January 19th
1861
Georgia seceded from the Union.
1915
The electric neon sign was patented in the United States by George Claude of Paris, France.
1953
Lucy Ricardo gave birth to baby Ricky on I Love Lucy. More people tuned in to watch the show than the inauguration of President Eisenhower.
1955
President Eisenhower okayed the first filming of a news conference for television.
1981
The United States and Iran signed an agreement paving the way for the release of 52 Americans held hostage for more than 14 months.
1997
Yasser Arafat returned to Hebron for the first time in 30 years, as Israel hands over control of the West Bank city to Palestinians.
1998
Rockabilly pioneer Carl Perkins died at age 65
2001
President Clinton admitted he made false statements under oath about Monica Lewinsky.
2006
An unmanned NASA spacecraft blasted off on a 3 billion-mile journey to Pluto.
2007
Bam Bam Bigelow, professional wrestler died of a drug overdose, he was 45.
Birthdays
86 Jean Stapleton Actress ("All in the Family")
65 Dan Reeves Football coach
63 Dolly Parton Country singer, actress
54 Paul Rodriguez Comedian
52 Katey Sagal Actress ("Married ... With Children")
42
tnip23 Cigar Asylum Member
41 Whitfield Crane Rock singer (Ugly Kid Joe)
35 Frank Caliendo Comedian, impressionist ("Frank TV")
27 Jodie Sweetin Actress ("Full House")
17 Shawn Johnson Gymnast
83 James Watt 1/19/1736 - 8/25/1819 Scottish steam engine inventor
63 Robert E. Lee 1/19/1807 - 10/12/1870 American Civil War general
40 Edgar Allan Poe 1/19/1809 - 10/7/1849 American writer/poet
27 Janis Joplin 1/19/1943 – 10/4/1970 American singer, songwriter
54 Robert Palmer 1/19/1949 – 9/26/2003 English singer, songwriter