What Happened on January 11 in History?
January 11 has been a significant date for major scientific breakthroughs, aviation milestones, and pivotal political shifts throughout history.
Major Historical Events
The Grand Canyon (1908): President Theodore Roosevelt declared the Grand Canyon a U.S. National Monument to protect it from development.
First Use of Insulin (1922): 14-year-old Leonard Thompson became the first human to receive an insulin injection to treat diabetes.
Amelia Earhart’s Solo Flight (1935): Earhart became the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to California.
Tobacco Warning (1964): The U.S. Surgeon General released the first official report stating that cigarette smoking is linked to lung cancer.
Secession of Alabama (1861): Alabama became the fourth state to secede from the Union during the lead-up to the American Civil War.
Independence of Bangladesh (1972): East Pakistan officially renamed itself Bangladesh after successfully seceding from Pakistan.
Guantanamo Bay Opens (2002): The first group of prisoners from Afghanistan arrived at the U.S. military detention camp in Cuba.
First COVID-19 Death (2020): Health officials in Wuhan, China, announced the first recorded death from the novel coronavirus.
Music and Entertainment
Nirvana’s Milestone (1992): The album Nevermind hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, famously replacing Michael Jackson’s Dangerous.
"Purple Haze" Recorded (1967): Jimi Hendrix recorded one of his most iconic tracks at London's De Lane Lea Studios.
Rock in Rio (1985): The first edition of the massive music festival debuted in Brazil, featuring acts like Queen and AC/DC.
Designated Hitter Rule (1973): American League baseball owners voted to adopt the designated hitter (DH) position.
Notable Births
Alexander Hamilton (1755 or 1757): The first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and a Founding Father.
William James (1842): Renowned American philosopher and the "father of American psychology".
Alice Paul (1885): Key leader and strategist for the women's suffrage movement in the U.S.
Mary J. Blige (1971): Award-winning R&B singer often called the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul".
Jeff Bezos (1964): Founder of Amazon and one of the world's most influential entrepreneurs.
Annual Holidays and Observances
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day: A day dedicated to raising awareness about the prevention of human trafficking.
National Milk Day: Commemorating the first delivery of milk in glass bottles in the U.S. in 1878.
