Sir Isaac Newton, renowned mathematician, physicist, and astronomer, dies in London at the age of 84.
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What Happened in January?
Tragic deaths, ravaged cities, and great acts of heroism. Discover what happened this month in history and the defining moments that shaped the world. Dates for earlier events may be approximate.
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The Chinese Emperor Yongzheng bans Christian missions in China by issuing an imperial edict on January 12, 1724 and expelling most missionaries
The original Theatre Royal opens in London on December 7, 1732.
The Theater burned down in 1808 and a second theater opens in 1809. In 1856, the second theater also burns down. The current building opened on May 15 1858 and it is officially renamed the "Royal Opera House" in 1892.
The British East India Company captures the city of Madras in India from the French.
Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite forces defeat government troops at the Battle of Falkirk Muir in Scotland on January 17, 1746. They failed to capitalize on the win and it was the Jacobites last major victory of the 1745 Rising, leading to their final defeat months later at Culloden.
Sweden adopts the Gregorian calendar, moving from the Julian calendar.
George Washington marries Martha Dandridge Custis in Virginia on January 6, 1759 at her home in New Kent County. More
The British Museum opened for the first time to the public on January 15, 1759, at Montagu House in London's Bloomsbury district, becoming the world's first national public museum.
It was founded on the collections of Sir Hans Sloane and initially free for "studious and curious persons". The Montagu House was later demolished and started construction in the 1820's,of the iconic Greek Revival building that houses the museum today. The Elgin Marbles and the Rosetta Stone are among its world-renowned antiquities and archaeological holdings.
Afghan ruler Ahmad Shah Durrani defeats Maratha forces at the Battle of Barari Ghat on January 9, 1760. The victory opened Delhi to the Afghans leading to his decisive triumph over the Marathas at the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761. The weakening of the Maratha power in North India creating a power vacuum eventually filled by the British.
The English Parliament passes the American Revenue Act, which initiates the taxation of the American colonies.
c. 1770, January 30
It is generally believed that 1770 was the year that rhubarb was introduced into the United States. and that first shipment of rhubarb was sent by Benjamin Franklin.
Franklin was at the time living in London and shipped a crate of rhubarb to Philadelphia to his friend, John Bartram, the preeminent botanist of his time. It was not for another 60 years that the root gained popularity in the US..
The Spanish mission San Gabriel Arcángel is founded in California, becoming one of the oldest Catholic missions.
The first traveler's cheques were issued by the London Credit Exchange Company on January 1, 1772, for use across Europe. The traveler checks did not become very popular until American Express developed a large-scale system much later.
Thomas Paine publishes "Common Sense", his influential pamphlet, on January 10, 1776. His anonymous publication, advocated for complete American independence from Great Britain, transforming a colonial dispute into a revolutionary cause.
The pivotal publication, sold hundreds of thousands of copies, uniting diverse colonists and political factions behind the idea of a new and independent nation and providing the philosophical foundation for a democratic republic, advocating for a government of the people, not subjects. He wrote:....."Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph". More
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American forces led by George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, held the British at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek in Trenton on January 2, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War and went around them during the night to attack and defeat the British forces in Princeton on January 3, 1277 (Battle of Princeton)
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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.
Vermont declares independence from the British crown and from the Colony of New York. They called the territory New Connecticut but when they met in June to write a constitution, they changed the name to Vermont, loosely based on the French term for “green mountain,” or “montagne verte.”
On January 15, 1777, settlers in the disputed New Hampshire Grants territory, led by figures like Ethan Allen, declared independence from both the British Crown and New York, forming the independent Republic of Vermont (New Connecticut), asserting self-governance amidst the American Revolution, establishing their own government, and functioning as a de facto republic until joining the U.S. in 1791when it was admitted into the Union on March 4 1791, becoming the 14th State of the Union. More
English Captain James Cook, traveling aboard the 100-foot flagship HMS Resolution and its 90-foot companion HMS Discovery. sights O‘ahu on January 18, 1778, becoming the first Europeans to encounter and set foot on the Hawaiian Islands when they land two days later at Waimea on Kaua‘i.
After a short stay Capitan Cook went on to explore the west coast of North America, to continue his search for the Northwest Passage. A year later, he returned to Hawaii where he was killed by the Hawaiian natives at Kealakekua Bay on February 14, 1779 after he attempted to kidnap Kalaniʻōpuʻu, the ruling chief (aliʻi nui) of the island and hold him in exchange for the return of a small stolen cutter. A fatal error that led to his death. Cook's arrival in Hawaii eventually led to large migrations of Europeans and Americans to the islands resulting a century later in 1893, in the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii by pro-American elements. More
The first state constitution of Georgia is adopted.
American forces under Brigadier General, Daniel Morgan defeat the British at the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina on January 17, 1781 during the American Revolutionary War.