Today in History - January 3rd


  • 1496 - On this day in history, Leonardo da Vinci notebooks made reference to the fact that he tested his flying machine and that the tests didn't succeed.
  • 1521 - Pope Leo X excommunicated Martin Luther for his beliefs and Manifesto. 
  • 1777 - Today in history, The Battle of Princeton took place, George Washington defeated the British forces in the War of Independence.
  • 1823 - Stephen F. Austin received money from the Mexican government to begin settling in Texas.
  • 1825 - On this day in history, the first US engineering college --Rensselaer School-- opened in Troy, NY. It is now known as RPI.
  • 1870 - Brooklyn Bridge construction began to become one of the iconic landmarks in NYC.
  • 1924 - Today in history, explorer Howard Carter discovered the sarcophagus of Tutankhamen in Egypt.
  • 1925 - Mussolini announced that he would take autocratic powers in Italy. 
  • 1938 - On this day in history, The March of Dimes was established by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to fight polio, a disease from which he had suffered himself.
  • 1947 - US Congressional proceedings were televised for the first time.
  • 1959 - Today in history, Alaska became the 49th state. 
  • 1961 - The US cut diplomatic relations with Cuba. 
  • 1962 - On this day in history, Pope John XXIII excommunicated Fidel Castro. 
  • 1977 - Apple Computers was incorporated in the US.
  • 1988 - Today in history, Margaret Thatcher became the longest-serving British Prime Minister in the 20th century.
  • 1995- It was reported that the total of reported cases of AIDS had risen to over one million in 192 countries.
  • 2004 - On this day in history, NASA's rover landed on Mars. The craft was able to broadcast B & W images a few hours after landing.
  • 2011 - With news that Facebook received investments of $500 million, the value of the company rose to 50 Billion.

SCIENCE, DISCOVERIES, PATENTS - Today in History, January 3rd

  • 1871 - Today in history, Henry W. Bradley received a patent for oleomargarine. 
  • 1872 - The first list of patents was issued by U.S. Patent Office.
  • 1888 - On this day in history, the drinking straw was patented by Marvin C. Stone.
  • 1945 - The Cato-Meridian School in New York installed germicidal lamps in every room.
  • 1957 - Today in history, The Hamilton Watch Company premiered the first electric watch.

MUSIC HISTORY - Today in History, January 3rd

  • 1900 - Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Aida" was performed in New York. 
  • 1964 - 0n this day in history, The Beatles made their debut on US television via a film clip shown in the Jack Paar Show.  
  • 1987 - Aretha Franklin was instated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was the first woman to be given this honor.

SPORTS - Today in History, January 3rd

  • 1920 – Today in history, The New York Yankees bought Babe Ruth from The Red Sox.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS - January 3rd

  • Anna Pavlova 1885 
  • J.R.R. Tolkien 1892 
  • Marion Davies 1897
  • Mel Gibson 1956