4
January
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January 4 in History
2010
The Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building is officially opened.
2007
The 110th United States Congress convenes, electing Nancy Pelosi as the first female Speaker of the House in U.S. history.
2006
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel suffers a second, apparently more serious stroke. His authority is transferred to acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
2004
Spirit, a NASA Mars Rover, lands successfully on Mars at 04:35 UTC.
1999
Gunmen open fire on Shiite Muslims worshipping in an Islamabad mosque, killing 16 people and injuring 25.
Former professional wrestler Jesse Ventura is sworn in as governor of Minnesota.
1998
A massive ice storm hits eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, continuing through January 10 and causing widespread destruction.
Wilaya of Relizane massacres in Algeria: over 170 are killed in three remote villages.
1989
Second Gulf of Sidra incident: a pair of Libyan MiG-23 "Floggers" are shot down by a pair of US Navy F-14 Tomcats during an air-to-air confrontation.
1987
The Chase, Maryland rail wreck: An Amtrak train en route to Boston, Massachusetts from Washington, D.C., collides with Conrail engines in Chase, Maryland, killing 16 people.
1975
Elizabeth Ann Seton becomes the first American-born saint.
1974
United States President Richard Nixon refuses to hand over materials subpoenaed by the Senate Watergate Committee.
1972
Rose Heilbron becomes the first female judge to sit at the Old Bailey in London.
1967
Donald Campbell is killed on Coniston Water while attempting to break the world water speed record.
1966
A military coup takes place in Upper Volta (later Burkina Faso), dissolving the National Parliament and leading to a new national constitution.
1965
United States President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaims his "Great Society" during his State of the Union address.
1962
New York City introduces a train that operates without a crew on-board.
1959
Luna 1 becomes the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon.
1958
Sputnik 1 falls to Earth from its orbit.
1951
Korean War: Chinese and North Korean forces capture Seoul.
1948
Burma regains its independence from the United Kingdom.
1944
World War II: Operation Carpetbagger, involving the dropping of arms and supplies to resistance fighters in Europe, begins.
1912
The Scout Association is incorporated throughout the British Commonwealth by Royal Charter.
1903
Topsy, an elephant, is electrocuted by Thomas Edison during the War of Currents campaign.
1896
Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S. state.
1885
The first successful appendectomy is performed by William W. Grant on Mary Gartside.
1884
The Fabian Society is founded in London.
1878
Sofia is emancipated from Ottoman rule.
1865
The New York Stock Exchange opens its first permanent headquarters at 10-12 Broad near Wall Street in New York City.
1863
The New Apostolic Church, a Christian and chiliastic church, is established in Hamburg, Germany.
1854
The McDonald Islands are discovered by Captain William McDonald aboard the ''Samarang''.
1847
Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the United States government.
1762
Great Britain declares war on Spain and Naples.
1717
The Netherlands, Great Britain, and France sign the Triple Alliance.
1698
Most of the Palace of Whitehall in London, the main residence of the English monarchs, is destroyed by fire.
1642
King Charles I of England sends soldiers to arrest members of Parliament, commencing England's slide into civil war.
1493
Christopher Columbus leaves the New World, ending his first journey.
1490
Anna of Brittany announces that all those who would ally with the king of France will be considered guilty of the crime of lèse majesté.
871
Battle of Reading: Ethelred of Wessex fights, and is defeated by, a Danish invasion army.