Globally Significant:
46 BC:
Julius Caesar defeated Titus Labienus in the Battle of Ruspina, demonstrating his military prowess against formidable foes.
274:
Pope St. Eutychian began his papacy, adding a spiritual milestone to the day’s historical significance.
1809:
French educator Louis Braille, who developed a system of printing and writing that is extensively used by the blind and that was named for him, was born near Paris.
1965:
U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed his vision of a “Great Society” and called for an enormous program of social welfare legislation in his State of the Union address.
2007:
U.S. politician Nancy Pelosi became the first woman to hold the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives
Scientific and Technological Advancements:
1847:
Samuel Colt sold his first revolver pistol to the United States government, revolutionizing the firearms industry and warfare.
1865:
the New York Stock Exchange opened its first permanent headquarters at 10-12 Broad St, near Wall Street in New York City, becoming the world’s largest stock exchange.
1959:
the USSR’s Luna 1 (Mechta) became the first spacecraft to leave Earth’s gravity and fly past the Moon, paving the way for future lunar exploration.
1970:
Brian D. Josephson, a Welsh physicist who discovered the Josephson effect, a quantum phenomenon in superconductors, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
1998:
the Mars Pathfinder mission completed its operations on the surface of Mars, after transmitting more than 16,000 images and 8.5 million measurements.
Cultural and Political Turning Points:
1077:
Emperor Zhezong of Song Dynasty, China was born. He later played a pivotal role in the cultural and political developments of his country.
1334:
Amadeus VI, also known as the Green Count, was born. He was an influential Count of Savoy and noted for his military skill.
1642:
King Charles I of England stormed into the House of Commons and attempted to arrest five members, sparking the English Civil War that would last for nine years.
1809:
Louis Braille, a French educator, was born. He would go on to invent the Braille system, a crucial communication tool for the visually impaired.
Sports
1936:
Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade, which included songs related to sports such as “The Music Goes ‘Round and Around” by Tommy Dorsey and “These Foolish Things” by Benny Goodman1.
2001:
Washington Wizards forward Michael Jordan became the fourth player in NBA history to score 30,000 career points; he hit a free throw in the second quarter of an 89-83 win against his old team, the Chicago Bulls.
2010:
the Burj Khalifa in Dubai was officially opened. Standing at 2,722 ft (829.8 m), it became the world’s tallest man-made structure and a popular destination for extreme sports such as base jumping and skydiving2.
2013:
Lionel Messi won his fourth consecutive FIFA Ballon d’Or award, becoming the first player to do so. He beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Andrés Iniesta for the prestigious prize, which recognizes the best footballer of the year.
2020:
Serena Williams won her first title in three years, defeating Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. She donated her $43,000 prize money to the Australian bushfire relief fund.
Born on January 4th:
Isaac Newton (1643):
Mathematician and physicist, famous for his laws of motion and universal gravitation.
Jacob Grimm (1785):
One half of the Brothers Grimm, who collected and published German fairy tales.
R. D. Burman (1939):
Indian music composer who created iconic soundtracks for Bollywood films.
Bradley Cooper (1975):
American actor known for his roles in “Silver Linings Playbook” and “American Sniper.”
Died on January 4th:
Louis Braille (1852):
The inventor of the Braille system for the visually impaired, passed away on January 4th at the age of 43. His revolutionary invention continues to empower millions worldwide.
Benito Pérez Galdós (1920):
The acclaimed Spanish novelist and playwright died peacefully on January 4th at the age of 81. His vast body of work chronicled and critiqued 19th-century Spanish society, earning him recognition as a literary giant.
King Charles I of England (1649):
Executed after being convicted of treason during the English Civil War.
Jacob Grimm (1863):
One half of the Brothers Grimm fairytale-collecting duo, passed away at the age of 78.
A.A. Milne (1956):
The beloved author of the Winnie-the-Pooh children’s stories, died peacefully at the age of 75.
