Events on Jan 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 Jan 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 Jan 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
Historical events on January 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 January 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 January 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
Events on Jan 23
- 0638Start of Islamic calendar
- 12651st English Parliament formally convened (some authorities)
- 1492"Pentateuch" (Jewish holy book) 1st printed
- 15522nd version of Book of Common Prayer becomes manditory in England
- 1556Most deadly earthquake kills 830,000 in Shensi Province, China
- 1570Earl of Moray, regent of Scotland, assassinated; civil war breaks out
- 1571Queen Elizabeth I opens Royal Exchange in London
- 1579Union of Utrecht signed, forming protestant Dutch Republic
- 1637Dutch Governor Johan Mauritius lands in Pernambuco Brazil
- 1643Sir Thomas Fairfax takes Leeds for Parliamentarians
- 1647Scottish Presbyterians sell captured Charles I to English parliament
- 1668England, Netherlands and Sweden signs Triple Alliance against French
- 1719Principality of Liechtenstein created within Holy Roman Empire
- 1779Charles Messier catalogs M56 (globular cluster in Lyra)
- 1789Georgetown, 1st US Catholic college, founded
- 17932nd partition of Poland, between Prussia and Russia
- 1793Humane Society of Philadelphia (1st aid society) organized
- 1796Armand-Gaston Camus becomes Chairman of Council of 500
- 18127.8 earthquake shakes New Madrid, Missouri
- 1833Joseph Pease, a Quaker, admitted to Parliament on his affirmation
- 1845Uniform US election day for President and VP authorized
- 1849Mrs Elizabeth Blackwell becomes 1st woman Physician in US
- 1849Patent granted for an envelope-making machine
- 1856Steamer Pacific lost
- 1862Agoston Haraszthy, 1st vintner in Sonoma Valley, imports 10,000
- 1870173 Blackfoot (140 women & children) killed in Montana by US Army
- 1879National Archery Association forms (Crawfordsville Ind)
- 1889Dr Daniel Hale Williams forms Provident Hospital in Chicago
- 1894G W Bunbury of Dublin sets shorthand record of 250 wpm for 10 min
- 1897Start of Sherlock Holmes "Adventure of Abbey Grange" (BG)
Born on Jan 23
- 1574Lucas I Franchoys: Belgian painter
- 1730Joseph Hewes: US Merchant (Declaration of Independence signer)
- 1752Muzio Clementi: Italian composer
- 1761Friedrich von Matthison: German poet (Adelaide)
- 1762Christian A Vulpius: Germany -- Writer (Rinaldo Rinaldini)
- 1783Stendahl [Marie Henri Beyle]: France -- Writer (Le Rouge et de Noir)
- 1785Carl A Agardh: Sweden -- Botanist / Bishop of Karlstad
- 1813Franz Commer: Composer
- 1816Carl Herrmann: Germany -- Stage magician
- 1820Alexander Nikoleyevich Serov: Composer
- 1828Calvin Edward Pratt: Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1896
- 1830Gaston AA Marquis de Gallifet: French General / Minister of War (1899-1900)
- 1833John Randolph Chambliss, Jr.: Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1864
- 1840Ernst Abbe: Germany -- Physicist (Carl Zeiss Optics Company)
- 1843Hans Heinrich XIV Hochberg: Composer
- 1857Andrija Mohorovicic: Croatian geologist (Moho discontinuity)
- 1865Benjamin Delmonte: Theater director / actor (Black Haired Whore)
- 1867Herbert Bedford: Composer
- 1868Juventino Rosas: Composer
- 1869Carlo Felice Boghen: Composer
- 1869Herbert David Croly: US author (Promise of American Life)
- 1878Oton Zupancic: Slovenian poet (Zimzelen pod Snegom)
- 1878Rutland Boughton: Composer
- 1885Boleslaw Wallek-Walewski: Composer
- 1888Gilbert Ledward: Sculptor
- 1889Franklin Pangborn: Newark -- Actor (My Best Gal, Hats Off, Easy Living)
- 1889Prosper Arents: Flemish bibliographer (Rubens-bibliography)
- 1891Antonio Gramsci: Italian philosopher / marxist theorist
- 1893Frank Carlson: (Gov / Rep / Sen-R-Kansas)
- 1894Remy Angenot: Flemish actor (Patriot / Idiot)
Died on Jan 23
- 1002Otto III: German King / Emperor 983 / 996-1002, dies at 21
- 1356Margaretha of Bavaria: Emperess of Germany
- 1516Ferdinand II: King of Aragon / Sicily, dies at 63
- 1548Bernardo Pisano: Composer, dies at 57
- 1622William Baffin: British explorer, dies at about 38
- 1639Francisco Maldonado da Silva Solis: Peruvian poet, burned at stake
- 1648Francisco de Rojas Zorrilla: Spanish Poet (Del Rey Abajo), dies at 40
- 1800Edward Rutledge: US attorney (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 50
- 1805Vaclav Pichl: Composer, dies at 63
- 1806William Pitt [the Younger]: Prime Minister of Great Britain (1783-1806), dies at 46
- 1813George Clymer: US Merchant (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 73
- 1814Georg Friedrich Theodor Wolf: Composer, dies at 52
- 1838Arnold A Buyskes: Dutch Vice-Admiral / colonial director, dies at 67
- 1845Francesco Ruggi: Composer, dies at 77
- 1864Michele Puccini: Composer, dies at 50
- 1875Charles Kingsley: English vicar / writer (Westward Ho!), dies at 55
- 1879Adolf Jensen: Composer, dies at 42
- 1891Boudouin LPMCAJL: Prince of Belgium / Count of Flaanders, dies at 21
- 1893Jose Zorrilla y Moral: Spanish Poet (Granada), dies at 75
- 1898W A Remy: Composer, dies at 66
- 1908Edward Alexander MacDowell: US Composer (Indian Suite), dies at 47
- 1921Wlasyslaw Zelenski: Composer, dies at 83
- 1926Joseph Carl Breil: Composer, dies at 55
- 1931Anna Pavlova: Russian ballerina (Diaghilew, Dying Swan)
- 1936Dame Clara Butt: Alto singer (Country of Hope & Glory), dies at 62
- 1939Matthias Sindelar: Austria soccer star, commits suicide
- 1941Dobri Khristov: Composer, dies at 65
- 1943Alexander Woollcott: Critic, dies at 56 of a heart attack while on the radio
- 1944Edvard Munch: Norwegian Painter (The Scream), dies at 80
- 1945Helmuth J Moltke: German politician ("July 20th Plot"), executed at 37