The 1st of January, More Than Just New Year’s Day.
When you think of the 1st day in January thoughts of champagne, fireworks, and in some cases…bad decisions from the night before may come to mind. However, January 1 has proven to be more than just a day to nurse a hangover. Let’s take a look back on moments that occurred on January 1 throughout history.
1/1/1660 – Samuel Pepys began his famous diary in which he chronicled life in London including the Great Plague (1664-65) and the Great Fire (1666).
1/1/1776 – During the American Revolution, George Washington unveiled the Grand Union Flag, which was officially the first national flag of America.
1/1/1863 – The Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves in the states rebelling against the Union.
1/1/1877 – Queen Victoria became Empress of India.
1/1/1892 – Ellis Island in New York Harbor opened to immigrants. Over 20 million people arrived at Ellis Island and were processed until its closing in 1954.
1/1/1915 – The British Battleship Formidable was hit by a torpedo in the English Channel, killing 547 crewmen.
1/1/1942 – In Washington D.C., Twenty-six countries signed the Declaration of the United Nations. This reaffirmed their opposition to the Axis powers and confirmed that no single nation would make a separate peace.
1/1/1959 – Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba after leading the revolution that drove out Dictator Fulgencio Batista. Castro then established a Communist dictatorship.
1/1/1975 – During the Watergate scandal, former top aides to President Nixon including former Attorney General John Mitchell, Domestic Affairs Advisor John Ehrlichman and Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman, were found guilty of obstruction of justice.
1/1/1999 – Eleven European nations began using a new single European currency, the Euro, for electronic financial and business transactions. Including; Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
Image Number: 1672R-120878901/1/1735 American Patriot Paul Revere was born in Boston. Best known for his ride on the night of April 18, 1775, warning Americans that the British were coming to Lexington and Concord.
Betsy Ross (1752-1836) was born on January 1 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was a seamstress credited with sewing the Stars and Stripes flag of America in 1776.
Here’s to a Happy New Year and to many more great moments in time! Search SuperStock for amazing fine art, historical and vintage images.
