1 January

Daily Discoveries   
1 january
  1. 45 B.C.
    • The Roman Empire adopts the Julian calendar.
  2. 1502
    • The present-day location of Rio de Janeiro is first explored by Europeans.
  3. 1651
    • Charles II is crowned King of Scotland.
  4. 1739
    • Bouvet Island, the uninhabited subantarctic island, is discovered.
  5. 1772
    • The first traveler’s cheques are issued in London.
  6. 1776
    • George Washington raises the first American flag.
  7. 1788
    • The Times, the world’s oldest continuously published newspaper, is first published in London.
  8. 1801
    • The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland is established.
  9. 1804
    • Napoleon Bonaparte is proclaimed Emperor of the French.
    • The Lewis and Clark expedition reaches the Pacific Ocean.
  10. 1845
    • The Republic of Texas is annexed by the United States.
  11. 1863
    • Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation.
    • The first Emancipation Day is celebrated in the United States.
  12. 1877
    • Queen Victoria is proclaimed Empress of India.
  13. 1892
    • Ellis Island in New York Harbor opens as an immigration station.
  14. 1899
    • The first known use of the word “automobile” is printed in an English publication.
  15. 1902
    • The first Rose Bowl college football game is held.
  16. 1914
    • The St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line becomes the world’s first scheduled airline.
  17. 1919
    • The Treaty of Versailles comes into effect, officially ending World War I.
  18. 1928
    • The first transatlantic radio broadcast occurs.
  19. 1934
    • Alcatraz Island becomes a United States federal prison.
  20. 1942
    • The Declaration by the United Nations is signed by 26 Allied nations.
  21. 1948
    • The World Health Organization (WHO) is established.
  22. 1958
    • The European Economic Community (EEC) is founded.
  23. 1959
    • Fidel Castro leads the Cuban Revolution.
  24. 1960
    • The United States launches the first artificial satellite, SCORE.
  25. 1971
    • Cigarette advertising is banned on American television.
  26. 1984
    • The original Apple Macintosh computer goes on sale.
  27. 1993
    • Czechoslovakia peacefully splits into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
  28. 1994
    • The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) comes into effect.
  29. 1995
    • The World Trade Organization (WTO) is established.
  30. 2002
    • Euro banknotes and coins are introduced as legal tender in 12 European Union countries.
    • The Euro becomes the official currency in 12 EU countries.
  31. 2004
    • In a historic event, the Mars Exploration Rover “Spirit” successfully lands on Mars.
  32. 2007
    • Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union.
  33. 2009
    • Slovakia adopts the Euro as its official currency.
  34. 2014
    • Latvia adopts the Euro as its official currency.
  35. 2015
    • Lithuania adopts the Euro as its official currency.
  36. 2017
    • Malta becomes the first European country to officially ban gay conversion therapy.
  37. 2021
    • The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) officially begins trading.
  38. 2022
    • The COVID-19 vaccine COVAXIN receives emergency use approval in India.
  39. 2023
    • The United Kingdom launches its first satellite, UKube-1, into space.
  40. 2024
    • The European Space Agency’s ExoMars rover lands on Mars.
    • Sweden becomes the first country to officially adopt a digital currency, the e-krona.
    • The World Health Organization declares a global victory over a major infectious disease.