On This Day in History

January 1

Historical Events

45 BC The Julian calendar takes effect for the first time, by edict of Roman consul Julius Caesar

1758 The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature establish the "starting point" for standardized species names across the animal kingdom, based on the binomial nomenclature by Carl Linnaeus 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

The first and last page of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln

1863 Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln to free slaves in US confederate states.

1892 Ellis Island opens as a US immigration inspection station - it would go on to be the gateway to the US for more than 12 million people.

1896 German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen announces his discovery of x-rays.

1958 European Economic Community, better known as the European Common Market starts operation.

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Famous Birthdays

Paul Revere 1735 - 1818 Betsy Ross 1752 - 1836

J. Edgar Hoover 1895 - 1972 Chai Jing 48th Birthday

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Famous Deaths

Hank Williams 1923 - 1953 Grace Hopper 1906 - 1992

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The Beatles? 'They have no future in show business'

In 1962, an unknown group called the Beatles travelled to London for a recording contract audition with one of the major record labels. They were rejected.

The Beatles Unsuccessful Audition