Today In History, January 20: What Happened On This Day?

January 20th – Major Historical Events

1841 – Hong Kong Becomes a British Colony

• The British flag was raised on Hong Kong Island, marking its acquisition after the First Opium War.
• The Treaty of Nanking paved the way for Britain’s control over the territory.
• Hong Kong would remain a British colony until 1997.

1961 – John F. Kennedy Inaugurated as the 35th U.S. President

• Kennedy delivered his famous inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you...”
• The event marked the beginning of a new era in U.S. politics and global diplomacy.
• His presidency would see major developments in civil rights and space exploration.

1981 – Iran Hostage Crisis Ends

• 52 American hostages were released after being held captive for 444 days.
• The crisis had a profound effect on U.S.-Iran relations and on the American public’s perception of security.

January 20th – Technology News On This Day

1999 – NASA's Mars Polar Lander Lost

• The Mars Polar Lander failed to land safely on the Red Planet due to a technical malfunction.
• It was part of NASA's mission to explore Mars and gather data about its surface.
• This failure led to significant changes in how future space missions were conducted.

2014 – Facebook Acquires WhatsApp for $19 Billion

• Facebook announced its acquisition of WhatsApp, marking a landmark in social media history.
• The deal was one of the largest tech acquisitions in history at the time.
• It solidified Facebook’s dominance in mobile communication.

January 20th – Music History On This Day

1969 – The Beatles Record "Something"

• The Beatles recorded "Something" at Abbey Road Studios, one of George Harrison’s most iconic compositions.
• The song would later be featured on the “Abbey Road” album, widely considered one of the best albums in rock history.
• "Something" would go on to be one of the band's most covered songs.

1981 – Bob Marley’s “Exodus” Album Released

• Bob Marley’s “Exodus,” featuring hits like "One Love" and "Jamming," was released.
• The album solidified Marley’s status as an international music icon.
• It became one of the best-selling reggae albums of all time.

January 20th – Sports Events History

1968 – The Winter Olympics Open in Grenoble, France

• The 1968 Winter Olympics began in Grenoble, with 1,000 athletes from 37 nations.
• It was the first Winter Games to be televised in color.
• The Games would feature memorable performances, including Jean-Claude Killy's dominance in Alpine skiing.

2001 – Roger Federer Wins First Major Tennis Title

• At the 2001 Australian Open, Federer reached the fourth round, marking the beginning of his incredible career.
• He would go on to win 20 Grand Slam singles titles, becoming one of the greatest players in tennis history.
• Federer’s journey began on January 20th with a series of milestones that changed the sport.

January 20th – Births and Deaths

Notable Births

• 1899 – Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)
  • Famous American writer known for his poems and short stories, especially in the genres of horror and mystery.
  • Poe is celebrated for works like “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Raven.”
• 1947 – Buzz Aldrin (Born 1930)
  • American astronaut and the second person to walk on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission.
  • His contributions to space exploration are central to the U.S. space program’s legacy.

Notable Deaths

• 2001 – Yasser Arafat (1929–2004)
  • Palestinian leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
  • Arafat was a key figure in the Palestinian struggle for independence.
• 2015 – B.B. King (1925–2015)
  • American blues musician and one of the most influential guitarists of all time.
  • Known for his soulful voice and unique guitar style, King helped bring the blues to mainstream audiences.