Major Events

• 1521 – Martin Luther is formally excommunicated by Pope Leo X, a pivotal moment in the Protestant Reformation.
• 1777 – American forces defeat the British at the Battle of Princeton during the American Revolutionary War.
• 1833 – The United Kingdom claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
• 1868 – Meiji Restoration leaders in Japan restore imperial rule under Emperor Meiji.
• 1899 – The first motorcycle club in the world, the Auto-Cycle Club of America, is founded.
• 1925 – Benito Mussolini announces he will take responsibility for Italy’s fascist dictatorship.
• 1959 – Alaska is officially admitted as the 49th state of the United States.
• 1961 – The United States severs diplomatic relations with Cuba.
• 1977 – Apple Computer, Inc. is incorporated by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.
• 2004 – NASA’s Spirit rover lands successfully on Mars.

Famous Birthdays

• 106 BCE – Cicero, Roman statesman and philosopher (d. 43 BCE)
• 1892 – J. R. R. Tolkien, English author (d. 1973)
• 1919 – Sergio Leone, Italian film director (d. 1989)
• 1936 – Michelangelo Antonioni, Italian film director (d. 2007)
• 1946 – Victoria Principal, American actress
• 1956 – Mel Gibson, Australian-American actor and filmmaker
• 1969 – Michael Schumacher, German racing driver (d. 2013)
• 1974 – Seth Peters, American musician
• 1986 – Colin Morgan, Irish actor

Notable Deaths

• 1327 – Hugh Despenser the Younger, English nobleman (b. 1286)
• 1437 – Catherine of Valois, Queen of England (b. 1401)
• 1892 – George Biddell Airy, English astronomer (b. 1801)
• 1928 – Carl David Anderson, American physicist (b. 1905)
• 1956 – Joseph Wirth, German politician (b. 1879)
• 1969 – Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887)
• 1991 – Frank Belknap Long, American writer (b. 1901)
• 2002 – Carroll Shelby, American automotive designer (b. 1923)
• 2021 – Gerry Marsden, English singer-songwriter (b. 1942)

Holidays

• Festival of Sleep Day
• Women Rock! Day
• Memento Mori Day – Observed by some Christian traditions

Fun Facts

• Apple’s incorporation on January 3 marked the beginning of one of the world’s most influential tech companies.
• 10. 18. 18. Tolkien, born on this day, created Middle-earth and modern high fantasy.
• The Spirit rover sent back data from Mars for over six years, far exceeding its planned mission.
• Alaska’s statehood made it the largest U.S. state by land area.
• January 3 is sometimes referred to as “Humiliation Day” in ancient Roman traditions.
• Cicero, born on this day, greatly influenced Western philosophy and rhetoric.