12 History Lessons + 7 Births & 7 Deaths for January 3, 2025
Today’s History
- 1777 – The Battle of Princeton: George Washington’s army defeats British forces in New Jersey, a morale-boosting win that helps sustain the Revolutionary cause after Trenton.
- 1870 – Construction begins on the Brooklyn Bridge, a signature feat of 19th-century engineering that will redefine New York City’s growth and connectivity.
- 1959 – Alaska is admitted as the 49th U.S. state, a major geopolitical and economic expansion of the modern United States.
- 1961 – The United States severs diplomatic relations with Cuba, hardening the Cold War standoff that will shape the hemisphere for decades.
- 1967 – Jack Ruby dies before his retrial, closing a legal chapter in one of the most infamous aftershocks of the JFK assassination.
- 1977 – Apple Computer, Inc. is incorporated, formalizing the company that will become one of the most influential consumer-technology firms in history.
- 1987 – Aretha Franklin becomes the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, a milestone for recognition in popular music institutions.
- 1993 – START II is signed by the U.S. and Russia, continuing post–Cold War nuclear arms reduction efforts.
- 2004 – Flash Airlines Flight 604 crashes into the Red Sea shortly after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all 148 aboard.
- 2009 – Bitcoin’s “genesis block” is created, a foundational event for blockchain-based digital currency.
- 2015 – Boko Haram’s assault on Baga (northeast Nigeria) begins, one of the conflict’s most devastating episodes.
- 2020 – Iranian General Qasem Soleimani is killed in a U.S. strike near Baghdad, triggering a major escalation in U.S.–Iran tensions.
Today’s Birthdays:
- 1950 – Victoria Principal – American actor and entrepreneur best known for Dallas. (76)
- 1956 – Mel Gibson – American actor and filmmaker known for major film franchises and directing work. (70)
- 1969 – Michael Schumacher – German Formula One legend and seven-time world champion. (57)
- 1975 – Danica McKellar – American actor and mathematician known for The Wonder Years and math education work. (51)
- 1981 – Eli Manning – American NFL quarterback, two-time Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants. (45)
- 1996 – Florence Pugh – English actor known for a range of acclaimed film roles and major franchises. (30)
- 2003 – Greta Thunberg – Swedish climate activist who became a globally recognized voice on climate policy. (23)
Today’s Deaths:
- 1795 – Josiah Wedgwood – English potter and entrepreneur who helped industrialize ceramics and modern consumer branding. (64)
- 1945 – Edgar Cayce – American mystic and self-styled “sleeping prophet,” a major figure in 20th-century American spiritualism. (67)
- 1946 – William Joyce (“Lord Haw-Haw”) – British fascist propagandist executed for wartime broadcasts from Nazi Germany. (39)
- 1965 – Milton Avery – American modernist painter known for simplified forms and influential color fields. (79)
- 1967 – Jack Ruby – Dallas nightclub owner who killed Lee Harvey Oswald; died before his retrial. (55)
- 1979 – Conrad Hilton – American hotel magnate and founder of Hilton Hotels. (91)
- 1543 – Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo – Explorer credited as the first European to explore parts of what is now coastal California; died during his expedition. (c. 43–44)
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