Events on Jan 20
- 0250St. Fabian ends his reign as Catholic Pope (236-50)
- 0820Book of mother, published
- 1045Giovanni di Sabina elected Pope Sylvester III
- 12651st English Parliament called into session by Earl of Leicester
- 1320Duke Wladyslaw Lokietek becomes King of Poland
- 1356Scottish King Edward Baliol resigns
- 1503Casa Contratacion (Board of Trade) found (Spain) to deal with American affairs
- 1513Christian II succeeds Johan I as Danish / Norwegian King
- 1648Cornerstone of Amsterdam townhall laid
- 1667Treaty of Andrussovo-ends 13 year war between Poland and Russia
- 17781st American military court martial trial begins, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- 17811st edition of Pieter It Hoens "Post of Neder-Rhijn" published
- 1783Hostilities cease in Revolutionary War
- 1785Samuel Ellis advertises to sell Oyster Island (Ellis Is), no takers
- 1788Pioneer African Baptist church organizes in Savannah, Georgia
- 1801John Marshall appointed US Chief Justice
- 1807Napoleon convenes great Sanhedrin, Paris
- 18091st US geology book published by William Maclure
- 1840Dutch King Willem II crowned
- 1841China cedes Hong Kong to British
- 1850Investigator, 1st ship to effect northwest passage, leaves England
- 1860Dutch troops conquer Watampone in Celebes
- 1868Florida constitutional convention meets in Tallahassee
- 1869Elizabeth Cady Stanton becomes 1st woman to testify before Congress
- 1870"City of Boston" vanishes at sea with all 177 aboard
- 1870Hiram R Revels elected to fill unexpired term of Jefferson Davis
- 1872California Stock Exchange Board organized
- 1879British troops under Lord Chelmsford set camp at Isandlwana
- 1883Billy Barnes takes a hat-trick, England vs. Aust MCG
- 1887US Senate approves naval base lease of Pearl Harbor
Born on Jan 20
- 1622Susanna van Baerle: Dutch poet / Wife of Geeraert Burns
- 1654Michiel de Swaen: Netherlands -- Physician / poet
- 1681Francesco Bartolomeo Conti: Composer
- 1703Joseph-Hector Fiocco: Composer
- 1716Carlos III: King of Naples / Spain (1759-88) Pompei / Jesuits
- 1732Richard H Lee: US farmer (signed Declaration of Independence)
- 1743Pascal Boyer: Composer
- 1761Giovanni Domenico Perotti: Composer
- 1762Jerome-Joseph de Momigny: Composer
- 1782Johan B J F S: Archduke of Austria
- 1806Nathaniel Willis: Writer / editor / founder (American Monthly Magazine)
- 1809Sebastian de Iradier: Spanish composer (La Paloma)
- 1812Ralph Pomeroy Buckland: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1892
- 1813Jacon Gartner Lauman: Bvt Major General (Union volunteers), died in 1867
- 1820Anne Jemima Clough: England, United Kingdom -- Promoted higher education for women
- 1831Pieter J Joubert: General (South Africa)
- 1843Pierre-Paul Cambon: French diplomat (Madrid, Constantinople, London)
- 1844Johan Peter Selmer: Composer
- 1847W R Pettiford: Founder (Alabama Penny Savings Bank)
- 1855Amedee-Ernest Chausson: Composer
- 1865Friedrich A H von Waldeck: Brother of Queen Emma / last ruler of Waldeck
- 1866Richard Le Gallienne: English writer (Maker of Gainborg)
- 1870Guillaume Jean Joseph Nicolas Lekeu: Composer
- 1873Charles A Ellwood: United States -- Sociologist / psychologist
- 1873Johannes V Jensen: Denmark -- Novelist / poet (Energy Storage, Nobel 1944)
- 1877Ruth St Denis: Newark, New Jersey -- Ballerina (Dances of the 5 Senses)
- 1878Finlay Currie: Scotland, United Kingdom -- Actor (Quo Vadis, Ivanhoe, Avengers)
- 1883Betram Home Ramsay: English Admiral / Commander Allied Naval Forces
- 1884A[braham P] Merritt: United States -- Sci-fi author (Moon Pool, Creep Shadow!)
- 1888Leadbelly: Louisiana, United States -- Blues 12 string guitarist (Rock Island Line)
Died on Jan 20
- 0250Fabianus: Pope (236-50) / saint
- 0842Theophilus: Byzantine kaiser (829-42)
- 0882Louis II / III the Younger: German King (876-82)
- 1479John II: King of Aragon / Navarra, dies at 81
- 1612Rudolf II von Habsburg: Emperor of Germany (1576-1612), dies at 59
- 1639Mustapha I: Sultan of Turkey (1622-23)
- 1666Anna of Austria: Queen of France / Daughter of Philip III, dies at 64
- 1691Christian de Placker: Composer, dies at 77
- 1713Pavao Vitezovic: Croatian historian
- 1727John van Bylevelt: Catholic apostole
- 1745Charles VII Albert: German Emperor (1742-45), dies at 47
- 1779John Burman: Dutch Botanist / director (botanical gardens), dies at 71
- 1789Johann Christoph Oley: Composer, dies at 50
- 1798Christian Cannabich: German Composer / royal chaplain master, dies at 66
- 1813C M Wieland: Writer, dies at 79
- 1819Carlos IV: King of Spain (1788-1808), dies at 70
- 1830Michal Bogdanowicz: Composer, dies at 50
- 1837John Soane: English Architect (Book of Designs), dies at 84
- 1838Pierre-Louis Hus-Desforges: Composer, dies at 64
- 1857Edward Francis Fitzwilliam: Composer, dies at 32
- 1859B v Arnim: Writer, dies at 73
- 1859Bettina Brentano: Composer, dies at 73
- 1862Felix Zollicoffer: General killed after mistakenly riding into Union lines
- 1882John Linnell: British Painter / minaturist / engraver
- 1890Franz Paul Lachner: Composer, dies at 86
- 1891David Kalakahua: Emperor of Hawaii
- 1896Heinrich M von Battenberg: German son-in-law of Victoria, dies at 37
- 1900John Ruskin: English writer (Dearest Mama Talbot), dies of flu at 81
- 1900Richard D Blackmore: English Novelist (Lorna Doone), dies at 74
- 1905Stanislaw Pilinski: Composer, dies at 65
Historical events on January 21
- 1077German King Heinrich IV petitions Pope Gregory VII for forgiveness
- 1189Philip II, Henry II and Richard Lion hearted initiate 3rd Crusade
- 1276Pierre de Tarantaise elected Pope Innocence V
- 1324Zen Buddhist religious debate between Tendai and Shingon
- 1522Head inquisitor Adrian Florisz Boeyens elected pope
- 1542Parliament passes bill of attainder against Queen Katherine Howard
- 1604Tsar Ivan IV defeats False Dmitri, who claims to be the true tsar
- 16771st medical publication in America (pamphlet on smallpox), Boston
- 1732Russia and Persia sign Treaty of Riascha
- 1793Prussia and Russia sign partition treaty (Poland divided)
- 1813Pineapple introduced to Hawaii (or 01 / 111)
- 1821Paramaribo Suriname catches fire, 4 die
- 1824Ashantees defeat British at Accra, West Africa
- 1827Freedom Journal, 1st Black paper, begins publishing
- 1830Portsmouth (Ohio) blacks forcibly deported
- 1853Envelope-folding machine patented by Russell Hawes, Worcester, Massachusetts
- 1861Jefferson Davis of Mississippi and 4 other southern senators resign
- 1863City of Dublin leases part of Cattle Market for 100,000 years
- 18801st US sewage disposal system separate from storm drains, Memphis
- 1887Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) forms
- 18901st issue of Propria Cures, Amsterdam student-weekly newspaper
- 1894Oscar Fredriksen skates world record 500m in 47.8 seconds
- 1903"Wizard of Oz, " premieres in New York City
- 1903Harry Houdini escapes police station Halvemaansteeg in Amsterdam
- 1903International Theater (Majestic, Park) opens at 5 Columbus Circle New York City
- 1907Kenora Thistles sweep Mont Wanderers in 2 for Stanley Cup
- 1908New York City regulation makes it illegal for a woman to smoke in public
- 1910British-Russian military intervention in Persia
- 1913Aristide Briand forms French government
- 1915Kiwanis International founded in Detroit
Born on January 21
- 1337Charles V [the Wise]: King of France (1364-80)
- 1571John I Pontanus: Physicist / historian (Amsterdam)
- 1659Adriaen van der Werff: Dutch portrait painter / engraver / architect
- 1735Johann Gottfried Eckard: Composer
- 1743John Fitch: Inventor (had a working steamboat years before Fulton)
- 1751Josephus Andreas Fodor: Composer
- 1759Johan Valckenaer: Dutch politician / patriot
- 1762Giuseppe Antonio Silvani: Composer
- 1771Arnold A Buyskes: Dutch Vice-Admiral / colonial director
- 1775Manuel Garcia: Composer
- 1792Tsjalling Hiddes Halbertsma: Fries story teller (Rhymes & Tales)
- 1796John Gelinde van Blom: Frisian notary / author
- 1801Ramon Vilanova y Barrera: Composer
- 1814Thomas Attwood Walmisley: Composer
- 1815Horace Wells: Dentist (pioneered use of medical anethesia)
- 1821John Cabell Breckinridge: (D) 14th US VP (1857-61) / Major General (Confed)
- 1823Alexandre Edouard Goria: Composer
- 1824Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson: Lieutenant General 2nd Corps (ANV, Confed)
- 1829Oscar II Frederik: King of Sweden (1872-1907) / Norway (-1905) / poet
- 1840Sophia Louisa Jex-Blake: Pioneer English woman Physician
- 1848Henri Duparc: French composer
- 1855John M Browning: United States -- Weapons manufacturer
- 1859Antoni Wincenty Rutkowski: Composer
- 1867James Marcus: Actor (Eagle, Little Lord Fauntleroy, Lone Avenger)
- 1867Maxime Weygard: French General / Governor-General (Algeria)
- 1867Willem C Royaards: Dutch theater director (Summer Games)
- 1872Frans Beelaerts van Blokland: Dutch Foreign Minister
- 1872Jonkhr Frans Beelaerts van Blokland: Dutch Foreign Minister
- 1875John Lindworsky: German Jesuit / psychologist (Der Wille)
- 1875Paul E Kahle: Germany -- Professor of Oriental Studies
Died on January 21
- 0879Boudouin with the Iron Arm: Earl of Flanders
- 1118Paschalis II [Raniero]: Pope (1099-1118)
- 1596John Ligarius: German Theologist / Prime Minister, dies at 66
- 1609Joseph Justus Scaliger: French inventor of "Julian Period", dies at 68
- 1665Domenico Mazzocchi: Composer, dies at 72
- 1670Honorat de Brueil seigneur de Racan: French playwright, dies at 80
- 1683Anthony Ashley Cooper: 1st Earl of Shaftesbury, dies at 61
- 1686Nicolas-Francois Blondel: French architect
- 1704Willem B Schepers: Dutch Merchant / ship owner, dies at about 83
- 1746Gottfried Kirkhoff: Composer, dies at 60
- 1774Mustapha III: Sultan of Turkey (1957-74), dies at 56
- 1793Louis XVI: French King (1774-93), beheaded by revolutionaries at 38
- 1815M Claudius: Writer, dies at 74
- 1831Achim v Arnim: Writer, dies at 49
- 1851Gustav Albert Lortzing: Composer, dies at 49
- 1871John J Rochussen: Governor-General of the Netherlands Indies (1845-51), dies at 73
- 1872Franz Grillparzer: Austrian playwright (Sappho / Libussa), dies at 81
- 1882Anton Emil Titl: Composer, dies at 72
- 1883Jacopo Tomadini: Composer, dies at 62
- 1884Auguste Franchomme: Composer, dies at 75
- 1888Stephan Hale Alonzo Marsh: Composer, dies at 83
- 1891Calixa Lavallee: Composer, dies at 48
- 1892John Couch Adams: English co-discoverer of Neptune
- 1894Guillaume Jean Joseph Nicolas Lekeu: Composer, dies at 24
- 1903Hermanus J A M Schaepman: Dutch clergyman / politician, dies at 58
- 1924Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov Lenin: Russian leader, dies of a stroke at 53
- 1926Camillo Golgi: Ital medical research (malaria, Nobel 1906), dies at 81
- 1927Floris H Verster: Dutch Painter / cartoonist / etcher, dies at 65
- 1931Felix Blumenfeld: Composer, dies at 67
- 1932[Giles] Lytton Strachey: British biographer / critic, dies at 51
Events on Jan 22
- 0871Battle at Basing: Danish invasion army beats Ethelred of Wessex
- 1371King Robert II Stuart of Scotland crowned
- 1510Jews are expelled from Colmar Germany
- 1517Turks conquer Cairo
- 1528England and France declare war on Emperor Charles V
- 1575English Queen Elizabeth I grants Thomas Tallis and William Byrd music press monopoly
- 1584Parts of Switzerland adopt Gregorian Calendar
- 1588Pope Sixtus V decrees "Immense aeterni" (Reformed curia)
- 1673Postal service between New York and Boston inaugurated
- 1689Lord Halifax becomes Speaker of English House of Lords
- 1689Prince Willem III calls English parliament together
- 1690Iroquois tribes renew allegiance to British against French
- 1760Battle at Wandewash India: British troops beat French
- 1771Spain cedes Falkland Islands to Britain
- 1775Marshal Oscar von Lubomirski expels Jews from Warsaw Poland
- 1798Coup of Midderigh
- 1813Americans capture Frenchtown, Canada
- 18141st Knights Templar grand encampment in US held, New York City
- 1816Lord Byron completes "Parisina" and"Siege of Corinth"
- 1817English freighter Diana sinks off Malaysia
- 1831Charles Darwin takes his Bachelors of Art exam
- 1837Earthquake in southern Syria kills thousands
- 1850Alta California becomes a daily paper, 1st such in California
- 1857National Association of Baseball Players founded, New York
- 1862Confederate government raises premium for volunteers from $10 to $20
- 1873Britains SS Northfleet sinks at Dungeness England, 300 die
- 1879James Shields (D) elected US senator from Missouri after previously serving as US senator from Illinois and Minnesota
- 1879Zulus attack British Army camp in Isandhlwana South Africa
- 1883England complete 1st innings victory in Tests vs. Aust MCG
- 1890Jose Marti forms La Liga (Union of Cuban exiles) in New York City
Born on Jan 22
- 1440Ivan III [the Great]: Russian Czar (1462-1505) / conquered Lithuania
- 1561Francis Bacon: England, United Kingdom -- Statesman / essayist (Novum Organum)
- 1571Robert Bruce Cotton: English antiquary, politician
- 1592Pierre Gassendi: Champtercier Provence, France -- Scientist / philosopher
- 1649Pascal Collasse: Composer
- 1655Geleyn Evertsen: Lieutenant Admiral (Zealand)
- 1707Carl Hockh: Composer
- 1709Joseph Reipel: Composer
- 1727Claude-Benigne Balbastre: Composer
- 1729G E Lessing: Writer
- 1729Giuseppe Luigi Tibaldi: Composer
- 1729Gotthold Ephraim Lessing: Germany -- Critic / dramatist
- 1748Lewis Edson: Composer
- 1753Peter Fuchs: Composer
- 1756Vincenzo Righini: Composer
- 1779Stefano Pavesi: Composer
- 1781Francois-Antoine Habeneck: Composer
- 1788Lord [George Gordon Noel] Byron: England, United Kingdom -- Romantic poet (Don Juan)
- 1802Richard Upjohn: United States -- Gothic architect (Trinity Chapel, NY)
- 1815Ferdinand Christian Wilhelm Praeger: Composer
- 1820Hermann von Lingg: German playwright / poet
- 1820Johan Hendrik Koelman: Portrait painter (Jahresringe)
- 1824Josef Leopold Zvonar: Composer
- 1826[Merriwether] Jeff Thompson: Partisan (Confederate Army), died in 1876
- 1842Charles Henri Marechal: Composer
- 1845Jacob Verdam: Dutch philologist
- 1845Paul Vidal de la Blanche: France -- Geographer
- 1848Samuel Muller Fzn: Dutch historian / archivist (Middle Ages)
- 1849August Strindberg: Sweden -- Dramatist / Novelist (Apologia)
- 1855Ernst Kullak: Composer
Died on Jan 22
- 1336Louis III: Last Earl of Loon
- 1531Andrea del Sarto: Italian painter, dies at 44
- 1552Edward Seymour: Duke of Somerset, beheaded for treason
- 1581Joost de Damhoudere: Flemish lawyer
- 1581Seerp Galama: Dutch nobleman / military / politician, dies at 52
- 1599Cristofano Malvezzi: Composer, dies at 51
- 1640Erasmus Quellinus I: Flemish wood carver, dies at about 55
- 1700Jacob Balthasar Schutz: Composer, dies at 39
- 1781Johann Siebenkas: Composer, dies at 66
- 1796Bernhard Hupfeld: Composer, dies at 78
- 1798Lewis Morris: US farmer (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 71
- 1798Matija A Reljkovic: Croatian writer (Satire of Wild Man), dies at 66
- 1799Horace B de Saussure: Swiss physicist / geologist / alpinist, dies at 58
- 1847Georges-Julien Sieber: Composer, dies at 71
- 1850Vincenzo Pallotti: Italian saint, dies at 54
- 1852George Rodwell: Composer, dies at 51
- 1868Moritz Ganz: Composer, dies at 61
- 1879Anthony Durnford: British Colonel, dies in battle
- 1879George Shepstone: British political affiliate, dies in battle
- 1893Vincenz Lachner: Composer, dies at 81
- 1895Edward Solomon: Composer, dies at 39
- 1909Richard A C E Erlenmeyer: German chemist, dies at 83
- 1913Ferdinand van der Haeghen: Flemish librarian / bibliographer, dies at 82
- 1914Frederik Rung: Composer, dies at 60
- 1916Iwan Knorr: Composer, dies at 63
- 1922Benedictus XV [Giacomo Markies D Chiesa]: Pope (1914-22), dies at 67
- 1936Louis Glass: Composer, dies at 71
- 1942Reimond Tollenaere: Leader Flemishch National Front, dies at 81
- 1942Walter Richard Sickert: British Painter (Free House!), dies at 81
- 1945A Wolfenstein: Writer, dies at 61