January 20th
1841
As a result of the First Opium War, Hong Kong was ceded to the British.
1892
The first official basketball game was played by students at the Springfield, MA, YMCA Training School.
1936
Britain's King George V died.
1942
The Nazis formulated their "Final Solution" regarding the Jews at the Wannsee Conference.
1964
The Beatles released their first album in the United States, Meet the Beatles.
1981
President Reagan became the oldest president to take office (69 years and 349 days).
1981
52 American hostages seized from the American Embassy in Tehran were released after 444 days in captivity.
1986
Martin Luther King, Jr., day was celebrated as a federal holiday for the first time.
1993
Actress Audrey Hepburn died at age 63.
1998
The first episode of "Dawson's Creek" aired on the WB network.
Birthdays
79 Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin Former astronaut
57 Ian Hill Rock musician (Judas Priest)
57 Paul Stanley Rock musician (Kiss)
53 Bill Maher Comedian, talk show host
51 Lorenzo Lamas Actor
43 Rainn Wilson Actor ("The Office")
43 Tracii Guns American guitarist
41 Melissa Rivers TV personality
21
ucubed Cigar Asylum Inmate
20
MrBucket101 Cigar Asylum Inmate
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ShaulWolf Cigar Asylum Inmate
74 Harold Gray 1/20/1894 - 5/9/1968 American "Orphan Annie" cartoonist
100 George Burns 1/20/1896 - 3/9/1996 American comedian, actor and writer