History

Sophie Germain Wins Paris Academy of Sciences Prize (1816): French mathematician and physicist Sophie Germain became the first woman to win a prize from the Paris Academy of Sciences on…

Andrew Jackson's Debt-Free Celebration (1835): On January 8, 1835, U.S. President Andrew Jackson announced a celebratory dinner after achieving the feat of reducing the United States national debt to zero,…

Formation of the Democratic Party (1828): The Democratic Party of the United States was officially organized on January 8, 1828. It evolved from the Democratic-Republican Party founded by Thomas Jefferson…

Battle of New Orleans (1815): On January 8, 1815, General Andrew Jackson led American forces to a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of New Orleans, the final…

Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge Begins (1933): Construction of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco began on January 5, 1933. Designed by engineer Joseph Strauss, the bridge…

Beginning of the Prague Spring (1968): The Prague Spring began on January 5, 1968, with the election of Alexander Dubček as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia.…

Announcement of the Space Shuttle Program (1972): On January 5, 1972, U.S. President Richard Nixon announced the development of the Space Shuttle Program. This program aimed to create a reusable…

Alaska Earthquake (2013): A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 struck off the coast of Prince of Wales Island in Alaska on January 5, 2013. The quake triggered a…

Discovery of the Largest Known Dwarf Planet (2005): On January 5, 2005, astronomers announced the discovery of Eris, the solar system's largest known dwarf planet. Discovered by a team led…

Opening of the Burj Khalifa (2010): The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the world's tallest building, officially opened on January 4, 2010. Standing at a staggering height of…