On This Day January 26th

 OTD

January 26th is the Twenty-sixth day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 340 days remain until the end of the year.

 

Events

1564 – The Council of Trent establishes an official distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.

1699 – For the first time, the Ottoman Empire permanently cedes territory to the Christian powers

1788 – The British First Fleet, led by Arthur Phillip, sails into Port Jackson (Sydney Harbor) to establish Sydney, the first permanent European settlement in Australia. Commemorated as Australia Day.

1841 – James Bremer takes formal possession of Hong Kong Island at what is now Possession Point, establishing British Hong Kong.

1863 – American Civil War: Governor of Massachusetts John Albion Andrew receives permission from the Secretary of War to raise a militia organization for men of African descent.

1915 – An act of the U.S. Congress established the Rocky Mountain National Park.

1926 – The first demonstration of the television by John Logie Baird.

1934 – The Apollo Theater reopens in Harlem, New York City.

1942 – World War II: The first United States forces arrived in Europe, landing in Northern Ireland.

1945 – World War II: Audie Murphy displays valor and bravery in action, for which he will later be awarded the Medal of Honor.

1998 – Lewinsky scandal: On American television, U.S. President Bill Clinton denies having had "sexual relations" with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

2020 – A Sikorsky S-76B flying from John Wayne Airport to Camarillo Airport crashes in Calabasas, 30 miles west of Los Angeles, killing all nine people on board, including former five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant.

 

Birthdays

1549 – Jakob Ebert, German theologian (d. 1614)

1582 – Giovanni Lanfranco, Italian painter (d. 1647)

1852 – Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, Italian-French explorer (d. 1905)

1880 – Douglas MacArthur, American general, Medal of Honor recipient (d. 1964)

1891 – Frank Costello, Italian American mob boss (d. 1973)

1905 – Maria von Trapp, Austrian-American singer (d. 1987)

1919 – Bill Nicholson, English footballer and manager, Come on you Spurs (d. 2004)

1925 – Paul Newman, American actor, activist, director, race car driver, and businessman, co-founded Newman's Own (d. 2008)

1934 – Bob Uecker, American baseball player, sportscaster and actor

1950 – Jack Youngblood, American football player

1961 – Wayne Gretzky, Canadian ice hockey player and coach

1991 – Manti Te'o, American football player

 

Holiday Spotlight

Big Garden Birdwatch

  Emily Williamson founded the Society for the Protection of Birds (S.P.B.) in 1889 to protect birds and animals from extinction. Emily believed that the British Ornithologists Union needed to do a better job of protecting the birds and that they needed to give the matter more of their time and focus. Emily thus proceeded to form the S.P.B., an all-woman movement initiated for the protection and welfare of birds.

 In 1904, the S.P.B. received royal status, and thus, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (R.S.P.B.) was born. One of its first successful campaigns for the protection of ecosystems was in 1921 when the Importation of Plumage Act was passed. The R.S.P.B bought its first natural reserve in 1930, and today it has over 200 natural reserves across the United Kingdom.

 In 1965, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds started the Young Ornithologists Club to encourage young adults and children to participate in the movement to protect birds and other species. In 1979, the Big Garden Birdwatch was launched as Big Schools Birdwatch in UK schools. The R.S.P.B. became a partner of BirdLife International in 1993, and by 1997, there were over one million members in the R.S.P.B.

 In 1998, the Big Garden Birdwatch project was organized in the U.K. to raise awareness and protect the lives of birds and animals and their natural habitat. This observance occurs every year in January, and hundreds of U.K. citizens register themselves with the R.S.P.B. to participate in this drive. The R.S.P.B. then provides participants with the necessary resources and guidelines. House sparrows, Magpies, and Robins, are some species to look for.

 

Other Include

Australia Day

Dental Drill Appreciation Day

Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day

International Customs Day

Lotus 1-2-3 Day

National Activity Professionals Day

National Big Wig Day

National Fun at Workday

National Green Juice Day

National Peanut Brittle Day

National Pistachio Day

National Preschool Health and Fitness Day

Spouse's Day

Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement

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