Important Events

45 BC The Julian calendar takes effect for the first time
630 Prophet Muhammad sets out with his army towards Mecca, capturing it bloodlessly
1758 The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature establish the “starting point” for standardized species names across the animal kingdom, based on the binomial nomenclature by Carolus Linnaeus 10th edition of Systema Naturae
1863 Emancipation Proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln to free slaves in US confederate states
1892 Ellis Island opens as a US immigration inspection station – it would go on to be the gateway to the US for more than 12 million people
1896 German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen announces his discovery of x-rays
1958 European Economic Community, better known as the European Common Market starts operation

Jan 1 in Film & TV

1953 The first TV detector van, used to track down users of unlicensed television sets, begins operation in the UK

Jan 1 in Music

1960 Johnny Cash plays first of many free concerts behind bars

Jan 1 in Sport

1902 1st Rose Bowl, Tournament Park, Pasadena, California: Michigan beats Stanford, 49-0; MVP: Neil Snow, Michigan, FB