January 9 - This 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." Six months earlier... 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