and culture but also isolation from western influence, came to an end, on January 3, 1868. when the Meiji Restoration toppled it and restored Imperial rule.
The formal restoration of imperial rule and the end of the the Shogunate era, came about in two distinct steps. First came the formal resignation on November 9, 1867, of the 15th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu and the relinquishing of his governing powers to the Emperor. This was followed on January 3, 1868, by the by the anti-shogunate forces from the Satsuma and Chōshū domains, seizing of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and abolishing the shogunate title, restoring full imperial power.
The National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis is founded by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, an adult victim of polio. The foundation was renamed later "The March of Dimes Foundation."
The British Royal Air Force bombs a German seaplane base, marking the first British raid of World War II.
Alaska is admitted into the Union, becoming the 49th U.S. State. The United States had purchased the Alaska territory from Russia and formally taken possession of it on October 18, 1867. The purchase, ended Russia’s presence in North America and ensured U.S. access to the Pacific northern rim. View list of Admission
The United States severs diplomatic relations with Cuba as Fidel Castro solidifies his socialist government.
Jack Leon Ruby dies of cancer in a Dallas hospital. Born Jacob Leon Rubenstein, he had been convicted and sentenced to death for murdering Lee Harvey Oswald on November 24, 1963, two days after Oswald was accused of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The conviction was appealed, and he was to be granted a new trial, but Ruby became ill, was diagnosed with cancer, and died of a pulmonary embolism at a Dallas hospital. More
The Mars robotic rover Spirit, lands on Mars. It was launched on June 10, 2003. I Spirit remained active until March 22, 2010. NASA was not able to regain contact with Spirit and officially concluded its recovery efforts May 25, 2011. Its twin, rover Opportunity was launched on July 7, 2003 and landed on Mars 21 days after Spirit on January 24, 2004. More
China successfully lands the Chang'e 4 spacecraft on the far side of the Moon, a first in human space exploration.
A U.S. drone strike kills Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad, escalating tensions between the US and Iran.