January 26 - This day in History

January 26: General Interest
1788: Australia Day

On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip guides a fleet of 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales, effectively founding Australia... read more


American Revolution
1779 : Engagement at Burke County Jail
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/engagement-at-burke-county-jail


Automotive
1979 : "The Dukes of Hazzard" premieres
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-dukes-of-hazzard-premieres


Civil War
1863 : Joseph Hooker takes over the Army of the Potomac
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/joseph-hooker-takes-over-the-army-of-the-potomac


Cold War
1980 : U.S. Olympic Committee votes against Moscow games
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/us-olympic-committee-votes-against-moscow-games


Crime
1788 : First Australian penal colony established
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-australian-penal-colony-established

1936 : So-called Mad Butcher terrorizes Cleveland
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/so-called-mad-butcher-terrorizes-cleveland


Disaster
1974 : Cyclone Wanda causes flooding in Australia
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cyclone-wanda-causes-flooding-in-australia


General Interest
1500 : Pinzon discovers Brazil
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pinzon-discovers-brazil

1838 : Tennessee passes nation's first prohibition law
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/tennessee-passes-nations-first-prohibition-law

1939 : Franco captures Barcelona
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/franco-captures-barcelona

1950 : Republic of India born
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/republic-of-india-born


Hollywood
1934 : Sam Goldwyn buys rights to The Wizard of Oz
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sam-goldwyn-buys-rights-to-the-wizard-of-oz


Literary
2006 : Oprah Winfrey takes James Frey to task for lying
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/oprah-winfrey-takes-james-frey-to-task-for-lying


Music
1962 : "The Twist" ends record-setting run
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/quotthe-twistquot-ends-record-setting-run


Old West
1875 : Pinkertons maim Frank and Jesse James' mother
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pinkertons-maim-frank-and-jesse-james-mother


Presidential
1961 : Kennedy appoints first female presidential physician
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kennedy-appoints-first-female-presidential-physician

2005 : Bush appoints Rice as secretary of state
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bush-appoints-rice-as-secretary-of-state


Sports
1986 : Bears beat Patriots in Super Bowl XX
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/bears-beat-patriots-in-super-bowl-xx


Vietnam War
1970 : POW spends 2,000th day in captivity
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pow-spends-2000th-day-in-captivity

1972 : North Vietnam rejects U.S. peace proposal
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/north-vietnam-rejects-us-peace-proposal


World War I
1918 : Ukraine declares its independence
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ukraine-declares-its-independence


World War II
1945 : Audie Murphy wounded
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/audie-murphy-wounded

1945 : Soviets liberate Auschwitz
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviets-liberate-auschwitz