History Events on January 02

The British Institution of Civil Engineers is founded by a group of six engineers; Thomas Telford would later become its first president.

#Institution_of_Civil_Engineers

Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution.

#Georgia_(U.S._state)

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) obtains the conviction of 33 members of a German spy ring headed by Fritz Joubert Duquesne in the largest espionage case in United States history—the Duquesne Spy Ring.

#Federal_Bureau_of_Investigation

Stardust successfully flies past Comet Wild 2, collecting samples that are returned to Earth.

#Stardust_(spacecraft)

Luis Muñoz Marín is inaugurated as the first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico.

#Luis_Muñoz_Marín

American Revolutionary War: American forces under the command of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpink Creek near Trenton, New Jersey.

#American_Revolutionary_War

Following the assassination of the Panamanian president José Antonio Remón Cantera, his deputy, José Ramón Guizado, takes power, but is quickly deposed after his involvement in Cantera's death is discovered.

#Panama

Trunajaya rebellion: Amangkurat II of Mataram and his bodyguards execute the rebel leader Trunajaya. a month after the rebel leader was captured by the Dutch East India Company.

#Trunajaya_rebellion

The Alemanni cross the frozen Rhine in large numbers, invading the Roman Empire.

#Alemanni

Russo-Japanese War: The Russian garrison surrenders at Port Arthur, China.

#Russo-Japanese_War

Reconquista: The Emirate of Granada, the last Moorish stronghold in Spain, surrenders.

#Reconquista

United States President Richard Nixon signs a bill lowering the maximum U.S. speed limit to 55 MPH in order to conserve gasoline during an OPEC embargo.

#Richard_Nixon

World War II: German bombing severely damages the Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.

#World_War_II

Ronald Reagan, past movie actor and future President of the United States, is sworn in as Governor of California.

#Ronald_Reagan

Uruguayan War: The Siege of Paysandú ends as the Brazilians and Coloradans capture Paysandú, Uruguay.

#Uruguayan_War

Luna 1, the first spacecraft to reach the vicinity of the Moon and to orbit the Sun, is launched by the Soviet Union.

#Luna_1

The second Ibrox disaster kills 66 fans at a Rangers-Celtic association football (soccer) match.

#1971_Ibrox_disaster

At the opening of a new railway line, a bomb blast at Samastipur, Bihar, India, fatally wounds Lalit Narayan Mishra, Minister of Railways.

#Samastipur

Big Bottom massacre in the Ohio Country, North America, marking the beginning of the Northwest Indian War.

#Big_Bottom_massacre

World War II: Manila is captured by Japanese forces, enabling them to control the Philippines.

#Manila

On the orders of Pakistan's president, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, paramilitary forces opened fire on peaceful protesting workers in Multan, Pakistan, its known as 1978 massacre at Multan Colony Textile Mills.

#Muhammad_Zia-ul-Haq

American statesman and diplomat John Hay announces the Open Door Policy to promote trade with China.

#John_Hay

The Gale of January 1976 begins, resulting in coastal flooding around the southern North Sea coasts, affecting countries from Ireland to Yugoslavia and causing at least 82 deaths and US$1.3 billion in damage.

#Gale_of_January_1976

The second Palmer Raid, ordered by the US Department of Justice, results in 6,000 suspected communists and anarchists being arrested and held without trial.

#Palmer_Raids

Sri Lankan Civil War: The Sri Lanka Navy kill 35-100 civilians on the Jaffna Lagoon.

#Sri_Lankan_Civil_War

Vietnam War: The Viet Cong wins its first major victory, at the Battle of Ap Bac.

#Vietnam_War

Sharon Pratt Kelly becomes the first African American woman mayor of a major city and first woman Mayor of the District of Columbia.

One of the largest investigations by a British police force ends when serial killer Peter Sutcliffe, the "Yorkshire Ripper", is arrested in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

The Federal Rules of Evidence are approved by the United States Congress.

India establishes its highest civilian awards, the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan.

Captain James Onslow, in the Clio, arrives at Port Egmont to reassert British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

Mercurius becomes Pope John II, the first pope to adopt a new name upon elevation to the papacy.

The Roman legions in Germania Superior refuse to swear loyalty to Galba. They rebel and proclaim Vitellius as emperor.