Historical Events on January 2, Facts & Special Events On This Day - CalendarZ

Historical Events on January 2

366
The Alemanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, invading the Roman Empire.
533
Mercurius becomes Pope John II, the first pope to adopt a new name upon elevation to the papacy.
1492
Reconquista: the Emirate of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain, surrenders.
1777
American Revolutionary War: American forces under the command of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek near Trenton, New Jersey.
1788
Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution.
1791
Big Bottom massacre in the Ohio Country, marking the beginning of the Northwest Indian War.
1818
The British Institution of Civil Engineers is founded.
1833
Reassertion of British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
1860
The discovery of the planet Vulcan is announced at a meeting of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris, France.
1863
American Civil War: The Battle of Stones River (a.k.a. Battle of Murfreesboro) resumes in central Tennessee after a day's respite, resulting in a significant Union victory.
1865
Uruguayan War: The Siege of Paysandú ends as Brazilian and Coloradans capture Paysandú, Uruguay.
1900
American statesman and diplomat John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China.
1905
Russo-Japanese War: The Russian garrison surrenders at Port Arthur, China.
1920
The second Palmer Raid takes place with another 6,000 suspected communists and anarchists arrested and held without trial. These raids take place in several U.S. cities.
1941
World War II: German bombing severely damages the Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
1942
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) convicts 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history—the Duquesne Spy Ring.
1942
World War II: Manila, Philippines is captured by Japanese forces.
1945
World War II: Nuremberg, Germany is severely bombed by Allied forces.
1949
Luis Muñoz Marín becomes the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico.
1955
Panamanian president José Antonio Remón Cantera is assassinated.
1959
Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union.
1963
Vietnam War: The Viet Cong wins its first major victory.
1967
Ronald Reagan sworn in as Governor of California
1971
The second Ibrox disaster kills 66 fans at a Rangers-Celtic association football (soccer) match.
1974
United States President Richard Nixon signs a bill lowering the maximum U.S. speed limit to 55 MPH in order to conserve gasoline during an OPEC embargo.
1975
A bomb blast at Samastipur, Bihar, India, fatally wounds Lalit Narayan Mishra, Minister of Railways
1976
The Gale of January 1976 begins, which results in coastal flooding around the southern North Sea coasts, resulting in at least 82 deaths and US$1.3 billion in damage.
1981
One of the largest investigations by a British police force ends when serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, the "Yorkshire Ripper", is arrested in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.
1992
Leaders of armed opposition declare the President Zviad Gamsakhurdia deposed during a military coup in Georgia.
1993
Sri Lankan Civil War: The Sri Lanka Navy kill 35-100 civilians on the Jaffna Lagoon.
1999
A brutal snowstorm smashes into the Midwestern United States, causing 14 inches (359 mm) of snow in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 19 inches (487 mm) in Chicago, where temperatures plunge to -13 °F (-25 °C); 68 deaths are reported.
2004
Stardust successfully flies past Comet Wild 2, collecting samples that are returned to Earth.
2006
An explosion in a coal mine in Sago, West Virginia traps and kills 12 miners, leaving only one survivor.

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