January 1

2012
Queen Elizabeth II appoints John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia, and artist David Hockney, to the Order of Merit
2012
NASA's second Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory spacecraft is in orbit around the moon
2011
Brazil swears in Dilma Rousseff, its first female president
2011
Hungary takes over the position of the presidency of the European Union
2010
A suicide bomber kills 95 people, injures over 100, and destroys 20 houses at a volleyball game in Lakki Marwat, Pakistan
2009
Czech Republic assumes EU presidency
2009
Slovakia replaces its national currency, the Slovak koruna, with the Euro
2008
Cyprus replaces it's currency with the Euro
2008
Malta replaces it's currency with the Euro
2007
Bulgaria joins the European Union
2007
Romania joins the European Union
2007
Slovenia begins using the Euro as it's currency
2004
Rose Bowl, USC Trojans beat Michigan Wolverines 28 - 14
2003
Rose Bowl, Oklahoma Sooners beat Washington State Cougars 34 - 14
2002
Rose Bowl, Miami Hurricanes beat Nebraska Cornhuskers 37 - 14
2002
The Euro becomes the official currency for most of Europe
2001
Rose Bowl, Washington Huskies beat Purdue Boilermakers 34 - 24
2000
Rose Bowl, Wisconsin Badgers beat Stanford Cardinals 17 - 9
2000
After years of preparation for Y2K, only minor computer-related problems were reported (a problem with Hotmail, with a nuclear power plant in Japan and with apartment heating in Korea)
2000
Millennial celebrations occurred worldwide without terrorist incidents
1999
International Year of Elderly
1999
Rose Bowl, Wisconsin Badgers beat UCLA Bruins 38 - 31
1998
All California bars, clubs and card rooms must be smoke-free
1998
Mongolia switches from a 46 hour to 40 hour work week
1998
U.S. Census Bureau estimates population at 268,921,733
1998
Rose Bowl, Michigan Wolverines beat Washington State Cougars 21 - 16
1997
Rose Bowl, Ohio State Buckeyes beat Arizona State Sun Devils 20 - 17
1996
After 27 years, Betty Rubble debuts as a Flintstone vitamin
1996
Curaeao gains limited form of self rule (Status Aparte)
1995
"Glass Menagerie" closes at Criterion Theater New York City after 57 performances
1995
"Shadow Box" closes at Circle in Square Theater New York City after 49 performances
1995
Austria, Finland and Sweden act to join European Union
1995
Centennial of Canadian Mounties presence in Canada's Yukon Territory
1995
Fernando Henrique Cardoso installed as president of Brazil
1995
International Year of Tolerance
1995
Last "Far Side" by cartoonist Gary Larson started in 1980
1995
Raman Lamba and Ravi Sehgal score 464 for 1st wicket for Delhi
1995
"Tuna Christmas" closes at Booth Theater New York City 20 performances
1994
"Flying Karamzov Brothers" closes at Helen Hayes New York City after 50 performances
1994
"Grand Night after Singing" closes at Criterion New York City after 52 performances
1994
Aleksandr Popov swims world record 100m free style (47.83)
1994
Carquest Bowl 4: Boston College beats Virginia, 32-13
1994
Howard Stern's New Year's Eve Beauty Pageant
1994
International Year of Family
1994
Jacobs Field opens with "Gateway's New Year's Eve Countdown to '94"
1994
Microsoft CEO Bill Gates (38) marries Melinda French (29)
1994
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect
1993
12 member European Economic Community sets up vast free trade zone
1993
Blockbuster Bowl 3: Stanford beats Penn State, 24-3
1993
Cigarette advertisements are banned in New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority
1993
Czechoslovakia separates into Czech Republic (Bohemia) and Slovakia
1993
Harry Connick, Jr. arrested at a New York airport for gun possession
1992
Bush is 1st U.S. President to address Australian Parliament
1992
Curaeao becomes 1st in Dutch Antilles to have compulsory education
1992
Europe breaks down trade barriers
1992
International Space Year begins
1992
New York City transit fare increases from $1.15 to $1.25
1991
5% sales tax on consumer goods and services goes into effect in U.S.S.R.
1991
Iraq rejects peace proposal from Egyptian President Hosi Mubarak
1991
Les Miserables opens at Festival Theatre, Adelaide
1990
David Dinkins sworn in as 1st black mayor of New York City
1990
Mitsuko Nishiwaki beats Nakano to become Japan Women wrestling champ
1990
New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority stops token redemption at subway stations
1990
Sports News Network begins operation on cable TV
1990
FCC implements "SYNDEX" giving independent stations more rights over cable TV outlets for exclusive syndicated programs
1989
Actress Kelly McGillis gets married
1989
New York City transit fare rises from $1.00 to $1.15
1989
Year of the Young Reader begins
1988
Czechoslovakian born tennis star Hana Mandikova becomes an Australian Citizen
1988
Miami beats Oklahoma for college football championship
1988
Year of the Reader begins
1987
60 bodies recovered in Dupont Plaza Hotel fire in Puerto Rico
1987
China's rudimentary civil code in effect
1987
International Year of Shelter for Homeless begins
1986
Aruba becomes independent from neighbor island Curaeao
1986
Barbra Striesand and Jon Peters relationship breaks up
1986
International Peace Year begins
1986
New York City transit fare rises from 90 cents to $1.00
1986
Oklahoma wins Orange Bowl for college football championship
1986
Spain and Portugal are 11th and 12th to join European Economic Community
1986
Iowa's All-American running back, Ronnie Harmon, fumbles the ball 4 times in his last game at the Rose Bowl
1985
Actress Judith Licht (Who's the Boss) marries Robert Desiderio (One Life to Live)
1985
International Youth Year begins
1985
U.S.'s 1st manadatory seat belt law goes into effect in New York
1985
VH-1 made its broadcasting debut
1984
AT&T's 22 owned Bell system companies divests into 8 companies
1984
Brunei becomes independent of U.K.
1984
New York City transit fare rises from 75 cents to 90 cents
1983
PGA inaugurates all-exempt tour
1983
Penn State beats Georgia in Sugar Bowl for college football title
1983
World Communications Year begins
1982
30 Something stars Ken Olin and Patricia Wettig meet, later they marry
1982
Clemson wins the Orange Bowl for college football championship
1982
Javier Perez de Cuellar becomes Secretary-General of UN
1982
Metropolitan Transportation Authority launches a 5 year plan to upgrade the New York City subway system
1982
Pope John Paul II prays for an end to martial law in Poland
1982
TA launches 5 year capital program to overhaul New York City subway system
1981
Georgia beats Notre Dame in Sugar Bowl for college football title
1981
Greece is 10th country to join European Economic Community
1981
International Year for the Disabled begins
1981
Palau, Trust Territory of Pacific Islands, becomes self-governing
1981
Roger Smith becomes CEO of General Motors
1980
54th Australian Womens Tennis: Barbara Jordan beats S Walsh (63 63)
1980
Alabama beats Arkansas in Sugar Bowl for college football championship
1980
Chrysler U.K. renamed Talbot
1980
International Decade of Water and Sanitation begins
1980
Mob storms Russian embassy in Teheran
1980
Premier Adbou Diouf becomes president of Senegal
1980
Sweden changes order of succession to throne
1979
International Year of the Child begins
1979
Jura, 26th canton of Switzerland, established
1979
U.S. and China (Peoples Republic) begin diplomatic relations
1978
"Your Arm's Too Short..." closes at Lyceum New York City after 429 performances
1978
Air India B747 explodes near Bombay killing 213
1978
President Ford signs 1st major revision of copyright law since 1909
1977
1st woman formally ordained an Episcopal priest (Jacqueline Means)
1977
Belgium reapportions 2,359 communities into 596
1977
Czechoslovakian intellects begin Human Rights Group Chapter 77
1977
Tony Dorsett runs for record 202 yards in the Sugar Bowl
1976
"Musical Jubilee" closes at St. James Theater New York City after 92 performances
1976
Liberty Bell moves to new home behind Independence Hall
1976
NBC replaces the peacock logo
1976
Venezuela nationalizes oil fields
1975
Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Mitchell and Mardian convicted of Watergate crime
1975
International Women's Year begins
1975
Sweden adopts constitution
1974
Lee MacPhail takes over as AL president, succeeding Joe Cronin
1974
NBC radio begins on the hour news 24 hours a day (following CBS lead)
1974
World Population Year begins
1973
47th Australian Women's Tennis: Margaret Court beats Goolagong (64 75)
1973
Britain, Ireland and Denmark become 7th - 9th members of Common Market
1973
West African Economic Community formed (Benin, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Upper Volta)
1972
"Company" closes at Alvin Theater New York City after 690 performances
1972
"On the Town" closes at Imperial Theater New York City after 65 performances
1972
"Promises Promises" closes at Shubert Theater New York City after 1281 performances
1972
China performs nuclear test at Lop Nor PRC
1972
International Book Year begins
1972
KDSD TV channel 16 in Aberdeen, SD (PBS) begins broadcasting
1971
Cigarette advertisements banned on television
1970
"The Epoch" (Time 0 for UNIX systems, Midnight GMT)
1970
Afro-American Historical Calendar Series Established
1970
Charles "Chub" Feeney becomes president of baseball's National League
1970
Netherlands Christian Workers Union (NCW) forms
1970
Revised calendar for Western (RC) Church goes into effect
1969
Jack Kent Cooke, owner of NHL's Los Angeles Kings, fines each player $100 for "NOT" arguing with the referee
1968
ABC radio splits into 4 networks (Info, Entertainment, Contemp and FM)
1968
Evel Knievel fails in his attempt to jump Caesar's Palace Fountain
1968
Netherlands gets color TV
1968
WDCO TV channel 15 in Cochran, Georgia (PBS) begins broadcasting
1967
CRU becomes the CAFA and turns over the Grey Cup trophy to the CFL
1967
Day's play in the Calcutta Test vs. West Indies cancelled by riots
1967
FCC requires AM-FM sister stations to be at least 50% different
1967
Green Bay Packers beat Dallas Cowboys 34-27 in NFL championship game
1967
Kansas City Chiefs beat Buffalo Bills 31-7 in AFL championship game
1967
St. Helena adopts constitution
1967
Tonga revises constitution
1967
WABW TV channel 14 in Pelham, Georgia (PBS) begins broadcasting
1966
12 day transit worker strike shuts down New York City subway
1966
Military coup by Col Jean-Bedel Bokassa in Central African Republic
1966
Simon and Garfunkel's "Sounds of Silence" reaches #1
1966
All U.S. cigarette packs have to carry "Caution Cigarette smoking may be hazardous to your health"
1965
International Cooperation Year begins
1965
Palestinian al-Fatah organization forms
1964
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland dissolved
1964
KNMT TV channel 12 in Walker, MN (CBS) begins broadcasting
1964
KTVS TV channel 3 in Sterling, CO (CBS) begins broadcasting
1963
G Woods succeeds Eugene Black as president of the World Bank
1963
WTEV (now WLNE) TV channel 6 in Providence RI begins broadcasting
1962
Beatles' Decca audition is unsuccessful
1962
Rwanda granted internal self-government by Belgium
1962
Western Samoa gains independence from New Zealand, Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II becomes co-chief of Western Samoa
1961
Briggs Stadium is renamed Tigers Stadium
1961
Houston Oilers beat LA Chargers 24-16 in AFL championship game
1961
Largest check issued, National Bank of Chicago to Sears ($960.242 billion)
1961
Russia introduces a new ruble worth $1.11
1960
Bank of France issues new franc, worth 20 cents
1960
French Cameroon gains independence from France
1960
Johnny Cash plays 1st of many free concerts behind bars
1960
Montserrat adopts constitution
1960
U.S. census at 179,245,000
1959
Castro leads Cuba to victory as Fulgencio Batista flees to Dom Rep
1959
Chad becomes autonomous republic in French Community
1959
Rohan Kanhai completes 256 vs. India at Calcutta
1958
BOAC Britannia flies London to New York in a record 7h57m
1958
European Economic Community, known as the Common Market, starts operation
1958
Sammy Davis, Jr. marries Loray White
1958
WMBD TV channel 31 in Peoria, IL (CBS) begins broadcasting
1957
Benjamin Britten's ballet "Prince and the Pauper," premieres in London
1957
France returns Saar to becomes the 10th state of German Federal Rep
1956
Elvis Presley records Heartbreak Hotel for RCA in Nashville
1956
KHAS TV channel 5 in Hastings, NB (NBC) begins broadcasting
1956
KOSA TV channel 7 in Odessa, Texas (CBS) begins broadcasting
1956
Sudan (Anglo-Egyptian Sudan) declares independence from Egypt and U.K.
1956
WREC (now WREG) TV channel 3 in Memphis, Tennessee (CBS) begins broadcasting
1955
Bhutan issues its 1st postage stamps
1955
WEAT (now WPEC) TV channel 12 in West Palm Beach, Florida (CBS) begins
1954
KSLA TV channel 12 in Shreveport, LA (CBS) begins broadcasting
1954
Rose and Cotton Bowl are 1st sports colorcasts
1954
WWTV TV channel 9 in Cadillac-Traverse City, MI (CBS) 1st broadcast
1954
Yugoslav parliament chairman/Vice President Milovan Djilas criticize communism
1953
Ernest Blochs "Suite Hebraique," premieres
1953
WBRE TV channel 28 in Wilkes-Barre Scranton, Pennsylvania (NBC) 1st broadcast
1952
Dmitri Shostakovich completes his 5th string quartet
1951
Massive Chinese/North Korean assault on UN-lines
1950
Ho Chi Minh begins offensive against French troops in Indo China
1949
KPRC TV channel 2 in Houston, Texas (NBC) begins broadcasting
1949
KTTV TV channel 11 in Los Angeles, California (MET) begins broadcasting
1949
Tokelau (Union) Islands declared part of New Zealand
1948
1st color newsreel filmed in Pasadena, California
1948
Bradman scores 132 in the 1st innings of the 3rd Test vs. India
1948
Britain nationalizes its railways
1948
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade effective
1948
Italy adopts constitution
1948
Orissa province accedes to India
1947
Benelux agress to work related issues
1947
Britain nationalizes its coal industry
1947
WTTG TV channel 5 in Washington, D.C. (MET) begins broadcasting
1946
ENIAC, U.S. 1st computer finished by Mauchly/Eckert
1946
Emperor Hirohito of Japan announces he is not a god
1946
National Assembly proclaims Hungary a republic
1945
France joins the UN
1945
German air raid on allied airports at Eindhoven/Saint-Trond/Brussels
1944
1st feature-length foreign movie, African Journey, shown on TV, New York City
1944
Army defeats Navy 10-7 in football "Arab Bowl," Oran, North Africa
1944
General Clark replaces General Patton as commander of 7th Army
1943
Count Claus von Stauffenberg promoted to Lt-colonel
1942
Rose Bowl played in North Carolina due to Japanese threat, Oregon - 20, Duke - 16
1942
U.S. and 25 other countries sign a united declaration against the Axis
1941
Netherlands begins taxing wages
1941
Russian general Zhukov appointed chief of general staff
1937
Anastasio Somoza becomes president of Nicaragua
1937
Count Claus von Stauffenberg promoted to captain
1937
U.S. Army Air Corps physiological research laboratory completed, Ohio
1936
1st newspaper to microfilm its current issues, New York Herald Tribune
1935
1st Sugar Bowl and 1st Orange Bowl
1935
Associated Press inaugurates Wirephoto
1935
Eastern Airlines hires Eddie Rickenbacker as General Manager
1935
President Mustapha Kemal Pasha names himself "Ataturk: Father of Turkey"
1934
Alcatraz officially becomes a federal prison
1934
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, FDIC, U.S. bank guarantor, effective
1934
International Telecommunication Union established
1932
Jacob Cocey Sr chosen as mayor of Massillon Ohio
1932
Rasse und Siedlungshauptamt publishes Himmler's wedding laws
1930
Earl Claus von Stauffenberg promoted to 2nd lieutenant
1930
Jurgens and Van den Berg merge with Lever Brothers to form Unilever
1929
Roy Riegels runs 60 yards the wrong way with Rose Bowl fumble recovery
1928
1st U.S. air-conditioned office building opens, San Antonio
1928
Algemeene Vereeniging Radio Omroep (AVRO) begins broadcasting (Netherlands)
1927
Communist uprising in West Java
1927
Dodgers announce release of future Hall of Fame Zack Wheat
1926
Flood in Rhine strikes Cologne
1925
Norway's capital Christiania changes name to Oslo
1924
Grossdeutsche Volksgemeinschaft/Volkische Block replaces NSDAP
1923
Union of Socialist Soviet Republics established
1922
Vancouver, BC starts driving on the right side of road
1919
Belorussian SSR established
1918
Last day of the Julian calendar in Finland
1916
1st football game in Rose Bowl, Washington State vs. Brown
1915
DW Griffith shows "Clansman" at a sneak preview
1915
Jews of Laibach Austria expelled
1914
1st scheduled airline flight, St. Petersburg-Tampa (Tony Jannus pilot)
1914
Klaas ter Laan becomes Netherlands 1st socialist mayor (Zaandam)
1914
Northern and Southern Nigeria united in British colony of Nigeria
1913
Post office begins parcel post deliveries
1912
1st running of San Francisco's famed "Bay to Breakers" race, 7.63 miles / 12.3 km
1912
Sun Yat-sen forms Chinese Republic
1911
Belgian Mining law introduces 9 -hour work day
1911
South Australia transfers Northern Territory to federal government
1910
Simpson-Hayward (England) takes 6-43 on debut with underarm lobs
1909
Robert Fowler runs then world record marathon (2:52:45.4)
1908
1st time, ball signifying new year dropped at Times Square
1908
Jack Hobbs makes his Test debut at the MCG (83 and 28)
1907
President Theodore Roosevelt shakes a record 8,513 hands in 1 day
1906
Dutch law makes driver's license mandatory
1905
9 hour work day for diamond miners
1904
Netherlands Indies colony begins opium production
1902
1st Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California, University of Michigan - 49, Sanford - 0
1902
Nathan Stubblefield makes 1st public demonstration of radio, Penn
1901
Australia declares independence from federation of U.K. colonies
1901
Commonwealth of Australia established
1900
1st date in John dos Passos' USA trilogy (The 42nd Parallel)
1900
British protectorates of Northern and Southern Nigeria established
1900
Compulsory education in Netherlands goes into effect
1899
Cuba liberated from Spain by U.S., known as National Day, U.S. occupies until 1902
1898
Lightship replaces whistling buoy at mouth of San Francisco Bay
1898
d'Annunzio's "Sogno d'un mattino di primavera," premieres in Rome
1897
1st football game between black colleges-Atlanta U 10, Tuskegee 0
1897
Brooklyn merges with New York to form present City of New York
1896
Wilhelm Rontgen announces his discovery of x-rays
1895
Norway adopts Mid-European time
1894
Denmark adopts Mid-European time
1894
Manchester Ship Canal in England opens to traffic
1893
1st U.S. college extension courses for credit, University of Chicago
1893
Japan adopts the Gregorian calendar
1892
Ellis Island becomes reception center for new immigrants
1891
French troops occupy Nioro, West-Sudan, 3000 killed
1891
King Pakketvaart sails to Netherlands Indies
1886
1st Tournament of Roses (Pasadena California)
1881
Dr. John H Watson is introduced to Sherlock Holmes
1880
Building of Panama Canal, begins
1879
John Brahms' Violin Concerto in D major premieres in Leipzig
1877
England's Queen Victoria proclaimed empress of India
1874
New York City annexes the Bronx
1873
Origin of Japanese Era
1871
Belgium disbands salt tax
1863
President Lincoln declares slavery in Confederate states unlawful
1863
1st homestead under the Homestead Act claimed, near Beatrice, Nebr
1863
Battle of Galveston, Texas-Confederates recapture the city
1863
Battle of Helena, AK
1863
Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln
1863
Franz Schuberts "Missa Solemnis," premieres in Leipzig
1862
1st U.S. income tax (3% of incomes > $600, 5% of incomes > $10,000)
1862
Battle of Ft. McRee, Florida Battle of Port Royal, South Carolina (Port Royal Ferry)
1861
Porfirio Diaz conquers Mexico City
1860
Slavery ends of in Netherlands Indies
1858
Canada begins using decimal currency system
1854
Lincoln University, a black college, chartered (Oxford, Penn)
1853
1st practical fire engine (horse-drawn) in U.S. enters service
1852
1st U.S. public bath opens, in New York City
1852
Netherlands begins issuing postage stamps
1851
City of Glasgow steamer inaugurates Philadelphia-Liverpool line
1848
Britain takes Mosquito Coast from Nicaragua
1847
Michigan is 1st state to abolish capital punishment
1847
Netherlands Haarlem's Current newspaper starts publishing
1846
Yucatan declares independence from Mexico
1844
1st edition of New Rotterdam's Daily (3x per week)
1842
1st illustrated weekly magazine in U.S. publishes 1st issue, New York City
1840
1st recorded bowling match in U.S., Knickerbocker Alleys, New York City
1838
1st official horse race in South Australia-Adelaide
1834
German Tolunie goes into effect
1833
British government demands Falkland islands
1833
Curaeao census: 2,602 whites, 6,531 free people and 5,894 slaves
1831
William Lloyd Garrison publishes 1st issue of abolitionist journal
1827
Dutch Trade Company NHM gets opium monopoly on Java
1826
Baron Van der Capellen resigns as governor of Dutch-Indies
1818
Official reopening of the White House
1814
Field marshal Blucher's troops cross the Rhine at Kaub
1809
Holland Brigade under Brigadier General Chasse reaches Madrid
1808
African Benevolent Society (education) forms
1808
Congress prohibits importation of slaves
1808
Sierra Leone becomes a British colony
1807
Curacao is taken by English, until March, 1816
1804
Haiti gains independence from France (National Day)
1801
Ireland and Great Britain, England and Scotland, form United Kingdom
1801
Giuseppe Piazzi discovers 1st asteroid, which is named Ceres later
1801
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland established
1800
Dutch East Indies Company dissolves
1798
Russia appoints 1st Jewish censor to censor Hebrew books
1797
Albany replaces New York City as capital of NY
1788
London's Daily Universal Registrar becomes the Times
1788
Quakers in Pennsylvania emancipate their slaves
1785
"Daily Universal Register" (Times of London) publishes 1st issue
1776
General George Washington hoists Continental Union Flag
1772
1st traveller's checks issued (London)
1770
Date of action in the opera "Madeleine"
1739
J B C Bouvet de Lozier discovers Bouvet Island, near Antarctica
1707
Jacob V succeeds his father Pedro II as king of Portugal
1701
Great Britain and Ireland union is in effect, creating United Kingdom
1700
Protestant West-Europe (except England) begin using Gregorian calendar
1700
Russia replaces Byzantines with Julian calendar
1689
Pro-James II-earl of Danby occupies York
1675
Don Carlos de Gurrea/Aragon becomes Spanish land guardian of S Netherlands
1673
Regular mail delivery begins between New York and Boston
1672
Jean Racine's "Bajazet," premieres in Paris
1660
1st entry in Samuel Pepys' diary
1660
General Moncks army battles with the Tweed on way to London
1660
Thomas Fairfax' New Model-army occupies York
1651
Charles II Stuart crowned king of Scotland
1622
Papal Chancery adopts Jan 1 as beginning of the year (was Mar 25)
1610
German astronomer Simon Marius 1st discovers the Jupiter moons, but does not officially report it, Galileo does on July 1 1610
1583
1st day of the Gregorian calendar in Holland and Flanders
1573
Geuzen sets fire to Woudrichem
1515
Francois, Duke of Angoulame succeeds Louis XII as Francois I of France
1515
Jews are expelled from Laibach Austria
1504
King Louis XII loses last bulwark in Naples, Caeta
1502
Portuguese navigators discover Rio de Janeiro
1494
Juw Dekama elected potentate of Frisia
1438
Albrecht II von Habsburg becomes king of Hungary
1430
Jews of Sicily are no longer required to attend conversionist services
990
Russia adopts Julian calendar
722
Hofmeier Charles Martel flees from bishop Willibrord
414
King Ataulf of Narbonne marries emperor Honorius sister Galle Placidia
404
Last gladiator competition in Rome
313
Start of Roman (Pontifical) Indiction
89
Governor Lucius Antonius Saturninus of Germany becomes emperor of Rome
69
Roman garrison of Mainz uprising