January 9 - The Day in History

January 9 : General Interest 1493: Columbus mistakes manatees for mermaids On this day in 1493, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, sailing near the Dominican Republic, sees three "mermaids"--in reality manatees--and describes them as "not half as beautiful as they are painted."... read more American Revolution 1776 : Thomas Paine publishes Common Sense http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thomas-paine-publishes-common-sense Automotive 1965 : Bond movie features Aston Martin http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bond-movie-features-aston-martin Civil War 1861 : Star of the West is fired upon http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/star-of-the-west-is-fired-upon Cold War 1952 : Truman warns of Cold War dangers http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/truman-warns-of-cold-war-dangers Crime 1984 : The Hillside Stranglers http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-hillside-stranglers Disaster 1972 : Fire breaks out on Queen Elizabeth http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fire-breaks-out-on-queen-elizabeth General Interest 1768 : First modern circus is staged http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-modern-circus-is-staged 1806 : Nelson buried at St. Paul's Cathedral http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nelson-buried-at-st-pauls-cathedral 1972 : Queen Elizabeth destroyed by fire http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/iqueen-elizabethi-destroyed-by-fire 2007 : Steve Jobs debuts the iPhone http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/steve-jobs-debuts-the-iphone Hollywood 1976 : Stallone starts filming Rocky http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/stallone-starts-filming-rocky Literary 1924 : Virginia Woolf buys a house in Bloomsbury http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/virginia-woolf-buys-a-house-in-bloomsbury Music 1979 : Pop luminaries gather at the U.N. for the Music for UNICEF concert http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pop-luminaries-gather-at-the-un-for-the-music-for-unicef-concert Old West 1887 : Record cold and snow decimates cattle herds http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/record-cold-and-snow-decimates-cattle-herds Presidential 1913 : Richard M. Nixon is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/richard-m-nixon-is-born Sports 1972 : Laker winning streak comes to an end http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/laker-winning-streak-comes-to-an-end Vietnam War 1965 : Support is pledged to civilian government http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/support-is-pledged-to-civilian-government 1967 : U.S. officials try to counter claims of Saigon corruption http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-officials-try-to-counter-claims-of-saigon-corruption World War I 1917 : Battle of Khadairi Bend begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-khadairi-bend-begins World War II 1945 : United States invades Luzon in Philippines http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-invades-luzon-in-philippines

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