January 26th
1788
The first European settlers landed in Sydney, Australia.
1802
Congress passed an act calling for establishment of a library within the US Capitol.
1837
Michigan became the 26th state in the United States.
1861
Louisiana seceded from the Union.
1870
Virginia rejoined the Union.
1893
Abner Doubleday the credited inventor of baseball died at 73.
1979
Former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller died in New York at age 70.
1979
The first episode of "The Dukes of Hazzard" aired on CBS.
1988
Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera opened on Broadway. It would go on to become the longest-running Broadway show.
1998
President Bill Clinton denied having an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, telling reporters, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman."
Birthdays
74 Bob Uecker Sportscaster-actor
54 Eddie Van Halen Rock musician (Van Halen)
51 Anita Baker R&B singer
51 Ellen DeGeneres Talk show host-comedian
49 Road Warrior Animal American professional wrestler
48 Wayne Gretzky Hockey Hall of Famer
84 Douglas MacArthur 1/26/1880 - 4/5/1964 American general
83 Paul Newman 1/26/1925 - 9/26/2008 American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and auto racing enthusiast
53 1/26/1946 - 2/20/1999 Gene Siskel American film critic